Chapter II (2)

In a second letter, Dr. Lincecum, in reply to an inquiry from Mr. Darwin, whether he supposed that the Ants plant seeds for the ensuing crop, says, "I have not the slightest doubt of it. And my conclusions have not been arrived at from hasty or careless observation, nor from seeing the ants do something that looked a little like it, and then guessing at the results. I have at all seasons watched the same ant-cities during the last twelve years, and I know that what I stated in my former letter is true. I visited the same cities yesterday, and found the crop of ant-rice growing finely, and exhibiting also the signs of high cultivation, and not a blade of any other kind of grass or weed was to be seen within twelve inches of the circular row of ant-rice."

The economical habits of this wonderful insect far surpass anything that Solomon has written of the Ant, and it is not too much to say that if any of the Scriptural writers had ventured to speak of an Ant that not only laid up stores of grain, but actually prepared the soil for the crop, planted the seed, kept the ground free from weeds, and finally reaped the harvest, the statement would have been utterly disbelieved, and the credibility not only of that particular writer but of the rest of Scripture severely endangered.

As may be inferred from the above description, the habits of Ants vary greatly according to their species and the climate in which they live. All, however, are wonderful creatures; and whether we look at their varied architecture, their mode of procuring food, the system of slave-catching adopted by some, the "milking" of aphides practised by others, their astonishing mode of communicating thought to each other, and their perfect system of discipline, we feel how true were the words of the royal naturalist, that the Ants are "little upon earth, but are exceeding wise."

There is one point of their economy in which all known species agree. Only those which are destined to become perfectly developed males and females attain the winged state. Before they assume the transitional or pupal condition, each spins around itself a slight but tough silken cocoon, in which it lies secure during the time which is consumed in developing its full perfection of form.

When it is ready to emerge, the labourer Ants aid in freeing it from the cocoon, and in a short time it is ready to fly. Millions of these winged ants rise into the air, seeking their mates, and, as they are not strong on the wing, and are liable to be tossed about by every gust of wind, vast numbers of them perish. Whole armies of them fall into the water and are drowned or devoured by fish, while the insectivorous birds hold great festival on so abundant a supply of food. As soon as they are mated they bend their wings forward, snap them off, and pass the rest of their lives on the ground.

In consequence of the destruction that takes place among the winged Ants, the Arabs have a proverb which is applied to those who are over-ambitious: "If God purposes the destruction of an ant, He permits wings to grow upon her."

THE CRIMSON WORM.

The scarlet or crimson of Scripture--The Coccus or Cochineal of
Palestine compared with that of Mexico--Difference between the
sexes--Mode of preparing the insect.

We now come to another order of insects.

Just as the purple dye was obtained from a shell-fish, the scarcely less valuable crimson or scarlet was obtained from an insect. This is an insect popularly known as the Crimson Worm. It is closely allied to the cochineal insect of Mexico, which gives a more brilliant dye, and has at the present day nearly superseded the native insect. It is, however, still employed as a dye in some parts of the country.

Like the cochineal insect of Mexico, the female is very much larger than her mate, and it is only from her that the dye is procured. At the proper season of year the females are gathered off the trees and carefully dried, the mode of drying having some effect upon the quality of the dye. During the process of drying the insect alters greatly, both in colour and size, shrinking to less than half its original dimensions, and assuming a greyish brown hue instead of a deep red. When placed in water it soon gives out its colouring matter, and communicates to the water the rich colour with which we are familiar under the name of carmine, or crimson. This latter name, by the way, is only a corruption of the Arabic _kermes_, which is the name of the insect.

The reader will remember that this was one of the three sacred colours--scarlet, purple, and blue--used in the vestments of the priests and the hangings of the tabernacle, the white not taking rank as a colour.

THE CLOTHES MOTH.

The Moth of Scripture evidently the Clothes Moth--Moths and
garments--Accumulation of clothes in the East--Various uses of
the hoarded robes--The Moths, the rust, and the thief.

One of the insects mentioned by name in the Scriptures is the MOTH, by which we must always understand some species of Clothes Moth. These are as plentiful and destructive in Palestine as in this country.

Several references are made to the Moth in the Scriptures, and nearly all have reference to its destructive habits. The solitary exceptions occur in the Book of Job, "Behold, He put no trust in His servants; and His angels He charged with folly: how much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?"

In the New Testament reference is made several times to the Moth. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal" (Matt. vi. 19).

Even to ourselves these passages are significant enough, but to the Jews and the inhabitants of Palestine they possessed a force which we can hardly realize in this country. In the East large stores of clothing are kept by the wealthy, not only for their own use, but as presents to others. At a marriage feast, for example, the host presents each of the guests with a wedding garment. Clothes are also given as marks of favour, and a present of "changes of raiment," _i.e._ suits of clothing, is one of the most common gifts. As at the present day, there was anciently no greater mark of favour than for the giver to present the very robe which he was wearing, and when that robe happened to be an official one, the gift included the rank which it symbolized. Thus Joseph was invested with royal robes, as well as with the royal ring (Gen. xli. 42). Mordecai was clothed in the king's robes: "Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head.

"And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour." (Esther vi. 8, 9.)

