178 THE RING-DOVE. 



made of the clove by writers of every age, as a 

 symbol of purity, gentleness, fidelity, &c. She 

 is, indeed, surrounded by a bright halo of hal- 

 lowed associations, some of which are of too sa- 

 cred a nature to be lightly alluded to. We can 

 never cease to turn with delight to that interest- 

 ing page in the history of the world, in which 

 the dove is first introduced to our notice, as one 

 of the many inmates of the ark. From early in- 

 fancy our attention is rivetted by the beautiful 

 and touching narrative of the inspired historian, 

 who describes the gentle bird going forth from 

 her place of shelter, and returning thither again 

 and again, until the overflowing waters, re- 

 strained once more within appointed limits, left 

 the earth a fit dwelling-place for man, and bird, 

 and beast. 



Doves have been long held in the highest ve- 

 neration by the Eastern nations. They were 

 classed by Moses as clean birds, and might be 

 offered in sacrifice by those who were too poor to 

 bring a more costly oblation. 



Names derived from that of the dove, in va- 

 rious oriental languages, seem to have been used 

 as descriptive of loveliness, and were especially 

 applied to beautiful women. The celebrated 

 queen Semiramis is said to have derived her 

 name from semir^jemamah^ the brown or moun- 



