Soon, however, they found cause to repent of their ambition. The golden crown became heavy and wearisome to them, and, besides, the wealth bestowed on the birds rendered them the prey of every fowler. The unfortunate Hoopoes were persecuted in all directions for the sake of their golden crowns which they could neither take off nor conceal. At last, the few survivors presented themselves before Solomon, and begged him to rescind his fatal gift, which he did by substituting a crest of feathers for the crown of gold. The Hoopoe, however, never forgets its former grandeur, and is always bowing and bending itself as it used to do when contemplating its golden crown in the water. [Illustration: lapwing] [Illustration: EASTERN HOUSE-TOP.] THE SPARROW. The Sparrow upon the house top--Architecture of the East--Little birds exposed for sale in the market--The two Sparrows sold for a farthing--Bird-catching--The net, the snare, and the trap. We have already discussed the signification of the compound word _tzippor-deror_, and will now take the word _tzippor_ alone. Like many other Hebrew terms, the word is evidently used in a collective sense, signifying any small bird that is not specially designated. In several portions of Scripture it is translated as Sparrow, and to that word we will at present restrict ourselves. On turning to Ps. cii. 5-7, we find that the word is used as an emblem of solitude and misery: "By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my skin. "I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert, "I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house-top." The word which is here translated as "Sparrow" is _tzippor_, the same which is rendered as "bird" in Lev. xiv. 4. The Hebrew Bible more consistently uses the collective term "bird" in both instances, and renders the passage as, "I watch, and am as a lonely bird upon a roof." Now, any one who knows the habits of the Sparrow is perfectly aware that it is a peculiarly sociable bird. It is quarrelsome enough with its fellows, and always ready to fight for a stray grain or morsel of food; but it is exceedingly gregarious, assembling together in little parties, enlivening the air with its merry though unmusical twitterings. This cosmopolitan bird is plentiful in the coast towns of Palestine, where it haunts the habitations of men with the same dauntless confidence which it displays in this country. It is often seen upon roofs or house-tops, but is no more apt to sit alone in Palestine than it is here. On the contrary, the Sparrows collect in great numbers on the house-tops, attracted by the abundant supply of food which it finds there. This requires some little explanation.