Although we have evidence that dogs were used by the ancient Fygyptians, Assyrians, and Indians in the chase, yet there is no allusion in Scripture to their be- ing so employed among the Jews, nor does it appear that any of the ancients emjiloyed the sagacity of the dog, as we do that of the pointer and setter, as an aux- iliary in the chase of winged game. At the present day the Bedawin of Palestine employ, in the pursuit of larger game, a ver^' valuable race of greyhounds, equal- ling the Scottish staghound in size and strength; but the inhabitants of the towns have a strong prejudice against the unclean animal, and never cultivate its in- stinct for any further purpose than that of protecting their houses and flocks (Job xxx, 1; Isa. Ivi, 10) and of removing the offal from their towns and villages. No wonder, then, that its use has been neglected for purposes which would have entailed the constant dan- ger of detilement from an unclean animal, besides the risk of being compelled to reject as food game which might be torn by the dogs (comp. Exod. xxii, 31 ; Lev. xxii. 8, etc.).
Whether falconn,' was ever employed as a mode of fowling or not is by no means so clear. Its anti(|uity is certainly ranch greater than the introduction of dogs in the chase of birds; and from the statement of Aris- totle (Amiii. Hist, ix, 24), "In the city of Thrace, for- , merly called Cedropolis, men hunt binls in the marshes with the help of hawks," and from the allusion to the ' use of falconry in India, according to Photius's abridg- ment of Ctesias, we may presume that the art was known to the neighbors of the ancient Israelites (see also yElian. I>e Xat. A vim. iv, 2(!, and Pliny, x, H). F'alcon- ry. however, retpiires an open and not very rugged coun- try for its successful pursuit, and Palestine west of the Jordan is in its whole extent ill adapted for this species of chase. At the ]>resent d.ay falconry is jjracticed with much care and skill by the Arab inhabitants of Syria, ^ though not in Jud;ea i)roper. It is, indeed, the favorite amusement of all the Bedawin of Asia and Africa, and esteemed an exclusively noble sport, onl}' to be indidged in by wealthy sheiks. The rarest and most v;iluable species of hiniling falcon (Fidro l(iii(iriiis,\j\\m.).\\\i' lan- ner, is a native ol the Lebanon and of the northern hills
SPARROW
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of Palestine. It is highly prized by the inhabitants, and the young are taken from the nest and sold for a considerable price to the chieftains of the Hauran. Forty pounds sterling is no uncommon price for a well- trained falcon. A description of falconry as now prac- ticed among the Arabs would be out of place here, as tliere is no direct allusion to the subject in the Old or New Test. — Smith. See Fowlkk.
Sparrovr, Anthony, a learned English prelate, was born at Ue|)den, in Suffolk, and was first a scholar and then a fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge. He, with others, was ejected from his fellowship in I(j43 for loyalty and refusing the covenant. Soon afterwards he accepted the rectory of Hawkedon, Suffolk, but, before he had held it above five weeks, was ejected for reading the Common I'rayer. After the Restoration he return- ed to his living, was elected one of the preachers at Bury St. Edmund's, and was made archdeacon of Sud- bury and a prebendary of Ely. About 1664 he was elected master of Queen's College, and resigned Bury St. Edmund's and the Hawkedon rectory. He was conse- crated bishop of Exeter, Nov. 3, 1667, and bishop of Nor- wich in 1678. He died in May, 1685. He wrote, R<i- iianale of the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of Enf/land (Lond. 1657, )2rao): — also a Collection of Articles, Injunctions, Canons, Orders, etc. (1671, 4to ). See Chalmers, Biog. Diet. s. v.; AUibone, Diet, of Brit, and A iner. A uthors, s. v.
Sparro'wr, Patrick J., D.D., a Presbyterian di- vine, was born in Lincoln County, N. C, in 1802. His father died while he was quite young, and, owing to the poverty of his mother, he was hired out to assist in supporting the family. The family in which he worked became interested in him, and placed him in the Bethel Academy, S. C, then under the care of Rev. Samuel Williamson. He remained in that institution about eighteen months, and this was all the academical edu- cation he ever received, never having enjoyed the ad- vantages of a collegiate or theological course. After leaving the academy he engaged in teaching and study- ing with such assistance as he could obtain, until he was licensed by Bethel Presbytery in 1826. His first charge was Washington and Long Creek churches in his na- tive county, in 1828 he removed to Lincolnton, N. C, where he was engaged in preaching and teaching; in 1831 he became jiastor of Unitv Church in the same county; and in 1834 of the Church in Salisbury, N. C. It was while in this charge that a joint effort was made by Concord and Bethel presbyteries to build up a lit- erary institution for the education of young men for the ministry. The men selected as suitable agents to raise the funds were Rev. P. J. Sparrow and Rev. R. H. Morrison. They were so successful in their work that the institution was put in operation in March, 1837, re- ceiving the name of Davidson College. Dr. Sparrow was chosen the first professor of languages in this insti- tution, the duties of which position he continued to discharge until 1840, when he received a call from the College Church in Prince Edward County, Va., and be- came its pastor in 1841. He was at that time in the prime of his manhood, both intellectually and physical- ly, was a most indefatigable student, greatly in love with work, and was willing to undertake any labor, liowever arduous or self-denying. While thus iireach- ing a vacancy occurred in the i)residency of Hampden Sidney College, and he was invited to occupy that po- sition temporarily; he accepted, and immediately wrote out a full course of lectures to the senior class on moral philosophy, and as a result he was elected permanent president, anil continued, as long as he remained there, to perform the duties of presi<lent of the college as well as pastor of the Church. In 1847-48 he re- moved to Alabama, and became principal of the Pres- byterian high -school in Eutaw; in 1849 was stated supply to Burton's Hill Church; in 1850 became a teacher in Newbern, and soon after began preaching