Lapwing

The rendering in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew "dukifat," enumerated among the unclean birds in Lev. xi. 19 and Deut. xiv. 18. The rendering of the Revised Version, "hoopoe," is, however, supported by the ancient versions (LXX. ἔποπα, "epopa"; Vulgate, "upupa"), and is generally accepted as the more correct one. The hoopoe winters in Egypt and returns to Palestine in the spring. It feeds on insects in dunghills and marshy places. The Arabs ascribe to it magical properties.

The Talmud understands by "dukifat" the mountain-cock ("nagar ṭura," Ḥul. 63a [Rashi]; comp. also Targ. to the Biblical passages; "tarnegol bara," Giṭ. 68b), to which the angel presiding over the sea entrusted the Shamir. The dukifat appears also in the legend of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba (Targ. Yer. to Esther i.; Koran, sura xxvii.). For the medicinal use of its blood see Shab. 78a.

Bibliography:

  * Tristram, Nat. Hist. p. 208;
  * Lewysohn, Z. T. p. 216.



E. G. H. I. M. C.