The loose clothing of the East requires no fitting, as is the case with the tight garments of the West; any garment fits any man: so that the powerful and wealthy could lay up great stores of clothing, knowing that they would fit any person to whom they were given. An allusion to this practice of keeping great stores of clothing is made in Job xxvii. 26: "Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

"He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver."

So large was the supply of clothing in a wealthy man's house, that special chambers were set apart for it, and a special officer, called the "keeper of the garments" (2 Chron. xxxiv. 22), was appointed to take charge of them.

Thus, when a man was said to have clothing, the expression was a synonym for wealth and power. See Isa. iii. 6: "When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler."

The reader will now see how forcible was the image of the Moth and the garments, that is used so freely in the Scriptures. The Moth would not meddle with garments actually in use, so that a poor man would not be troubled with it. Only those who were rich enough to keep stores of clothing in their houses need fear the Moth.

THE SILKWORM MOTH.

Probability that the Hebrews were acquainted with Silk--Present
cultivation of the Silkworm--The Silk-farms of the
Lebanon--Silkworms and thunder.

In the Authorized Version there are several passages wherein silk is mentioned, but it is rather doubtful whether the translation be correct or not, except in one passage of the Revelation: "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

"The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk." (xviii. 11, 12.)

That the Hebrews were acquainted with silk from very early times is nearly certain, but it is probable that until comparatively late years they only knew the manufactured material, and were ignorant of the source whence it was derived. As to the date at which silk was introduced into Palestine, nothing certain is known; but it is most likely that Solomon's fleets brought silk from India, together with the other valuables which are mentioned in the history of that monarch.

At the present day silk is largely cultivated, and the silk-farmers of the Lebanon are noted for the abundance of the crop which is annually produced. The greatest care is taken in rearing the worms. An excellent account of these farms is given by Mr. G. W. Chasseaud in his "Druses of the Lebanon:"--

"Proceeding onward, and protected from the fierce heat of the sun's rays by the pleasant shade of mountain pines, we were continually encountering horseloads of cocoons, the fruit of the industry of the Druse silk-rearer. The whole process, from hatching the silkworms' eggs till the moment that the worm becomes a cocoon, is one series of anxiety and labour to the peasant. The worms are so delicate that the smallest change of temperature exposes them to destruction, and the peasant can never confidently count upon reaping a harvest until the cocoon is fairly set."

After a long and interesting description of the multiplied and ceaseless labours of the silk-grower in providing food for the armies of caterpillars and sheltering them from the elements, the writer proceeds as follows:--

"The peasant is unwilling to permit of our remaining and watching operations. Traditional superstition has inculcated in him a dread of the evil eye. If we stop and admire the wisdom displayed by the worm, it will, in his opinion, be productive of evil results; either the cocoon will be badly formed, or the silk will be worthless. So, first clearing the place of all intruders, he puts a huge padlock on the door, and, locking the _khlook_ (room in which the silkworms are kept), deposits the key in his _zinnar,_ or waistband.

"Next week he will come and take out the cocoons, and, separating them from the briars, choose out a sufficiency for breeding purposes, and all the rest are handed over to the women of his family. These first of all disentangle the cocoon from the rich and fibrous web with which it is enveloped, and which constitutes an article of trade by itself. The cocoons are then either reeled off by the peasant himself or else sold to some of the silk factories of the neighbourhood, where they are immediately reeled off, or are suffocated in an oven, and afterwards, being well aired and dried, piled up in the magazines of the factory.

"Such is a brief account or history of these cocoons, of which we were continually encountering horseload after horseload.

"As you will perceive, unless suffering from a severe cold in the head, the odour arising from these cocoons is not the most agreeable; but this arises partly from the neglect and want of care of the peasants themselves, who, reeling off basketful after basketful of cocoons, suffer the dead insects within to be thrown about and accumulate round the house, where they putrefy and emit noxious vapours."

SYRIAN GRAYLING.
SYRIAN ORANGE-TIP.
SYRIAN SWALLOW-TAIL.
]

Although our limits will not permit the cultivation of the Silkworm to be described more fully, it may here be added that all silk-growers are full of superstition regarding the welfare of the caterpillars, and imagine that they are so sensitive that they will die of fear. The noise of a thunderclap is, in their estimation, fatal to Silkworms; and the breeders were therefore accustomed to beat drums within the hearing of the Silkworms, increasing the loudness of the sound, and imitating as nearly as possible the crash and roll of thunder, so that the caterpillars might be familiar with the sound if the thunderstorm should happen to break near them.

FLIES.

Flies of Scripture--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.

There are two Hebrew words which are translated as "fly." One is _zebub_, and the other is _arob_, the latter being applied to the flies which were brought upon Egypt in the great plague. It is probable that some different species is here signified, but there is no certainty in the matter. Any species, however, would be a sufficient plague if they exceeded the usual number which infest Egypt, and which at first make the life of a foreigner a burden to him. They swarm in such myriads, that he eats flies, drinks flies, and breathes flies.

Not the least part of the nuisance is, that they cluster in the eyes of those who are affected with the prevalent ophthalmia, which is so fertile a cause of blindness, and so convey the infection with them. A stranger is always struck with the appearance of the children, who have quantities of these pests upon and about their eyes, and yet seem perfectly unaffected by a visitation which would wellnigh drive a European mad.

