Chullin

render invalid the waters of purification1 except the dove, because it sucks up the water.2 Now if it were [as you say], it should read ‘Except the dove and the tasil’? — R. Zera answered: The latter sucks up the water and spits it back,3 whereas the former sucks up without spitting. Rab Judah said: Zuzinian4 doves are fit for the altar; and they are identical with the doves of Rehabah. An objection was raised. [We have learnt:]5 Hyssop,6 but not Greek hyssop, nor Kohalith7 hyssop, nor Roman hyssop, nor wild hyssop, nor any kind of hyssop which bears a special name!8 — Abaye said: Everything which prior to the giving of the Torah had various names, and we find that the Torah is particular about it,9 then those kinds that bear a special name are invalid. These doves, however, did not have various names prior to the giving of the Torah,10 Raba said: These Zuzinian doves are called simply [‘doves’] in their locality. Rab Judah said: Karze11 which are found among the rushes are permitted, but those found among cabbages are forbidden. Rabina added: And we scourge [him that eats them] for [eating] winged creeping things.12 Rab Judah further said: Zarda13 is permitted but barda13 is forbidden; and in order to remember this think of the expression, ‘Keep aloof [bar] from it’.14 As to marda15 there is a doubt. R. Assi said: There are eight birds regarding which there is a doubt, viz., Huba, huga, suga, harnuga, tushlami, marda, kohilna, and bar nappaka.16 What is the doubt about them? — [It is this]. One of the characteristics of clean birds is that the gizzard can be peeled, and one of the characteristics of unclean birds is that the gizzard cannot be peeled, but in the case of these [eight] the gizzard can only be peeled with a knife.17 But was there not a case of a duck belonging to Mar Samuel, the gizzard of which could not be peeled, so it was left in the sun, and as soon as it became soft it peeled easily?18 — In that case as soon as it became soft it peeled easily with the hand, but here even after it has been softened it can only be peeled with a knife. Abaye said: The moor-cock is one of the eight cases of doubt, for it is the mardu.19 R. Papa said: The moor-cock is forbidden but the moor-hen is permitted, and in order to remember this think of the rule, ‘An Ammonite [is debarred] but not an Ammonitess’.20 Meremar stated in an exposition: The moor-hen is forbidden because it was seen to seize prey and eat it, and this is girutha. 21 Rab said: Shabur androfata22 is permitted, piruz androfata22 is forbidden; and to remember this think of ‘the wicked piruz’.23 R. Huna said: Bunia24 is permitted, parwa24 is forbidden, and to remember this think of ‘Parwa the magician’.25 R. Papa said: The mardu which stands erect and eats is permitted, that which bends down and eats is forbidden, and to remember this think of the verse: Thou shalt bow down to no other god.26 Samuel said: The ‘wine drinker’27 is forbidden, and to remember this think of the law ‘Those that have drunk wine are unfit for service’.28 Samuel further said: The ‘wine mixer’29 is forbidden, beaks, and it is inevitable that some water should not run out of the beak and, in this case, drip back again into the bowl of purification water. This dripping would render the purification water invalid, because the water is thereby disturbed and it is considered as if it were put to some work. V. supra 9b. sacrifice, contra Rab Judah. Torah contemplated all doves. V. Lewysohn, op. cit., p. 297. tsrm, the linnet, tsrc, the white jay, and tsrn or usrn, the moor-cock, respectively. tsrc, for it is forbidden. woodpecker, and the partridge respectively. V. Lewysohn. It must be pointed out that these identifications are extremely doubtful. The suggestions can hardly be more than guesses. moor-cock is a forbidden species, whilst the moor-hen is not. V. Tosaf. s.v. t,kudbr,. domesticated kind (ruca, broken in), and piruz the wild kind (from zrp to break through).