File:Birds of the Bible (1909) (14747092371).jpg

Identifier: birdsofbible00stra (find matches)
Title: Birds of the Bible
Year: 1909 (1900s)
Authors: Stratton-Porter, Gene, 1863-1924
Subjects: Nature in the Bible
Publisher: Cincinnati, Jennings and Graham New York, Eaton and Mains
Contributing Library: Internet Archive
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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nly to say thatit is unfit for human food, and to prove that its voicecan add a last touch to any picture of horror. This birdappeared as frequently as any other in the Bible ofmy childhood. Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and )\licah all putit into every picture of desolation they drew. The latestversions seem to feel that this was a mistake of trans-lators, and that the bird intended was the ostrich. Per-haps this is right, but I doubt it in most instances. Theostrich had sufficient vocal accom))lishnients to entitle itto a place among any list of hoi-rors made by sound, butthe ostrich was a bird of light, of wide range, and vora-cious appetite. I imagine that when it had hunted allday searching for food along the edges of the desert, andriturnid to its nest at night, it was tired Inough tosleep until morning. ^Moreover, it was a bird that wasnot found near many of the ruins mentioned, wherethe latest versions place it; for most of these werecaused bv the fortunes of war and were tlu ninains
Text Appearing After Image:
LITTLE OWL STRATTON-PORTER These yc shall have in ahomination. THE OAVl.S 459 of cities built near fertile valleys, rich farniino- land,fruit orchards, and gardens. Ruins were anion<; toomuch civilization, Avhere there were too many ))eo;)k topursue the ostrich for its valuable plumage, and whereits nesting conditions did not prevail. Almost withoutexception the owl belonged to the locations described,•was altogether a creature of the night, had the voice tofill all the requirements of the text, and vocalized con-stantly in courting, hunting, and singing for jov of themoonlight on lA-banon range, Galilee lake, and shuiing^Nlerom water. The first place in the new version I find the owl Irftin such a picture as these Bible writers painted when pre-dicting desolation, was when Isaiah called on the nationsto come and hear what he had to say concerning utterdestruction. It was that prophecy in which the streamswere to be turned to pitch, the dust to brimstone, the smoketo ascend forev

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