CHAPTER II.

Various modes of capturing Fish--The hook and line--Military use of the hook--Putting a hook in the jaws--The fishing spear--Different kinds of net--The casting-net--Prevalence of this form--Technical words among fishermen--Fishing by night--The draught of Fishes--The real force of the miracle--Selecting the Fish--The Fish-gate and Fish-market--Fish killed by a draught--Fishing in the Dead Sea--Dagon, the fish-god of Philistina, Assyria, and Siam--Various Fishes of Egypt and Palestine 571

INVERTEBRATES.

MOLLUSCS.

The purple of Scripture--Various Molluscs from which it is obtained--The common Dog whelk of England--The sac containing the purple dye--Curious change of colour--Mode of obtaining the dye--The Tyrian purple--The king of the Ethiopians and the purple robe--The professional purple dyers--Various words expressive of different shades of purple--Care taken to keep the preparation of the dye secret 586

THE SNAIL.

The Snail which melteth--Rendering of the Jewish Bible--Theory respecting the track of the Snail--The Hebrew word _Shablul_--Various Snails of Palestine 589

THE ONYCHA.

Ingredients of the sacred incense--The Onyx, or Onycha--Derivation of the word--The Arabic Dofr--The Doofu of Abyssinia--Odour of the perfume 590

THE PEARL.

The Pearl of Scripture--Wisdom compared to Pearl--Different renderings of the Hebrew word--Opinions of the Talmudists--Structure of Pearls--The Pearls of the marine and aquatic mussels--Pearl-fisheries of the Conway--Metaphorical uses of the Pearl--The Pearl of great price--Casting Pearls before swine--An ancient proverb 592

INSECTS.

Insects--Beetles not mentioned in Scripture--The Locust--Various species of the insect, and different words used to signify it--The Arbeh of Scripture, and its derivation--The two migratory Locusts at rest and on the wing--The Locust swarms--Gordon Cumming's account--Progress of the insect hosts--Vain attempts to check them--Tossed up and down as a Locust--Effect of the winds on the insect--The east and the west winds--Locusts used for food--Ancient and modern travellers--The food of St. John 596

THE BEE.

The Hebrew word _Debôrah_-The Honey Bee of Palestine--Abundance of Bees in the Holy Land--Habitations of the wild Bee--Hissing for the Bee--Bees in dead carcases--The honey of Scripture--Domesticated Bees and their hives--Stores of wild honey--The story of Jonathan--The Crusaders and the honey--Butter and honey--Oriental sweetmeats--The Dibs, or grape-honey, and mode of preparation--Wax, its use as a metaphor 605

THE HORNET.

The Tzirah or Hornet of Scripture--Travellers driven away by Hornets--The Hornet used as a metaphor--Oriental symbolism--The Talmudical writers--Sting of the Hornet 613

THE ANT.

The Ant of Scripture--Solomon's allusion to the Ant--Habit of laying up stores of food--A controversy respecting the Ant--The Ants of Palestine, and their habits--The Agricultural or Mound-making Ant--Preparing ground, sowing, tending, reaping, and storing the crop--Different habits of Ants--Development of the insect--The winged Ants--An Arab proverb 616

THE CRIMSON WORM.

The scarlet or crimson of Scripture--Signification of the word _Tolââth_--The Coccus or Cochineal of Palestine compared with that of Mexico--Difference between the sexes--Mode of preparing the insect--The Arabic word _Kermes_ 622

THE CLOTHES MOTH.

The Moth of Scripture evidently the Clothes Moth--The Sâs and the 'Ash--Similitude between the Hebrew _sâs_ and the Greek _sês_--Moths and garments--Accumulation of clothes in the East--Various uses of the hoarded robes--The Moths, the rust, and the thief 624

THE SILKWORM MOTH.

Various passages wherein Silk is mentioned--The virtuous woman and her household--Probability that the Hebrews were acquainted with Silk--Present cultivation of the Silkworm--The Silk-farms of the Lebanon--Signification of the word _Meshi_--Silkworms and thunder--Luis of Grenada's sermon--The Hebrew word _Gâzam_, and its signification--The Palmer-worm of Scripture 627

FLIES.

Flies of Scripture--Dead Flies and the apothecary's ointment--Gadflies and their attacks--Annoyance caused by the House-fly--Flies and ophthalmia--Signor Pierotti's account of the Flies--The sovereign remedy against Flies--Causes of their prevalence 632

GNATS.

The Gnat of Scripture--Straining out the Gnat and swallowing the camel, a typographical error--Probable identity of the Gnat and the mosquito 635

THE LOUSE.

Insect parasites--The plague of Lice--Its effect on the magicians or priests--The Hebrew word _Chinnim_--Probability that it may be represented by "tick"--Habits of the ticks, their dwellings in dust, and their effects on man and beast 636

THE FLEA.

Prevalence of the Flea in the East, and the annoyance caused by them to travellers--Fleas of the Lebanon--The Bey's bedfellows--The Pasha at the bath--Use of the word in Scripture 638

THE SCORPION.

