Calls up the tuneful nations.”
Nothing can be more pleasing, observes Goldsmith, than to see the Lark warbling upon the wing; raising its note as it soars, till it seems lost in the immense heights above us; the note continuing, the bird itself unseen; to see it then descending with a swell as it comes from the clouds, yet sinking by degrees as it approaches its nest, the spot where all its affections are centered—the spot which has prompted all this joy. While the Lark thus mounts on triumphant wings, soaring up into the heavens with a song of praise to its Creator, this little black animal lies sleeping in holes and cracks of decayed edifices; and if disturbed by any accident, drops down and crawls upon the earth. When darkness prevails, it comes forth from its concealment to haunt the cemeteries of the dead, and desolate places; as if it purposely avoided the society of all cheerful birds, and took a delight in associating with Owls and Beetles in dark and solitary abodes. “The bat is called עטלף âtalaph,” according to Parkhurst, “from עט ât to fly, and עלף âlaph, darkness or obscurity, because it flies about in the dusk of the evening, and in the night; so the Septuagint νυκτερις, from νυξ, the night, and the Vulgate, vespertilio, from vesper, the evening.”
These birds of the night but too appropriately symbolize with persons who love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. Dr. Shaw, speaking of Ostriches, says, “In the lonesome part of the night they frequently make a very doleful and hideous noise, sometimes resembling the roar of the Lion; at other times the hoarser voices of other quadrupeds, particularly the Bull or Ox.” He adds, “I have often heard them groan as if in the greatest agonies.” Thus——
“The slaves of excess, Their senses to please,
Whole nights canbestow,
And on in a circle of riot they go;
Poor prodigals, they The night into day
By revellings turn,
And all the restraints of sobriety scorn.
The drunkards proclaim At midnight their shame,