Difference between revisions of "Bittern"

<p> <strong> [[Bittern]] </strong> (&nbsp; Isaiah 14:23; &nbsp; Isaiah 34:11 , &nbsp; Zephaniah 2:14 ). Although the bird of this name the <em> Botaurus stellaris </em> is found in Palestine, especially in the [[Huleh]] marshes, the philological evidence is quite against this translation. The Heb. word is <em> kippôd </em> , and is generally accepted to be the equivalent of the Arab. [Note: Arabic.] <em> kunfudh </em> , ‘ <strong> porcupine </strong> .’ This animal suits the Scriptural requirements at least as well as the bittern. It (the <em> Hystrix cristata </em> ) is common all over Palestine. Large specimens measure as much as 3 ft. from the nose to the tip of the spines. The porcupine is a vegetable-eating, nocturnal animal; it is solitary in its habits, and very timid of man. It glides about in the twilight or starlight in a most weird way, giving vent at times to peculiar short grunts. When roused to self-defence, the porcupine is most dangerous; its erect quills, which pierce like a needle, make it most difficult to capture. In all respects the porcupine is a likely and appropriate inhabitant of desolate ruins untrodden by the foot of man. [[Porcupine]] are eaten by both <em> fellahin </em> and <em> Bedouin </em> . </p> <p> [[E. W. G]]  Masterman. </p>