Signor Pierotti writes feelingly on the subject:--

"These insects sometimes cause no slight suffering in Palestine, as I can vouch from my own experience. However large or however small they may be, a rabid and restless foe, they attack alike, and make themselves insufferable in a thousand ways, in every season and place, in the house and in the field, by day and by night.

"While I was encamped near the tents of the Bedawîn, in the neighbourhood of the Jordan, and to the south of Hebron, flies were brought in such numbers by the east wind that all, beasts and men, were in danger of being choked by them, as they crept into our ears, noses, and mouths, and all over our bodies. My servant and I were the first to fly from the pest, as we were spotted all over like lepers with the eruption caused by their bites: the Bedawîn themselves were not slow to follow our example.

"The flies, therefore, still infest Palestine as they did of old, except that they are not now so numerous as to compel the chiefs of the villages or tribes (answering to the kings of the Pentateuch and Joshua) to evacuate the country before them.

"The Philistines had a special deity whom they invoked against these pests, Baalzebub, the God of Flies, whose temple was at Ekron. The reason of this is evident at the present day, for the ancient country of the Philistines is infested with insect plagues, as I experienced to my cost.

"As, however, we had no faith in Baalzebub, we were obliged to arm ourselves with fly-traps and stoical patience. Many travellers bring with them a perfect druggist's shop from Europe as a protection against these nuisances, and leave behind them this only efficacious remedy, patience. This I strongly recommend; it is very portable, very cheap, and equally useful in all climates.

"It is especially valuable in the case of the insects, as they are found everywhere in greater or less numbers; especially in the dwellings, where they are nourished by the carrion that lies about, the heaps of rubbish, the filth of the streets, the leakage of cesspools and sewers, the dirt in the houses, the filthy clothing worn by the people, and the kind of food they eat. Though the country of Baalzebub is deserted and enslaved, the flies are still abundant and free, self-invited guests at the table, unasked assistants in the kitchen, tasting everything, immolating themselves in their gastronomic ardour, and forming an undesired seasoning in every dish."

GNATS.

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

It has already been stated that only one species of fly is mentioned by name in the Scriptures. This is the Gnat, the name of which occurs in the familiar passage, "Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel" (Matt, xxiii. 24).

MOSQUITO. CAMEL FLY. ]

I may again mention here that the words "strain at" ought to have been printed "strain out," the substitution of one for the other being only a typographical error. The allusion is made to a custom which is explained by reference to the preceding article on the fly. In order to avoid taking flies and other insects into the mouth while drinking, a piece of thin linen stuff was placed over the cup, so that if any insects, as was usually the case, had got into the liquid, they would be "strained out" by the linen.

Whether or not any particular species of insect was signified by the word "gnat" is very doubtful, and in all probability the word is only used to express the contrast between the smallest known insects and the largest known beasts. Gnats, especially those species which are popularly known by the word "mosquito," are very plentiful in many parts of Palestine, especially those which are near water, and are as annoying there as in other lands which they inhabit.

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.

We close the history of insects mentioned in Scripture with two parasites of a singularly disagreeable character.

With respect to the former of them, we find it mentioned in the account of the great plagues of Egypt. After the two plagues of the waters and the frogs, both of which were imitated by the magicians, i.e. the priests, a third was brought upon Egypt, which affected the magicians even more than the people, for a reason which we shall presently see:--

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice, throughout all the land of Egypt.

"And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

"And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man and upon beast."

Now it is hardly possible to conceive a calamity which would have told with greater effect upon the magicians, by whose advice Pharoah had resisted the requests of Moses and Aaron.

Living in a land where all, from the highest to the lowest, were infested with parasites, the priests were so much in advance of the laity that they were held polluted if they harboured one single noxious insect upon their persons, or in their clothing. The clothing, being linen, could be kept clean by frequent washing, while the possibility of the body being infested by parasites was prevented by the custom of shaving the whole of the body, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, at least once in every three days.

It may easily be imagined, therefore, how terrible this visitation must have been to such men. As swine to the Pharisee, as the flesh of cattle to the Brahmin, so was the touch of a parasite to the Egyptian priest. He was degraded in his own estimation and in that of his fellows. He could perform no sacred offices: so that, in fact, all the idolatrous worship of Egypt ceased until this particular plague had been withdrawn.

We now come to a consideration of the insect which is signified by the Hebrew word _chinnim_. Sir Samuel Baker is of opinion that the word ought to have been translated as "ticks," and for the following reasons:--

After quoting the passage which relates to the stretching of Aaron's rod over the dust, and the consequence of that action, he proceeds as follows: "Now the louse that infests the human body and hair has no connexion whatever with dust, and, if subjected to a few hours' exposure to the dry heat of the burning sand, it would shrivel and die. But a tick is an inhabitant of the dust, a dry horny insect, without any apparent moisture in its composition. It lives in hot sand and dust, where it cannot possibly obtain nourishment until some wretched animal should lie down upon the spot, and become covered with these horrible vermin.

"I have frequently seen dry desert places so infested with ticks that the ground was perfectly alive with them, and it would have been impossible to have rested upon the earth. In such spots, the passage in Exodus has frequently seemed to me as bearing reference to these vermin, which are the greatest enemy to man and beast. It is well known that from the size of a grain of sand, in their natural state, they will distend to the size of a hazel nut after having preyed for some days on the body of an animal."

