WE now advance to one of the most beautiful and numerous parts of animated nature. A few introductory observations may be permitted, before we proceed to describe the several individuals that are presented to our notice, in reviewing the ornithology of the Bible.

The first thing which claims our attention, is the structure of the feathered tribes. In a comparative view with man, their formation seems much ruder and more imperfect; and they are in general found incapable of the docility even of quadrupeds. To these, however, they hold the next rank; and far surpass fishes and insects, both in the structure of their bodies, and in their sagacity.

In reference to the structure of birds of the most perfect order, a few things demand our attention.

The whole body is shaped in the most convenient manner for making its way through the air; being, as Mr. Ray observes, constructed very near Sir Isaac Newton's form of least resistance. According to Barr, in his continuation of Buffon, 'it is neither extremely massive, nor equally substantial in all its parts; but being designed to rise in the air, is capable of expanding a large surface without solidity. The body is sharp before, to pierce and make its way through that element: it gradually increases in bulk, till it has acquired its just dimensions, and falls off in an expansive tail.' The motion of birds being two-fold, walking and flying, they are provided with legs, at once wonderfully contrived to walk with, and raise them like a spring for their flight; wings to buoy them up, and waft them along; and a tail to keep them steady in the air, assist them in their evolutions, and direct them in their course.

Although the feathery covering of birds is admirably constructed for lightness and buoyancy, their wings are furnished with a strength that is amazing; and by these they are enabled to impel themselves forward with an inconceivable rapidity. To fit them the better for their flight, the feathers are disposed in the most perfect order, lying one way; and, that they may glide more smoothly along, they are furnished with a gland situated on the rump, from which they occasionally press out oil with the bill, and anoint the feathers.

Their beak or bill is a curious piece of art, formed of a hard horny substance, constructed in the most commodious manner for

piercing the air. Their ears stand not out from their head to retard their flight; and their eyes are placed in such situations as to take in nearly a hemisphere on either side.

Birds have no teeth to chew their food; but those of the granivorous kind are provided with two stomachs, in one of which the victuals is softened and inacerated before it enters the other to be completely digested. Being often employed in traversing the upper regions, where they would be much incommoded did they bring forth their young in the manner of quadrupeds, their mode of generating is wisely made to differ, and their offspring are produced by means of eggs. In the speedy growth of young birds, by which they acquire a degree of strength and size, so as to be able so soon to provide for themselves, we have also an instance of the tender care of Providence.

What unseen power inspires these little creatures with 'the passion of the groves,' at the most fit season for forming their alliances! that is, when the genial temper of the weather covers the trees with leaves, the fields with grass, and produces such swarms of insects for the support of their future progeny. And how comes it to pass, that no sooner is the connubial league formed, than the little warblers immediately set about building their nests, and making preparation for their tender offspring? In the building of their nests, what art and ingenuity are displayed! Whether they are constructed from the collected portions of clay and mortar, or from the more light materials of moss and straw, they contrive to mould them into the most convenient forms, and to give them a durability proportionate to their wants. Nor is the wonder less, that birds of the same kind, however widely separated, should all follow the same order of architecture, in the construction of their habitations; that each should make choice of the situation most suitable to its kind ; and that all should agree in laying as many eggs as to be sufficient to keep up their species, yet no more than they can conveniently hatch and bring up.

In the incubation, with what patience do these little creatures sit on their eggs when necessary, till the young are ready to be hatched, and then how officious in assisting the little prisoners to escape! With what inimitable care do they afterwards watch over and provide for their brood, until it is capable of doing so for itself; and with what scrupulous exactness, durin gthis period, do they distribute to each its allotted portion of food!

The observations we have made are applicable to the feathery tribe in general; but when we turn to the peculiarities of a few of the different species, we shall observe that the wisdom and the goodness of God are no less conspicuous. How wonderful is the migration of some birds; or that surprising instinct by which 'the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times,' and 'the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming!' Jeremiah viii. 7.

These are a few of the proofs of the wisdom and goodness of

God which this part of creation exhibit; but, few as they are, they are sufficient to excite our admiration, and inspire us with sentiments of adoring gratitude to the Author of all being.