The Scorpions of Palestine--Signification of the word _Akrabbim_--Habits of the Scorpion--Dangers of mud walls--Venom of the Scorpion--Scorpions at sea--The Scorpion whip, and its use--The Scorpion Pass 640

THE SPIDER.

Signification of the word _Semamith_--Various interpretations of a Scriptural passage--Talmudical opinions respecting the creature--The 'Akkabish and its web--Spiders of Palestine 643

THE WORM.

Various words translated as "Worm"--Probable confusion of the words--The Rimmah and the Tole'ah--The Worm which destroyed Jonah's gourd--The Earthworm 644

THE HORSE LEECH.

Signification of the word _Alukah_--The Arabic word--Leeches in Palestine--The horse and the Leech--Leeches in England 646

SPONGE AND CORAL.

Use of the Sponge in Scripture--Probability that the ancient Jews were acquainted with it--Sponges of the Mediterranean--The Coral, and its value--Signification of the word _Ramoth_ 647

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

THE OSTRICH AND ITS HUNTERS. (Job xxxix. 19) _Frontispiece._

THE LION AND HIS DEN. (Ezek. xix. 2) _to face_ 26

DOGS PROWLING AT NIGHT. (Psa. lix. 14) " 48

THE BADGER AND ITS HOME. (Exod. xxvi. 14) " 72

BEARS DESCENDING FROM THE HILLS. (Prov. xxviii. 15) " 76

OXEN BEARING THE YOKE. (Lam. iii. 27) " 104

SHEEP AND THEIR SHEPHERD AND FOLD. (Psa. xxiii. 2) " 156

GOATS WOUNDED BY LION. (Amos iii. 12) " 202

THE HIND AND HER YOUNG. (Job xxxix. 1) " 212

CAMELS AND THEIR BURDENS. (Isa. xxx. 6) " 222

THE WAR HORSE GOING TO BATTLE. (Job xxxix. 25) " 250

WILD ASSES AND THE HUNTERS. (Job xxxix. 5-8) " 282

THE WILD BOAR IN THE VINEYARD. (Psa. lxxx. 13) " 300

ELEPHANTS IN A FOREST. (Ezek. xxvii. 15) " 312

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS OR BEHEMOTH. (Job xl. 21) " 324

VULTURES AND THEIR PREY. (Matt. xxiv. 28) " 352

THE EAGLE AND ITS NEST. (Job xxxix. 27) " 354

THE OSPREY AND ITS HAUNTS. (Deut. xiv. 12) " 356

THE OWL AMONG RUINS. (Job xxx. 29) " 376

PEACOCKS. (1 Kings x. 22) " 426

THE BITTERN AND ITS HOME. (Isa. xiv. 23) " 466

THE STORK IN THE FIR-TREES. (Psa. civ. 17) " 482

THE CROCODILE OR LEVIATHAN. (Job xli. 7) " 520

LOCUSTS ON THE MARCH. (Exod. x. 5) " 600

ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT.

PAGE

THE RHESUS AND ENTELLUS. (1 Kings x. 22) 3

THE WANDEROO 6

BATS IN THEIR CAVE. (Levit. xi. 19) 17

THE LEOPARD BY THE WAY. (Hos. xiii. 7) 30

THE WOLF AMONG THE SHEEP. (John x. 12) 51

JACKALS AND THE SCAPEGOAT. (Psa. lxiii. 10) 56

HYÆNAS AND VULTURES. (Ezek. xxix. 5) 65

THE HEDGEHOG. (Isa. xxxiv. 11) 81

THE MOLE-RAT. (Levit. xi. 30) 87

FIELD-MICE AMONG CORN. (1 Sam. vi. 5) 93

SYRIAN HARES. (Deut. xiv. 7) 97

OXEN TREADING OUT CORN. (Deut. xxv. 4) 107

THE BUFFALO. (Amos vi. 12) 114

THE WILD BULL, OR ORYX. (Isa. li. 21) 119

THE UNICORN, OR BISON. (Job xxxix. 9) 132

GAZELLES UPON THE MOUNTAINS. (Cant. ii. 8) 136

THE PYGARG, OR ADDAX. (Deut. xiv. 4) 142

THE FALLOW-DEER, OR BUBALE. (1 Kings iv. 23) 145

SHEEP LED TO PASTURE. (John x. 3) 154

THE RAM'S HORN TRUMPET. (Josh. vi. 4) 175

THE PLACE OF SACRIFICE ON MOUNT GERIZIM 181

THE CHAMOIS, OR AOUDAD. (Deut. xiv. 4, 5) 187

GOATS DIVIDED FROM SHEEP. (Matt. xxv. 52) 199

THE WILD GOAT, OR IBEX. (Psa. cxiv. 18) 206

THE HIND, OR FALLOW-DEER. (Cant. ii. 7) 209

THE DROMEDARY AND ITS RIDER. (Jer. ii. 23) 231

THE CAMEL AND THE "NEEDLE'S EYE." (Matt. xix. 24) 243

BACTRIAN CAMELS HARNESSED. (Isa. xxi. 7) 246

THE WAR CHARIOT OF EGYPT. (Jer. xlvi. 9) 261

THE STATE CHARIOT OF ASSYRIA. (Jer. xvii. 25) 262

SYRIAN ASSES. (Prov. xxvi. 3) 269

MULES AND THEIR DRIVER. (Psa. xxxii. 9) 287

CONIES AMONG THE ROCKS. (Prov. xxx. 26) 313

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS IN THE RIVER. (Job xl. 21) 325

