Bible Animals: Being a Description of Every Living Creature Mentioned in the ... - John George Wood - Google Bøker

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Reptiles in general-Looseness of the term "creeping things "-The Tzab of the

Scriptures, translated as Tortoise-Flesh and eggs of the Tortoise-Its slow

movements-Hibernation dependent on temperature-The Water-Tortoises-

Their food and voracity-Their eggs-Their odour terrifying the horses—The

Dhubb lizard and its legends-Its armed tail, and the use made of it-Its

food, and localities which it prefers.

THE LEVIATHAN, OR CROCODILE.

Signification of the word Leviathan-Description in the Book of Job-Structure

and general habits of the Crocodile-The throat-valve and its use-Position

of the nostrils-Worship of the Crocodile-The reptile known in the Holy

Land-Two legends respecting its presence there-Mode of taking prey-

Cunning of the Crocodile-The baboons and the Crocodile-Speed of the

reptile-Eggs and young of the Crocodile, and their enemies-Curious story

of the ichneumon and ibis-Modes of capturing the Crocodile-Analysis of

Job's description—The Crocodile also signified by the word Tannin. Aaron's

rod changed into a Tannin-Various passages in which the word occurs—

Use of the word by the Prophet Jeremiah
514

THE LETÂÂH OR LIZARD.

Difficulty of identifying the Letââh-Probability that it is a collective and not a

specific term-Various Lizards of Palestine-The Green or Jersey Lizard-The

Cyprius, its appearance and habits—The Glass Snake or Scheltopusic—Trans-

lation of the word Chomet-Probability that it signifies the Skink-Medicinal

uses of the Lizard-The Seps tribe-The common Cicigna, and the popular

belief concerning its habits-The Sphænops and its shallow tunnel. . . 529

THE CHAMELEON, MONITOR, AND GECKO.

Translation of the word Koach-Signification of the word, and its applicability to

the Chameleon-Power of the reptile's grasp The prehensile tail-Demeanour

of the Chaineleon on the ground-The independent eyes-Its frequent change

of colour-Mode of taking prey-Strange notions respecting the Chameleon-

The Monitor, or Land Crocodile-Its habits and use to mankind-The Nilotic

Monitor, and its habit of destroying the eggs and young of the Crocodile-

The Gecko or Ferret of Scripture

Serpents in general-Signification of the Hebrew word Nachash-Various passages

in which the Nachash is mentioned-The fiery Serpents of the wilderness-

Explanation of the words " flying" and "fiery" as applied to Serpents-Haunts

of the Serpent-The Cobra, or Asp of Scripture-Meaning of the word Pethen

-The deaf Adder that stoppeth her ear-Serpent-charming in the East—Prin-

ciple on which the charmers work-Sluggishness of the Serpent nature-

Ceremony of initiation into Serpent-charming-Theories respecting the deaf

Adder-Luis of Grenada's sermon-The Cerastes, or Horned Serpent-Appear-

ance and habits of the reptile-The "Adder in the path"

THE VIPER, OR EPHEH.

Passages in which the word Ephch occurs-El-effah-The Sand Viper, or Toxicoa

-Its appearance and habits-The Acshub--Adder's poison-The Spuugh-

Slange The Cockatrice, or Tsepha-The Yellow Viper-Ancient ideas con-

cerning the Cockatrice-Power of its venom.

The Frog only mentioned in the Old Testament as connected with the plagues of

Egypt-The severity of this plague explained-The Frog detestable to the

Egyptians The Edible Frog and its numbers--Description of the Species. 557

Impossibility of distinguishing the different species of fishes-The fishermen

Apostles-Fish used for food-The miracle of the loaves and Fishes-The Fish

broiled on the coals-Clean and unclean Fishes--The scientific writings of

Solomon-The Sheat-fish, or Silurus-The Eel and the Muræna-The Long-

headed Barbel-Fish-ponds and preserves-The Fish-ponds of Heshbon-The

Sucking-fish-The Lump-sucker-The Tunny-The Coryphene

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

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

The Snail which melteth-Rendering of the Jewish Bible-Theory respecting

the track of the Snail-The Hebrew word Shablul-Various Snails of

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 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-Meta-

phorical uses of the Pearl-The Pearl of great price--Casting Pearls before

swine-An ancient proverb.
. 592

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 Hebrew word Deborah-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

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.

The Ant of Scripture Solomon's allusion to the Ant-Habit of aying 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

THE CRIMSON WORM.

The scarlet or crimson of Scripture-Signification of the word Tolûáth-The

Coccus or Cochineal of Palestine compared with that of Mexico-Differ-

ence between the sexes-Mode of preparing the insect-The Arabic word

THE CLOTHES MOTH.

The Moth of Scripture evidently the Clothes Moth-The Sâs and the 'Ash-

Similitude between the Hebrew sas 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.

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 Gazam, and its signification-The Palmer-worm of

Scripture.
. 627

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.

The Gnat of Scripturo—Straining out the Gnat and swallowing the camel, a

typographical error -Probable identity of the Gnat and the mosquito. . 635

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

Prevalence of the Flea in the East, and the annoyance caused by them to tra-

vellers-Fleas of the Lebanon-The Bey's bedfellows-The Pasha at the bath

-Use of the word in Scripture

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

Signification of the word Semamith--Various interpretations of a Scriptural

passage-Talmudical opinions respecting the creature-The 'Akkabish and its

web-Spiders of Palestine.

Various words translated as "Worm "-Probable confusion of the words-The

Rimmah and the Tole'ah-The Worm which destroyed Jonah's gourd-The

THE HORSE LEECH.

Signification of the word Alukah-The Arabic word-Leeches in Palestine —The

horse and the Leech-Leeches in England

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.

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