Dog,[Dragon, RV Jackal, La 45], Dromedary (really γρυμβ Camel, see DROMEDARY), Elephant, Ewe, fallow Deer (AV ;=Roebuck, RV), Ferret (AV; = Gecko, RV), Fox, Gazelle, Goat, Wild Goat, Greyhound, Hare, Hart, Hind, Horse, Hyzna, Jackal, Lamb, Leopard, Lion, Mole, Mouse, Ox, Wild Ox (AV ;=Antelope, RV), Pygarg, Ram, Roe, Roebuck (AV ;=Gazelle, RV), [Satyr], Sheep, Swine, Unicorn, Weasel, Whale (AV ;=Sea Mon- ster, RV), Wolf. Leaving out the duplications in the two VSS, and animals mentioned under differ- ent headings, there are in all 38 different ones, among which, however, are included the dragon and satyr, which are partially or wholly fabulous. ii. BrRDs.—The ἘΠΕ of the creation of birds in the Mosaic cosmogony (Gn 159: 51. 39) corresponds with the order of their geological appearance, which is in the cretaceous period, after the reign of the reptiles. The aquatic species were the first to appear.* Birds are generally more highl organized than reptiles and fishes on the one wane and less so than the higher mammals on the other. They all have feathers, and are oviparous. Hence they are readily distinguished, and seem to have been recognized by ‘Moses’ as a well-marked class. Some have thought that bats wer2 included in OT among the birds, as they are mentioned at the end of alice of birds (Ly 11.3.19. But it is not clear that the writer so understood the matter, as the bats come between the birds on the one hand, and insects and reptiles on the other. The exclu- sion of the unclean birds in the lists of Lv 11 and Dt 14 implies that other birds were eaten. Of those that were eaten, however, only one, the quail, is mentioned by name. ‘Fatted fowl’ (1 Καὶ 4*) is doubtful. It may perhaps be inferred that doves were kept for food in later OT times (Is 605), and hens in NT (Mt 23°), also that sparrows were sold for food (Mt 10“, Lk 195). The numerous allu- sions to fowling imply the use of birds so caught for food. The Bible alludes to the migration and singing of birds (Ca 211-15. Ee 193, Jer 87), also to their nesting in the temple (Ὁ Ps 84%). Pigeons, swallows, sparrows, and other birds find a secure sanctuary now in churches, but esp. in mosques. The Israelites were forbidden to take the mother bird with the young (Dt 22°”), perhaps because the mother at such times will not avail herself of her power of concealment and flight. The object of the law was to cultivate a merciful regard for the maternal instinct, not merely to preserve game (another possible explanation is quoted by Driver, adloc.). Allusion is made to the forsaking of the nest (Pr 275), also to flight (Hos 9%, Ex 194, Dt 324-1), More than 350 species of birds have been collected in the Holy Land. Some of these have brilliant plumage, as the Garrulous Roller, the Bee Eater, the Hoopoe, several Kingfishers, the Sun Bird, the White-throated Robin, Tristram’s Grackle, the African Darter, ete. But the chief ornithological characteristic of the country is the large number of birds of prey, esp. of the larger kinds, as vultures, eagles, falcons buzzards, and the fishing water fowl, as pelicans, cranes, herons, cormorants, darters, etc. The coast species re- semble those of the maritime regions of the Medi- terranean basin. The mountain systems of Leba- non and Antilebanon, with their continuations southward, parallel to the coast, divide the mari- time region from that of the Syrian and Arabian deserts. The avifauna is nearly identical in both the mountain chains. That of the deep cleft of the
* With this statement in the text the reader will do well te compare Driver's art. ‘ The Cosmogony of Genesis,’ in Expositor, Jan. 1886. There on p. 28 a table exhibits the order of appear ance thus: according to geology, Fishes, Reptiles (in Carbon. period), Birds; according to Gn, Fishes of all kinds and Birds Reptiles (Ὁ.
arctic character. (4) The tablelands of Aleppo, Ceele-Syria, Damascus, Haurdin, Gilead, and Moab. These have also many distinctly characteristic plants. (5) The deserts bordering these, and ex- tending southward into et-Tih and Sinai. These have already furnished a notable addition to the Flora, and doubtless contain many undiscovered species. (6) The chasm of the Jordan and Dead Sea, in which a tropical climate prevails, and where a number of Indian and Ethiopian types are found.
The most numerous Orders are Ranunculacee, 12 genera, 75 species ; Crucifere, 72 gen. 240 sp. ; Silenew, 10 gen: 129 sp.; Leqguminose, 56 gen. 423 sp. ; Umbellifere, 73 gen. 190 sp. ; Composite, 115 gen. 457 sp.; Borraginee, 26 gen. 110 sp. ; Scrophulariacee, 17 gen. 131 sp.; Labiate, 31
en. 207 sp.; Chenopodiacee, 24 gen. 64 sp.; iliacee, 22 gen. 124 sp.; and Graminee, 92 gen. 238 species. Ranunculus has 33 sp., Silene 61, Trigonella 37, Medicago 26, Trifolium 56, Astra- alus 124, Vicia 31, Galium 39, Anthemis 28, erbascum 40, Linaria 24, Scrophularia 19, Veronica 24, Salvia 39, Stachys 25, Euphorbia 41, Allium 42, Cyperus 15, Carex 18. As might have been expected from the dryness of the climate, Ferns are few, being represented by only 15 gen. and 25 species. The Orchids are of the smaller kinds, numbering 11 gen. and 37 species.
The following Scripture plants cannot be de- termined with certainty, viz. ; Al (almug), bay- tree (not a tree at all), box, cockle, cypress, gall, fir, gopher wood, hemlock, oil-tree, pannag, poplar, sweet cane, and vine of Sodom.