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS AND TRAP. (Job xl. 24) 328

THE OSSIFRAGE, OR LÄMMERGEIER. (Deut. xiv. 12) 334

THE GIER-EAGLE, OR EGYPTIAN VULTURE. (Deut. xiv. 17) 340

THE VULTURE, OR KITE. (JOB xxviii. 7) 358

THE GLEDE, OR PEREGRINE FALCON. (Deut. xiv. 13) 361

THE LANNER FALCON 363

THE HAWK, OR KESTREL. (Job xxxix. 26) 366

THE LITTLE OWL. (Psa. cii. 6) 372

THE NIGHT-HAWK. (Deut. xiv. 15) 378

THE SWALLOW AND SWIFT. (Jer. viii. 7) 385

THE LAPWING, OR HOOPOE. (Levit. xi. 19) 393

THE SPARROW, OR BLUE THRUSH. (Psa. cii. 7) 399

THE SPARROW, OR TREE SPARROW. (Psa. lxxxiv. 3) 403

THE CUCKOO. (Levit. xi. 16) 406

THE ROCK DOVE. (Cant. ii. 14) 416

THE TURTLE DOVE. (Cant. ii. 12) 420

POULTRY. (Luke xiii. 34) 423

THE PARTRIDGE ON THE MOUNTAINS. (1 Sam. xxvi. 20) 428

THE QUAIL. (Psa. cv. 40) 431

THE RAVEN. (Job xxxviii. 41) 441

THE OSTRICH AND ITS EGGS. (Job xxxix. 14) 454

THE BITTERN. (Isa. xiv. 23) 463

THE HERON. (Deut. xi. 19) 469

THE CRANE. (Isa. xxxviii. 14) 475

THE SWAN OR IBIS, OR GALLINULE. (Deut. xiv. 16) 486

THE PELICAN OF THE WILDERNESS. (Psa. cii. 6) 496

THE TORTOISE AND DHUBB. (Levit. xi. 29) 507

THE LIZARD, OR CYPRIUS. (Levit. xi. 30) 530

THE CHAMELEON AND THE GECKO. (Levit. xi. 30) 535

THE ASP AND THE ADDER, OR THE COBRA AND THE CERASTES. (Psa. lviii. 4; Gen. xlix. 17) 542

THE VIPER, OR TOXICOA. (Job xx. 16) 553

THE FROG. (Exod. viii. 3) 558

FISHES--MURÆNA, BARBEL, AND SHEAT-FISH. (Levit. xi. 10) 566

FISHES--SUCKING-FISH, TUNNY, AND CORYPHENE. (Levit. x. 9) 569

FISHES--LATES, MULLUS, AND URANOSCOPUS. (Numb. xi. 5) 582

THE PEARL OYSTER. (Matt. xiii. 45) 594

THE BEE. (Isa. vii 19) 606

THE HORNET. (Exod. xxiii. 28) 614

THE ANT. (Prov. vi. 6) 621

THE CRIMSON WORM, OR COCHINEAL. (Isa. i. 18) 623

BUTTERFLIES AND CATERPILLARS OF PALESTINE. (Joel i. 4) 631

FLIES. (Isa. vii. 18) 635

THE SCORPION. (Rev. ix. 10) 641

THE CORAL. (Job xxviii. 18) 648

MAMMALIA.

BIBLE ANIMALS.

THE APE.

The Monkey tribe rarely mentioned in Scripture--Why the Ape was introduced into Palestine--Solomon's ships, and their cargo of Apes, peacocks, ivory and gold--Various species of Monkey that might have been imported--The Rhesus Monkey--The Hoonuman or Entellus--Habits of the Monkey, and reverence in which it is held by the natives--The Egyptians and their Baboon worship--Idols and memorials--The Wanderoo--its singular aspect--Reasons why it should be introduced into Palestine--General habits of the Wanderoo--its love of curiosities--Probability that Solomon had a menagerie--Various species of Monkey that maybe included in the term "Kophim"--The Satyr of Scripture--Babylon in its glory and fall--Fulfilment of prophecy--Judaic ideas of the Satyrs, or Seirim.

Animals belonging to the monkey tribe are but sparingly mentioned in Holy Writ. If, as is possible, the Satyr of Scripture signifies some species of baboon, there are but three passages either in the Old or New Testament where these animals are mentioned. In 1 Kings x. 22, and the parallel passage 2 Chron. ix. 21, the sacred historian makes a passing allusion to apes as forming part of the valuable cargoes which were brought by Solomon's fleet to Tharshish, the remaining articles being gold, ivory, and peacocks. The remaining passage occurs in Is.