Granting that this suggestion be the correct one, as it certainly is the most consistent both with actual facts and with the words of Holy Writ, the plague would lose none of its intensity, but would, if anything, be more horrible. Only those who have suffered from them can appreciate the miseries caused by the attack of these ticks, which cling so tightly that they can scarcely be removed without being torn in pieces, and without leaving some portion of their head beneath the skin of their victim. Man and beast suffer equally from them, as is implied in the words of Scripture, and, unless they are very cautiously removed, painful and obstinate is the result of their bites.

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.

This active little pest absolutely swarms in the East. The inhabitants are so used to the Fleas that either the insects do not touch them, or by long custom they become so inured to their attack that the bites are not felt.

But every traveller in Eastern lands has a tale to tell about the Fleas, which seem to be accepted as one of the institutions of the country, and to be contemplated with perfect equanimity. Miss Rogers, for example, in her "Domestic Life in Palestine," mentions how she was obliged to stand upon a box in order to be out of the reach of a large company of Fleas that were hopping about on the floor!

Mr. Urquhart, experienced Orientalist as he was, found on one occasion that the Fleas were too strong for him. He had forgotten his curtain, and was invaded by armies of Fleas, that marched steadily up the bed and took possession of their prey. The people were quite amused at his complaints, and said that their Bey could not sleep without a couple of hundred of them in his bosom. Mr. Urquhart suggests that these little creatures act as a wholesome irritant to the skin, and says that the last two mouthfuls of every meal are for the benefit of the Fleas.

In order to show the perfect indifference with which the presence of these little pests is regarded, I quote a passage from Mr. Farley's "Druses of the Lebanon." He was in a Turkish bath, and was much amused at a scene which presented itself.

"A man, whose skin resembled old discoloured vellum, was occupying himself with the somewhat undignified pursuit of pursuing with great eagerness something that, from the movement of his hands, seemed continually to elude him, jumping about and taking refuge in the creases and folds of his shirt, that was spread out over his lap as he sat cross-legged on his bedstead like a tailor on his board. This oddity was no less a dignitary than a Pasha."

THE SCORPION.

mud walls--Venom of the Scorpion--Scorpions at sea--The Scorpion whip, and its use--The Scorpion Pass.

Scorpions are exceedingly common in Palestine, and to a novice are a constant source of terror until he learns to be accustomed to them. The appearance of the Scorpion is too well known to need description, every one being aware that it is in reality a kind of spider that has the venom claw at the end of its body, and not in its jaw. As to the rendering of the word _akrabbim_ as "Scorpions," there has never been any doubt.

These unpleasant creatures always manage to insinuate themselves in some crevice, and an experienced traveller is cautious where the Scorpions are plentiful, and will never seat himself in the country until he has ascertained that no Scorpions are beneath the stones on or near which he is sitting. Holes in walls are favourite places of refuge for the Scorpion, and are very plentiful, the mud walls always tumbling down in parts, and affording homes for Scorpions, spiders, snakes, and other visitors.

The venom of the Scorpion varies much in potency according to the species and size of the creature, some of the larger Scorpions being able to render a man ill for a considerable time, and even to kill him if he should be a sensitive subject. So much feared were the Scorpions that one of the chief privileges of the Apostles and their immediate followers was their immunity from the stings of Scorpions and the bite of venomous serpents.

It is said, however, that after a person has been stung once by a Scorpion, he suffers comparatively little the second time, and that if he be stung three or four times, the only pain that he suffers arises from the puncture. Sailors also say that after a week at sea the poison of the Scorpion loses its power, and that they care nothing for the Scorpions which are sure to come on board inside the bundles of firewood.

Those passages which mention the venom of the Scorpion are numerous, though most, if not all, of them occur in the New Testament. See Rev. ix. 5: "And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months, and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man." Also ver. 10 of the same chapter: "And they had tails like unto scorpions: and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months."

There is, also, the well-known saying of our Lord, "If a son shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?" (Luke xi. 12.) And in the preceding chapter of the same Evangelist Scorpions are classed with serpents in their power of injury: "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

* * * * *

There is another reference to the Scorpion in the Old Testament, which requires an explanation. It forms part of the rash counsel given to Rehoboam by his friends: "My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke; my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

The general tenor of this passage is evident enough, namely, that he intended to be far more severe than his father had been. But his words assume a new force when we remember that there was a kind of whip called a Scorpion. This terrible instrument was made for the express purpose of punishing slaves, so that the mere mention of it was an insult. It consisted of several thongs, each of which was loaded with knobs of metal, and tipped with a metal hook, so that it resembled the jointed and hooked tail of the Scorpion. This dreadful instrument of torture could kill a man by a few blows, and it was even used in combats in the amphitheatre, a gladiator armed with a Scorpion being matched against one armed with a spear.

THE SPIDER.

Spiders of Palestine.

There are very many species of Spider in Palestine; some which spin webs, like the common Garden Spider, some which dig subterranean cells and make doors in them, like the well-known Trap-door Spider of Southern Europe, and some which have no webs, but chase their prey upon the ground, like the Wolf and Hunting Spiders.

THE HORSE LEECH.

Signification of the word Alukah--Leeches in Palestine--The
horse and the Leech.

