Difference between revisions of "Partridge"

<p> '''''Kore'''''' . &nbsp;1 Samuel 26:20, "a partridge in the mountains." &nbsp;Jeremiah 17:11, "the partridge sitteth on eggs and hatcheth them not" ''("Sitteth On Eggs Which It Has Not Laid," Henderson)'' , typifying the profitlessness of unlawful gain (&nbsp;Psalms 39:6; &nbsp;Psalms 49:16-17; &nbsp;Psalms 55:23) in the end. [[Breeding]] in the desert mountain regions it makes its rude nest, a hole scratched in the earth and lined with dried leaves, and deposits 15 eggs. Like many of the rasorial birds they lay in one another's nests, and a different bird hatches from the bird who laid the eggs. </p> <p> This is Jeremiah's reference, or rather to its nest being on the ground, liable to be trodden under foot or robbed by carnivorous animals, notwithstanding all the beautiful maneuvers of the parent bird to save the brood. Jehoiakim's covetous grasping acts are here glanced at. '''''Κore')''''' is from [[Hebrew]] "call," referring to the call of the cock bird, as German '''''Rebhuhn''''' is from '''''Rufen''''' "to call." '''''Κore')''''' imitates the call note of the '''''Caccabis Saxatilis''''' , "Greek partridge," which frequents rocky, brushwood covered, ground. The '''''Αmmopedix Ηeyii''''' is the partridge of the mountains, often hunted from place to place, until being fatigued it is knocked down by the sticks, zerwattys, of the Arabs (Shaw Tray. 1:425); familiar to David in his camping near [[Adullam]] cave, and less apt to take wing than the '''''Caccabis Saxatilis''''' . So Saul sought, by surprising David in his haunts from time to time, at last to destroy him. </p>

<p> Fig. 288—Partridge </p> <p> Partridge (;; ). Late commentators state that there are four species of the tetrao (grouse) of [[Linnæus]] abundant in Palestine: the francolin (T. francolinus), the katta (T. alchata), the red-legged or Barbary partridge (T. petrosus), and the Greek partridge (T. saxatilis). In this now obsolete classification there are included not less than three genera, according to the more correct systems of recent writers, and not one strictly a grouse occurs in the number, though the real T. Urogallus, or cock of the woods, is reported to frequent Asia Minor in winter, and in that case is probably no stranger in Libanus. There is, however, the genus Pterocles, of which the P. alchata is the katta, ganga, cata, and pin-tailed grouse of authors, a species very common in Palestine, and innumerable in Arabia; but it is not the only one, for the sand-grouse of Latham (P. arenarius) occurs in France, Spain, Barbary, Arabia, Persia, and on the north side of the Mediterranean, or all round Palestine. P. Arabicus, and probably P. exustus, or the [[Arabian]] and singed gangas, occur equally in the open districts of the south, peopling the desert along with the ostrich. All are distinguished from other genera of Tetraonidæ by their long and powerful wings, enabling them to reach water, which they delight to drink in abundance; and by this propensity they often indicate to the thirsty caravan in what direction to find relief. They feed more on insects, larvae, and worms than on seeds, and none of the species having a perfect hind toe, that reaches the ground, they run fast: these characteristics are of some importance in determining whether they were held to be really clean birds, and consequently could be the selav of the Israelites, which our versions have rendered 'quail' [[[Quail; Unclean Birds]]] </p> <p> The Francolin forms a second genus, whereof the common tree-partridge is the [[Syrian]] species best known, though most likely not the only one of that country. It is larger than the ganga; the male is always provided with one pair of spurs (though others of the genus have two), and has the tail longer than true partridges. This species is valued for the table, is of handsome plumage, and common from Spain and France, on both sides of the Mediterranean, eastward to Bengal. </p>

<p> ''''' par´trij ''''' ( קרא , <i> ''''' ḳōrē' ''''' </i> ; Latin <i> perdix </i> ; Septuagint, &nbsp; 1 Samuel 26:20 , νυκτικόραξ , <i> ''''' nuktikórax ''''' </i> , "owl," &nbsp;Jeremiah 17:11 , πέρδιξ , <i> ''''' pérdix ''''' </i> ): a bird of the family Tetraonidae. The Hebrew word for this bird, <i> ''''' ḳōrē' ''''' </i> , means "a caller," and the Latin <i> perdix </i> is supposed to be an imitation of its cry, and as all other nations base their name for the bird on the Latin, it becomes quite evident that it was originally named in imitation of its call. The commonest partridge of Palestine, very numerous in the wilderness and hill country, was a bird almost as large as a pheasant. It had a clear, exquisite cry that attracted attention, especially in the mating season. The partridge of the wilderness was smaller and of beautifully marked plumage. It made its home around the Dead Sea, in the [[Wilderness]] of [[Judea]] and in rocky caverns. Its eggs were creamy white; its cry very similar to its relatives'. The partridge and its eggs were used for food from time immemorial. </p> <p> The first reference to it is found in &nbsp;1 Samuel 26:20 : "Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Yahweh: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains." David in this dialogue with Saul clearly indicates that if he did not hunt the partridge himself, he knew how it was done. The birds were commonly chased up the mountains and stunned or killed with "throw sticks." David knew how deft these birds were at hiding beside logs and under dry leaves colored so like them as to afford splendid protection; how swiftly they could run; what expert dodgers they were; so he compared taking them with catching a flea. The other reference is found in &nbsp; Jeremiah 17:11 : "As the partridge that sitteth on eggs which she hath not laid, so is he that getteth riches, and not by right; in the midst of his days they shall leave him, and at his end he shall be a fool." If this reference is supposed to indicate that partridges are in the habit of brooding on the nest of their kind or of different birds, it fails wholly to take into consideration the history of the bird. Partridges select a location, carefully deposit an egg a day for from 10 to 15 days, sometimes 20, and then brood, so that all the young emerge at one time. But each bird knows and returns to its nest with unfailing regularity. It would require the proverbial "Philadelphia lawyer" to explain this reference to a "partridge sitting on eggs she had not laid." No ornithologist ever could reconcile it to the habits or characteristics of the birds. the King James Version translated these lines, "As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not." This was easy to explain clearly. The eggs of the partridge were delicious food, and any brooding bird whose nest was discovered after only a few days of incubation did not hatch, because she lost her eggs. Also the eggs frequently fall prey to other birds or small animals. Again, they are at the mercy of the elements, sometimes being spoiled by extremely wet cold weather. Poultry fanciers assert that a heavy thunder storm will spoil chicken eggs when hatchingtime is close; the same might be true with eggs of the wild. And almost any wild bird will desert its nest and make its former brooding useless, if the location is visited too frequently by man or beast. </p> <p> There is also a partridge reference in the Book of &nbsp;Sirach 11:29 ff the Revised Version (British and American)): "Bring not every man into thine house; for many are the plots of the deceitful man. As a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the heart of a proud man; and as one that is a spy, he looketh upon thy falling. For he lieth in wait to turn things that are good into evil; and in things that are praiseworthy he will lay blame." The reference is to confining a tame partridge in a hidden cage so that its calls would lure many of its family within range of arrows or "throw sticks" used by concealed hunters. </p>