Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 84:3

Thine altars is a poetical way of saying, Thy house. It is manifestly a special term, instead of a general. Yet it has been seriously argued, that no birds could or would ever be suffered to build their nests on the altar. Surely this sort of expression, which is hardly a figure, is common enough. A parte apotiori fit denominato. We say, "There goes a sail." What should we think of a man who should argue that a sail cannot go? The altars mean the temple. There was

"no jutty frieze,

Buttress, nor coigne of vantage, but these birds

Had made their pendant bed; " not to mention that trees grew within the sacred enclosure, where birds might have built their nests. J. J. Stewart Perowne.