In Prov. xxx. 15 there is a word which only occurs once in the Scriptures. This is _alukah,_ which is translated as horse-leech. "The horseleech hath two daughters, crying, Give, give."

The Leeches are very common in Palestine, and infest the rivers to such an extent that they enter the nostrils of animals who come to drink, and cause great annoyance and even danger. The following anecdote, related by Mr. H. Dixon in his "Holy Land," gives us a good idea of the prevalence of the Leeches, and the tenacity with which they retain their hold:--

"At Beit-Dejan, on a slight twist in the road, we find the wheel and well, and hear a delicious plash and rustle in the troughs. To slip from my seat to dip Sabeah's nose into the fluid is the work of a second; but no sooner has she lapped up a mouthful of water, than one sees that the refuse falling back from her lips into the tank is dabbled and red. Opening her mouth, I find a gorged leech dangling from her gum. But the reptile being swept off, and the mare's nose dipt into the cooling stream, the blood still flows from between her teeth, and, forcing them open, I find two other leeches lodged in the roof of her mouth.

"Poor little beast! how grateful and relieved she seems, how gay, how gentle, when I have torn these suckers from her flesh, and soused the water about her wounds; and how my hunting-whip yearns to descend upon the shoulders of that laughing and careless Nubian slave!"

Persons passing through the river are also attacked by them, and, if they have a delicate skin, suffer greatly.

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_.

There is little to be said on either of these subjects.

Sponge is only mentioned with reference to the events of the Crucifixion, where it is related that a soldier placed a sponge upon hyssop, dipped it in vinegar (_i.e._ the acid wine issued to the Roman soldiers), and held it to the Lord's lips. There is little doubt that the ancient Hebrews were fully aware of the value of the Sponge, which they could obtain from the Mediterranean which skirted all their western coasts.

* * * * *

The Coral is mentioned in two passages of Scripture: "No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls" (Job xxviii. 18). The second occurrence of the word is in Ezek. xxvii. 16: "They occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate."

This Coral, which is described as being brought from Syria, was probably that of the Red Sea, where the Coral abounds, and where it attains the greatest perfection.

THE END.

INDEX.

A. PAGE

Addax, 171-173

Adder, 628

Ant, 671
agricultural, 672
habits of, 674
cocoon, 675

Aoudad, 212-215

Ape, 387
brought by Solomon, 389
worshipped in India, 390-395

Apis, 145

Ass, 315
domesticated, 315
royal, 316
treatment of, 319
saddle, 321
in Cairo, 323
uses of, 326
wild, 328

B.

Badger, 96
skins for tabernacle, 96-112
skins for robes and sandals, 97
nocturnal in habits, 100

Barbel, long-headed, 639

Bat, 401

Bear, Syrian, 103
omnivorous, 106
a dangerous enemy, 108
robbed of whelps, 110
mode of fighting, 110

Beden, 233-237

Bee, 664
banded, 664
hives, 667
honey, 667

Behemoth, 372
food, 376
hunted, 380

Bison, 160

Bittern, 536
haunts waste places, 538
cry, 538
nest, 540

Blue thrush, 481

Boer hunting the lion, 36-41

Bottles, skin, 221-225

Bubale, 173-175

Buffalo, 149

Bull, 142
wild, 152
hunted with nets, 153

C.

Calf, 134
fatted, 135
worshipped, 146, 148

Camel, 248
Arabian, 248
Bactrian, 248, 286-290
milk of, 251
power of carrying water, 252
flesh, 254
as beast of burden, 255-258
riding, 259-268
speed, 269
malice of, 273
food, 277-280
foot, 280
hair and skin, 283
needle's eye, 284

Caspian emys, 580
hibernates, 581
terror to horses, 581
legends, 582

Cattle, 132

Cerastes, 624

Chameleon, 602
strength of grasp, 607
eyes, 607
change of color, 608

Chamois, 211

Chariots, 300-311

Chetah, 42

Cobra di capello, 616

Cockatrice, 628

Coney, 366
ruminant, 368
watchful, 370

Coral, 695

Cormorant, 563
fishing, 564
voracious, 565
in China, 565
nests, 566

Coryphene, 641

Crane, 549

Crocodile, 585
description in Job, 586
worshipped by Egyptians, 589
seizing its prey, 592
eggs, 595
hunting, 598

Cuckoo, 487
great spotted, 488

Cyprius, 602

D.

Deer, 238
hunted, 244
watchfulness of, 244-246

Deloul, 268

Dhubb, 583

Dishon, 171

Dove, 489
turtle, 489, 496
Noah's, 490
in sacrifice, 491
carrier, 493
blue rock, 495
collared turtle, 497
palm, 497
Barbary, 497

E.

Eagle, 430
golden, 433
short-toed, 434

Egret, 548

Egyptian mastigure, 583

Elephant, 349
ivory, 349
in war, 352
in hunting, 362

F.

Falcon, peregrine, 445
lanner, 445

Fallow deer, 173-175

Field-mouse, 121-124

Fishes, 635-648
apostolic fishermen, 635
as food, 637
manner of catching, 643
as symbols, 646

Flea, 688

Flies, 683
god of, 684

Frogs, 630
plague of, 631
green, 632
edible, 632

Fox, 76
plentiful in Palestine, 77
feeds upon the slain, 78
Samson's foxes, 78-85

G.

