"The cormorant and the bittern shall possess it, the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it."-Isa. xxxiv. 11.

VERY various have been the opinions expressed by learned men on the true rendering of the word (kippod) translated bittern in the above quotation. It occurs only in two other places in the Bible, viz., Isa. xiv. 23, and Zeph. ii. 14, and has been variously referred to the owl, tortoise, porcupine, otter, and bustard, beside the bittern. The best and latest writers on the natural history of the Bible give the preference to the bittern. It is evident, from the connexions of the passages, that some bird belonging probably to some of the wading species is intended; and from the assumed root of the term apparently requiring that it should have long pointed feathers, chiefly on the neck, more or less speckled, the BIBLE CLASS MAGAZINE.] I [AUGUST, 1851.

bittern has been fixed upon. The Arabian bustard might have been selected, but from the circumstances that it inhabits dry and sandy deserts and uplands, and never roosts in high positions, but always rests upon the ground. One of the heron tribe seems to be the bird designed, and of these the bittern has the best claim. It is somewhat less in size than the common heron, being about two feet and a half in length. Its bill is about four inches long; the feathers on the hinder part of the neck and breast long and loose; its general colour, dull pale yellow, variegated with spots and bars of black; its legs of moderate length.

It occasionally visits our shores, and breeds here; but the enclosing and draining of land has deprived it of its favourite haunts, and it has accordingly become a very scarce bird amongst us. Formerly it was found in considerable numbers, and in the days of falconry afforded fine sport in the field amusements of the time. In the reign of Henry VIII. it was protected by the penalty of a year's imprisonment, and the fine of eightpence per egg being inflicted on any who were proved guilty of destroying its eggs. It is common still on some parts of the north of the continent, but after the breeding season is over, migrates south, and visits Africa and Asia, as well as the southern rivers of Europe. It is very largely distributed, having been found on the coast of Barbary, at the Cape of Good Hope, in India, and in China; and it was in the collection formed in the neighbourhood of Trebizond, by K. E. Abbot, Esq., and presented to the Zoological Society.

The bittern delights in lonely marshy places, and forms its rude nest of reeds and sticks in some such place, or wellcovered reedy moor. During the breeding season, which is in February and March, the bittern utters a singular booming sound, which gives him the name of “ mill-drum," "bullof-the-bog," &c., in different places in our land, and "rohrdounnel," amongst the Germans. During the day he lies close in his hiding-place, but as evening approaches he leaves his haunt, rises spirally to a great height in the air, uttering from time to time a resounding cry. Willoughby states his conviction that the bittern is the "night raven,' whose cry was so dreaded by superstitious people, as por tending the death of some near relative, and was never heard without filling the listener with fear.

The food of the bittern consists chiefly of such things as are to be got in the miry haunts he frequents; small fish, eels, frogs, mice, the buds of water lilies, and other vegetable substances, are greedily devoured by them. Here, as observed already, the bittern keeps close to his reedy hidingplace during the day, from which it is most difficult to rouse him, as he will almost suffer himself to be trod upon before he will rise; but in the countries of his summer resort he frequents often more elevated spots. There he is not infrequently found about old ruins; and though he never builds, like the stork, in high situations, yet he may be found roosting amid the lofty towers and walls of many an ancient structure, and has been seen on the summit of the Tauk Kesra at Ctesiphon.

From this brief glance at the habits of the bittern, our readers will be able to judge of the propriety of fixing upon it as the bird selected by the prophet to express the desolation of Idumea. All solitary, desolate, and forsaken should that place become. It had dared to lift up its haughty head against its God, and hence upon it must light the curse. The cormorant and the bittern shall possess it, the owl and the raven shall dwell in it." It is a terrible thing to provoke the majesty of heaven!

66

"I CAN SAY YES. WHAT WILL YOU SAY?" THOMAS HOOPOO was a member of the Foreign Mission School, at Cornwall, Connecticut, in America. After some two years' residence at Cornwall, at the request of the clergyman of Brunswick, who had formed an acquaintance with Thomas, he accompanied Deacon H—, with whom he was boarding, and who was on his way to Philadelphia, to Brunswick. On the evening of their arrival at Brunswick, a select company, including the clergyman, were invited to spend the evening with a lawyer of the place. Thomas, then about sixteen years of age, accompanied the clergyman. The lawyer entertained the company for a long time by interrogating Thomas in reference to his native country, their customs, religion, enjoyments, &c., and especially upon their religion, compared with the Christian religion. Thomas very patiently

answered his questions, often to the great amusement of the company. At length, the lawyer, who was not, as is believed, a religious man, ceased, and Thomas commenced in substance as follows:

"I am a poor heathen boy. It is not strange that my blunders in English should amuse you. But soon there will be a larger meeting than this. We shall be there. They will ask us all one question, namely, 'Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?' Now, sir, I think I can say Yes: what will you say, sir?"

He stopped: a death-like stillness pervaded the room. At length it was broken by a proposal that, as the evening was far spent, they should have a season of devotion, in which Thomas should pray. It was acceded to, and Thomas, in his accustomed meek and affectionate manner, addressed the throne of grace. Soon he prayed for the lawyer in person, alluding to his learning and talent, and besought that he might not be ignorant of the way of salvation through Christ. As he proceeded thus, the emotion of the lawyer's breast rose above all restraint; the flowing tears could not alleviate it: he sobbed aloud. The whole company were affected, and the sobs drowned the speaker's voice.

Soon they separated, and retired to their respective rooms. But there was no rest for the lawyer. The question of Thomas rang in his ear-"What will you say, sir?" He paced his room in anguish. The Spirit of God had touched his conscience. He found no rest until he could answer the thrilling question proposed by that once "heathen boy" in the affirmative.

A few days afterward, on the return of Deacon Hseveral of the party were rejoicing in hope, who were careless sinners previous to the question of Thomas. A powerful revival of religion followed, all apparently resulting from the faithful dealing of that illiterate boy.

Christian friend, go thou and do likewise.-Western Herald.

WE closed our last paper with Tyn-room enough, there was in my lord's dale's noble threat to the impious priest "If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause the boy that driveth the plough to know more of the scripture than you do." We have now to see in what way that threat was redeemed.