The common name for a bird in the Hebrew Scriptures, is tzephur, the rapid mover, or hurrier; a name very expressive of these volatile creatures. A more general and indefinite name, is ouph, a flier; but this appellation denotes every thing that flies, whether bird or insect. It is frequently translated 'fowl' in the English Bible. A bird of prey is called oith, a rusher, froin the impetuosity with which it rushes upon its prey. In several of the passages where it occurs, our translators have rendered its plural form, by fowls.'

The number of birds already known, amounts, we believe, to between three and four thousand. To distinguish the different kinds from each other, and the varieties of the same kind, when they happen to differ, is a work of great difficulty; and perhaps the attainment, when made, would not repay the labor. Linnæus divides all birds into six classes, namely; birds of the rapacious kind—birds of the pie kind-birds of the poultry kind-birds of the sparrow kindbirds of the duck kind—and birds of the crane kind. The first four comprehend the various kinds of land birds; the two last, those that belong to water.

From the Hebrew legislator, who had issued the strictest injunctions on the subject of animals, clean and unclean, we might natturally expect directions equally strict respecting birds; a class no less distinguished among themselves, by their qualities and modes of life. But here his animal characteristics, derived from the feet, failed; nor was it easy to fix on marks which should, in every instance, guide the learned and the unlearned, to a right conclusion. Hence, there is not in the Mosaic institutes, any reference to conformation, as the means of distinguishing birds into clean and unclean, lawful and unlawful; a list of exceptions forms the sacred directory, and certain kinds are forbidden, without a word concerning those that are allowed.

In describing the various birds mentioned in Scripture, we shall adopt the three-fold arrangement to which reference was made in our introduction to Zoology.

THE Eagle, among birds, sustains the same rank as does the lion among beasts. Its great strength, rapidity, and elevation of flight, added to its natural ferocity and and voracious disposition, have obtained for it the character of king of birds,' and confer upon it the power of inspiring terror into all its fellows of the air.

By the Hebrews, the eagle was called nesher, the lacerator; and as it is eminent for rapacity, and tearing its prey into pieces, the propriety of the designation is sufficiently obvious.

There are several kinds of the eagle, described by naturalists, and it is probable that the Hebrew nesher comprehends more than one of them. The largest and noblest species known, is that called by Bruce 'the golden eagle,' and by the Ethiopians, father long-beard,'

from a tuft of hair which grows below its beak. From wing to wing, this bird measures eight feet, four inches: and from the tip of his tail to the point of his beak, when dead, four feet, seven inches. The weight of the one described by Mr. Bruce was twenty-two pounds; his middle claw was about two inches and a half in length.

Of all known birds, the eagle not only flies the highest, but also with the greatest rapidity. To this circumstance there are several striking allusions in the sacred volume. Among the evils threatened to the Israelites in case of their disobedience, the prophet names one in the following terms: The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, fro:n the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth,' Deut. xxviii. 49. The march of Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem, is predicted in the same terms: 'Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles,' (Jer. iv. 13); as is, also, his invasion of Moab: 'For thus saith the Lord, Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab,' (chap. xlviii. 40); i. e. he shall settle down on the devoted country, as an eagle over its prey. See also, Lam. iv. 19; Hos. viii. 1; Hab. i. 8.

Of all birds, the eagle has the quickest eye; but his sense of smelling is not so acute. He never pursues his prey, therefore, except when in sight; but, having once obtained a view of it, such is the rapidity of his movement, that certain destruction ensues. To this Job alludes, in expressing the rapid flight of time: 'My days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. They are passed away as the swift ships; as the eagle that hasteth to the prey,' Job ix. 25, 26.

In general, these birds are found in mountainous and ill-peopled countries, and breed among the loftiest cliffs. Hence the sublime language of the prophet, in allusion to the pride and degradation of Moab: Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down saith the Lord,' (Obad. ver. 4); and also of Jeremiah, with reference to the neighboring country of Edom: Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart. O! thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldst make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord,' ch. xlix. 16. Instead of the cleft of the rock, the eagle sometimes chooses the lofty cedar as the place of his residence; a circumstance not overlooked in the sacred volume: A great eagle with great wings, long-winged, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar,' Ezekiel xvii. 3.

The eagle, it is said, lives to a great age; and, like other birds of prey, sheds his feathers in the beginning of spring. After this season, he appears with fresh strength and vigor, and his old age assumes the appearance of youth. To this David alludes, when gratefully reviewing the mercies of Jehovah: "Who satisfieth thy mouth.