Gazelle, 163
mode of defence, 165
manner of capture, 166
chase of, 166-170

Gecko, 605

Gier-eagle, 419

Gnats, 685

Goad, 137

Goat, 217
as food, 217-219
milking-scene, 220
hair for clothing, 220
skin bottles, 221-225
kneading-troughs, 225
scapegoat, 226
intractable, 227
separated from sheep, 227-229

H.

Hamster, 124

Hare, 126
not a ruminant, 127
two species in Palestine, 131

Hart, 255

Hawk, 447
sparrow, 448
harrier, 451
white, 453
dove, 453
blue, 453
ring-tailed, 453
night, 462

Herdsmen, 144
Arab, 177

Heron, 542
as food, 542
sociable, 544
flight, 546
nest, 547

Hind, 255

Hippopotamus, 374

Honey, 667

Hoopoe, 476
legend of, 477

Hornet, 669

Horse, 291
Arab, 291
hoofs, 295
sale of Arab, 296-300
chariots, 300

Horse-leech, 693

House-top, 480

Hyacinthine gallinule, 560

Hyæna, 85
as scavenger, 86-88
haunting graves, 88
odour of, 89
superstitions concerning, 90

Hyrax, 366

I.

Ibex, 233-236

Ibis, white or sacred, 562

Ichneumon, 596

Insects, 657

Ivory, 349-352

J.

Jackal, 76

Jerboa, 125

K.

Kestrel, 449

Kite, 440
red, 441
black, 442

Kneading-troughs, 225

L.

Lämmergeier, 411
food, 414
bone-breaker, 414

Lapwing, 476

Leviathan, 585

Lizard, 602

Locust, 657
swarms, 658
plague of, 660
as food, 661

Louse, 686

Lump-fish, 641

M.

Mole, 114
hard to capture, 116
frequents ruins, 117
food, 118

Molluscs, 648

Monitor, 605
Nilotic, 610
land, 610

Monkey, 387

Mosquito, 686

Mouflon, 215

Mouse, 119
voracity, 119

Mule, 333
ridden by kings, 335
perverse, 336

Muræna, 639

Moth, clothes, 678
silkworm, 680

N.

Night-hawk, 462

Nightjar, 462
cry, 464

Nile-perch, 647

Nineveh, sculptures of, 34

O.

Oryx, 154-156

Osprey, 436
fishing, 436
flight, 438

Ossifrage, 411

Ostrich, 523
neglect of young, 526-528
nest in sand, 526
chase, 529
scent, 530
speed, 531
as food, 532
eggs, 534
cry, 531

Ounce, 42

Owl, 454
use in bird-catching, 455
little, 455
barn, 455
screech, 456
great, 456
Egyptian eagle, 458
European eagle, 458
Virginian eared, 458

Ox, 133
stalled, 133
yoke, 136
plough, 136
goad, 137
threshing, 138
cart, 139
pasturage, 141
worshipped, 148

P.

Palestine, 470

Partridge, 505
desert, 507

Passover, 204
Samaritan, 205-210

Peacock, 501

Pearl, 653

Pelican, 567
pouch, 569
feeding young, 570
legends, 570
flight, 572
crested, 573

Pigeon, 489

Plough, 136

Porcupine, 113

Poultry, 498

Purple dye, 649

Pygarg, 171

Q.

Quail, 509
sent to Israelites, 510
flight, 511
as food, 511
mode of capture, 512

R.

Rams' horns, 201-203

Raven, 516
in ark, 516
sent to Elijah, 518
notices of, in Talmud, 519
ashy-necked, 520
in Jerusalem, 520

S.

Scheltopusic, 603

Scorpion, 690

Serpents, 613
motion, 614
poison, 615
sluggish, 620
anecdotes of, 620

Sheat-fishes, 637

Sheep, 177
pasturage, 177
watering, 180
names, 186
folds, 189-191
dogs, 191
broad-tailed, 194
uses of, 197
in sacrifice, 203

Shepherds, 185
sling, 185
care of flock, 188

Shephiphon, 624

Silkworm, 681

Skink, 603

Snail, 652

Snake, glass, 603
dart, 616
charmer, 617

Sparrow, 479
on house-tops, 480
value of, 483
caught with nets, 484
nests, 485
tree, 486

Spider, 692

Sponge, 694

Star-gazer, 647

Stork, 553
sacred, 554
migratory, 556
care of young, 557
black, 558

Sucking-fish, 640

Surmullet, 648

Swallow, 466
swift, 470, 474

Swan, 560

Swine, 337
prohibited to Jews, 337
hated, 338
wild, 334

T.

Threshing, 138

Tortoise, 577
as food, 577
slow-motioned, 579

Toxicoa, 627

Tunny, 641

U.

Unicorn, 158
a real animal, 159

V.

Viper, horned, 624
sand, 627

Vulture, Egyptian, 419
scavengers, 421
griffon, 423

W.

Wanderoo, 395-400

Weasel, 92
fond of eggs, 94
story of owl and weasel, 94

Wild bull, 152
goat, 233
ass, 328
boar, 344

Wind-hover, 449

Wolf, 69
only mentioned symbolically, 69
hunting in packs, 71
fierceness of, 71
special enemy of sheep, 72
tamed by a monk, 75

Wool, 199

Worm, crimson, 676

Y.

