NYCTICORAX, an Owl, Scritch-Owl; and literally, a Night-Raven. Nyx in Greek signifies Night, and Corax a Raven. This Bird is prohibited by the Law1; but in Leviticus the Hebrew Word Shalak is translated by Mergulus, a Plungeon or Diver; and in Deuteronomy, an Owl; but its true Signification is a Diver. In Deuteronomy there are some Changes of Place of the Words in the Vulgate, and in those of the Septuagint; which is the Reason we cannot be sure what Hebrew Word is to answer to Nycticorax, which is found in2 the Septuagint and in the Vulgate, Deut. xiv. 17, 18. But in Leviticus the Septuagint read Nycticorax, and the Vulgate Bubo, for the Hebrew Word Cos, which is explain’d of a Pelican, an Hawk, or an Owl. The same Word Cos we meet with in Psal. ciii. 7. where the Septuagint and the Vulgate have Nycticorax. But Bochart thinks3, ‘tis rather the Onocrotalus, which is a kind of Pelican, having a great Pouch under its Beak, and at the upper Part of its Throat. This Pouch is of such a Magnitude, as to contain a whole Child, which has sometimes been found in it, sometimes only a Hand and an Arm, or a Foot and a Thigh. This Bird is common in Egypt, and about Gaza in Palestine. The Hebrew Word Cos signifies a Cup, or a Vessel to drink out of. A Word which may also be us’d to signify the great Pouch of the Onocrotalus mention’d before. This is a solitary Bird as well as the Owl4, call’d Avis Coloss. iv. 15.solitaria in the same Passage of the Psalms.
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