Yoke, 136

=THE
HOME EDITION
OF THE
Story of the Bible=

=Surpasses in Value and Completeness All Former Editions
of this Standard Work.=

It contains fine Colored Illustrations.

It contains a Map of the Bible Lands.

It contains a Steel Plate Engraving after Rembrandt (engraved
expressly for the Frontispiece).

It is printed on extra heavy paper, and bound in rich and
attractive style.

=THE HOME EDITION of the Story of the Bible.=

Gives admirers of the book an opportunity to procure it in a handsomer form, either for presentation to friends or for use at home.

The COVER of this edition bears an appropriate and ornamental design in gold and color. The INSIDE is no less attractive than the outside. On opening it, the ILLUMINATED PRESENTATION PAGE first meets the eye. This is followed by the beautiful STEEL PLATE ENGRAVING OF JACOB'S DREAM, as a Frontispiece. A double page COLORED MAP comes next, showing countries and places mentioned in the Bible. SIX RICHLY COLORED PLATES, with 300 ENGRAVINGS, illustrating the principal scenes and events narrated in the book, are distributed throughout its pages, from beginning to end.

=FOR SALE
by the same Dealer from whom this book is obtained.=

=The Story of the Gospel.=

=By CHARLES FOSTER, Author of the "Story of the Bible."=

=360 Pages. 16mo. With 150 Illustrations, and a Frontispiece in Colors.=

=The New Testament in simple form for Children. Written in
Language easy to understand. Printed in large, plain type, and
filled with Pictures.=

=100th THOUSAND NOW SELLING.=

The Author of the "STORY OF THE BIBLE," after publishing that work, found that a smaller and still simpler book on the New Testament alone, was needed.

He therefore prepared the "STORY OF THE GOSPEL," which contains the Life of Christ written in a style easily understood by children, and illustrated by a large number of excellent wood engravings.

=_From Rev. M. A. GOODELL, Northwood, Iowa._=

I am much pleased with the "STORY OF THE GOSPEL." The
illustrations are excellent. The Story is told in beautiful
language, and in such a way that very difficult points are made
plain even to children. It is also a good commentary on the Word
for older persons, and should be in every family.

I lent my copy of the "STORY OF THE GOSPEL" to the teacher of
the Primary Department in our public school, who used it instead
of the Bible in opening school, and after a few days said she
could not do without it.

=FOR SALE
by the same Dealer from whom this book is obtained.=

=FIRST STEPS
FOR LITTLE FEET IN GOSPEL PATHS.=

=328 Pages. 16mo. With Colored Frontispiece and
140 Illustrations.=

By CHARLES FOSTER, Author of the "Story of the Bible."

There still remained one class of learners whose wants were not supplied by either the STORY OF THE BIBLE or the STORY OF THE GOSPEL. These were the little ones in the Nursery, the Infant School, and the Kinder-Garten. For their instruction the author has prepared a third book, FIRST STEPS FOR LITTLE FEET IN GOSPEL PATHS. This book is arranged on a different plan from either of the preceding. Instead of being divided into Chapters, it consists of separate passages or Lessons, most of them quite short, and each one complete in itself. Each Lesson is followed by Questions so simple that the little hearers, if attentive when the passage is read, may readily answer them.

=From Robert W. Fenwick, President of the Washington Fröebel
Society, Washington, D. C.=

TO THE PUBLISHER: I am the grateful recipient of a nicely-bound,
well-printed and illustrated work entitled "First Steps." Upon
an examination of it, I feel that every Kinder-Garten teacher
should possess this gem of a book for little children. Its
simple presentation of great truths and facts, in words as well
as in pictures, should be brought home to the heart of every
child by the parent or teacher; and, this done, the coming
generation will be wiser and better than the past. I am thankful
(as President of the Washington Fröebel Society, having under
its care the Bethany Free Kinder-Garten) that this book has
reached me.

=FOR SALE by the same Dealer from whom this book is obtained.=

=NEW LIGHTS=
--ON--
OLD PATHS.

By Charles Foster, Author of the "Story of the Bible," Etc.

=QUARTO, 496 PAGES. 350 ILLUSTRATIONS.=

The author of the stories contained in this beautiful book has given life and power of speech to many of the inanimate objects which we meet in every-day life.

The Well in the Yard, the Gate and Gate-Post, the Brook and Water-Wheel, with other familiar things, give their impressions, in these charming and original tales, of what takes place around them, and speak to one another with audible voice.

If the reader will listen to what they say, he will learn some valuable lessons, and perhaps receive advice that will help him in days to come.

Many familiar places and oft-trodden paths will be given a new interest by reading some of the stories contained in this book.

Objects that have been familiar for years, and which have never caused a moment's reflection as they were carelessly passed by, will now have a new significance, and whenever seen will connect themselves with the imaginary parts they play in this volume.

In appearance the book is an unusually handsome one, being TASTEFULLY BOUND AND PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED. It contains =350= PICTURES which in artistic merit, interest, and faithful portrayal of the scenes described in the text, are unsurpassed by any book of its class.

Office of Charles Foster's Publications, 118 S. Seventh St.,
Philadelphia, Pa.

NEW LIGHTS
--ON--
OLD PATHS.

By CHARLES FOSTER, Author of the "Story of the Bible," Etc.

=QUARTO, 496 PAGES. 350 ILLUSTRATIONS.=

Office of Charles Foster's Publications, 118 S. Seventh St.,
Philadelphia, Pa.

=BIBLE PICTURES
--AND--
WHAT THEY TEACH US.=

Containing 312 Illustrations from the Old and New Testaments,
WITH BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS

By CHARLES FOSTER, Author of the "Story of the Bible."

=Quarto, 232 Pages, 312 Engravings, printed on extra heavy calendered
paper, and bound in English cloth, black side stamp, gilt
title on back.=

The Collection of Bible Pictures contained in this book is probably one of the most complete that has ever been brought together in one volume.

In preparing the work, the greatest care has been observed to use only such designs as will adequately illustrate the Bible scenes and fittingly portray the principal events in Bible history.

It has been a matter of great difficulty to obtain so large a number of pictures of the necessary merit, as illustrations of Bible subjects present peculiar difficulties to the artist. While preserving the freedom of style and vigor of treatment necessary to give life to his designs and reality to the varied scenes of the Scripture narrative, he must preserve for them a feeling of reverence and endow them with a dignity worthy of their sacred character.

A large number of the pictures in this book are reproduced from designs by foreign artists who have been celebrated for their skill in this branch of art. Others are by artists in this country. All the pictures have been personally selected by, or else drawn under the direction of, the author, who has spent years of labor and thousands of dollars in forming this collection.

Many of the engravings in "BIBLE PICTURES" were first obtained and used for illustrating the "Story of the Bible" and the "Story of the Gospel," two former books by the same author. Other new engravings have been added, and the whole set, THREE HUNDRED AND TWELVE in number, are now brought together in this one volume, in which the broad pages (8 × 9-3/4 inches), fine, heavy paper and careful printing, display their artistic excellence to the best advantage.

The book forms a complete pictorial history of the main portion of the Bible. Many parts are so fully illustrated that the narrative can be followed and understood by merely looking at the series of pictures which illustrate them, so that children unable to read may obtain a fair idea of the nature and sequence of Bible events, by simply turning over the pages. The book, however, is by no means merely a picture book. A lucid and brief explanation, written by the author of the "Story of the Bible," accompanies each picture, on the same page, or on the page immediately facing it, so that the picture and the explanation appear simultaneously to the eye.

=FOR SALE by the same Dealer from whom this book is obtained.=

=BIBLE PICTURES,=
AND
WHAT THEY TEACH US.

A Book containing 312 Illustrations from the Old and New Testaments,
with brief descriptions.

By CHARLES FOSTER, Author of the "Story of the Bible," etc.

Quarto, 232 Pages, 312 Engravings, printed on extra heavy calendered
paper and bound in English cloth, ornamental side and back
stamp.

Charles Foster's Publications, 118 S. Seventh St., Philadelphia, Pa.

=--THE--
STORY OF THE BIBLE ANIMALS.=

=704 Pages. 300 Illustrations.=

This book contains a description of each animal mentioned in the Bible, and tells of its appearance, its habits and the use to which it was put by mankind.

The importance of understanding the nature of these animals, as a means of making clear the Scriptures, will be readily seen when it is remembered how frequently they are mentioned in the Bible, and how different many of them must be from those which we are accustomed to see.

Some passages in the Bible which have formerly possessed little or no meaning to the ordinary reader will have a new significance after the "=Story of the Bible Animals=" has been read, and the descriptions which it contains of the animals of the East, and the habits of Eastern people, have become familiar.

The book is not only interesting and instructive from the stories which it contains on the ever-popular subject of Natural History, but it also presents a vivid description of life in the Bible lands.

It describes the appearance at the present time of many of the places mentioned in the Bible, as well as the manners and customs of the people who dwell there.

Adventures of modern travellers in these unfamiliar and seldom-trodden paths form an important part of the book and are of absorbing interest, presenting to the reader a graphic picture of life in the Holy Land as it is to-day.

In the never-changing East this is in many respects a counterpart of the times in which the Bible was written. The Arab as he speeds across the desert upon his swift dromedary, or sits at the door of his tent watching his flocks and herds, retains many of the customs which prevailed in the time of Abraham.

The wild animals of these countries still roam through the forests and are hunted and slain by mankind. The crocodile and hippopotamus of the Nile are yet found in that mighty river, and yield their lives to the courage and skill of modern hunters as did those of old.

These scenes are vividly portrayed in the "=Story of the Bible Animals=" by travellers who have taken an active part in the adventures which they narrate, and who are thus able to adequately describe incidents that will be new and strange to most readers.

The book is also a valuable commentary on many portions of the Bible, for without some knowledge of the matters upon which it treats, the point of many passages of Scripture must either be entirely missed or else wrongly interpreted.

=Office of Charles Foster's Publications, 118 S. Seventh St.,
Philadelphia, Pa.=

* * * * *

Transcriber's note:

Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed.

The illustrations have been moved so that they do not break up paragraphs, thus the page number of the illustration might not match the page number in the List of Illustrations.

End of Project Gutenberg's Story of the Bible Animals, by J. G. Wood