t-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-ga

oted above from Ezekiel. Sundry other references are made to angling, both in the Old and New Testaments. See, for example, the well-known pass

nto his nose? or bore his

pture of the Fish, but to the mode in which they were kept in the tanks, each b

hook and the net. See Matt. xvii. 27: "Go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and t

of livelihood, as some seem to fancy, nor exist ever afterwards on the earnings of others. On the contrary, they retained their fisher equipment, whe

e, which has a weight just above the hook, coils it on his left arm in lasso fashion, baits the hook, and then, with a peculiar swing, throws it into the water as far as it will reach. The hook is allowed to sink for a short time, and

After throwing out the loaded hook, as above mentioned, he takes a short stick, notched at one end, and pointed

and grass which he has gathered together, and watches the lines to see if either of them is moved in the peculiar jerking manner which is characteris

ed in Habakkuk i. 15: "They tak

And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth and all thine army, horses and horsemen." There is another passage of a similar characte

the cruel custom then prevalent of passing a sharpened hook through the nose or cheek of a prisoner taken in war

x. 28: "Because thy rage against Me and thy tumult is come up into Mine ears, therefore I will put My

signifying a mere fish-hook, the sum of it being that the Assyrians should be made captives and slaves, and driven back to t

Writ. See, for example, Job xli. 7: "Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish-spears? as

as straw, and bra

flee: sling-stones are tu

le: he laugheth at the shak

eapon, instead of being many-pointed and barbed in trident fashion, has but one point, and is

of historical narrative, and sometimes by way of allegory or metaphor. The reader will remember that the net was also used on land for the pur

with a peculiar swing of the arms, only to be learned by long practice, flings it so that it spreads out and falls in its circular form upon the surface of the water. It rapidly sinks to the bottom, the loaded circumference causing it to assume a cup-like form, enclosing within its meshes

rhaps supreme in their management of it. They have a net of extraordinary size, and cast it by flinging it

ways naked while engaged in their work, wearing nothing but a thick cap in order to save themselves from sun-stroke. It is probable that on the memorable occasion m

ciding upon the exact interpretation of these technical terms, especially as in very few cases are we assisted either by the context or by the etymology of the words. It is the same in all trades or pursuits, a

ing, and that therefore merely indicates the fact that the articles in question are nets. Some of them are d

een the various Hebrew terms, or did not think that any discrimination was needed, inasmuch as they sometimes render th

feeling of relief, because the three words used to

ng to cast around. This word is used by Herodotus in a sort of parable related by Cyrus to the Ionians and ?olians, who had refused to revolt from Cr?sus when Cyrus asked them to do so;

that they would come ashore; but, finding his hopes disappointed, he took a casting-net, and enclosed a great number of fishes, and drew t

analogy between this parable and the saying of our

king by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter a

sion "casting-net" for the word amphiblêstron, and "throwing-net" for the word diktuon, we shall be tolerably accu

(amphiblêstron), St. Matthew proceeds as follows: "And He s

llowing verse, where James and John are mentioned as being occupied in mending their nets

xxi. we find the

o them. Then at daybreak they saw their risen Lord standing on the seashore, and, as was several times the case after the Resurrection, did not reco

word diktua gives to this passage a signifi

r of large Fishes was a hundred and fifty-three, and yet the net was not broken. Knowing that the casting-net is comparatively small, we now see t

a casting-net; and, secondly, the fact that the net which was held merely by a single rope in the middle, and which retain

is fellow Apostles, "It is the Lord." St. Peter, with the impetuous zeal of his nature, acknowledged the truth of the exclamatio

d as "net" is sagênê (σαγ?νη), a word w

oined together, so as to enclose a large space of water. The upper edge was k

adually approached each other, so as to bring the net into a semicircle, and finally met, enclosing thereby a vast number of Fishes in their meshen walls. The water was then bea

way. Even at the present day much care is taken in the selection, but in the ancient times the fishermen were still more cautious, every Fish hav

rable of the net: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto

sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but

sh-market, but that the gate which opened upon that market was called the Fish-gate. See 2 Chron. xxxiii. 14: "Now after this

salem, he restored the Fish-gate as it had been before: "But the fish-gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who

took advantage of the neglect of the law which had been the result of the captivity among idolaters, and sold their goods on the Sabbath day: "There dwelt

ave borne the journey to Jerusalem from Tyre. Dried Fish were, according to Herodotus, largely used in Egypt, and it i

vations, and sometimes cause actual famine. See, for example, Isa. 1. 2: "Behold, at My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst." These words exactly express the condition of

ks, not of death, but of life. It occurs in Ezek. xlvii. 10, and for

shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters

even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish sh

in which no creature can live. Thousands of small Fishes are daily carried into the Dead Sea from the Jordan, and as soon as the fresh water of the river mingles with the poisonous waves of the Dead Sea the Fishes die. Putting aside as foreign to the purpose of this work the metaph

plagues that would follow the continual disobedience of the Israelites: "B

in shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowl

in the ancient times. That the Egyptians employed Fish as material symbols of

ong the Philistines. We might naturally imagine that as the Israelites were bitterly opposed to their persistent enemy, who trod them under foot and crushed every attempt at rebellion for more than three hundred years, the

e not to worship "the likeness of anything that creepeth on the ground" (i.e. serpent-wor

, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and

rendered in the marginal reading as "the fishy part was left to him." The Jewi

he various figures of this deity is owing the wide-spread belief in mermen. We find the same image among the Assyrians, who not only represented the god as half man

aph of a great temple at Ayutia, the entrance to which is guarded by two huge images of the Fish-god. They are about sixty feet in height, and have both legs and feet

is fact is shown by a passage in the benediction of Jacob. In speaking of Joseph, he uses these words: "The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be

ich are to be found in Egypt and Palestine, I have added three m

, and in the mouths of many Asiatic rivers. It is brown above, silvery white below, and may be disti

le Perch is the Star-gaz

sideways. It is one of the mud-lovers, a fact which accounts for the peculiar position of the eyes. It is said to feed after the fashion of the fishing-frog-i

GYPT AND

2. Surmullet.?

hich we did eat in Egyp

s not pleasant to the grasp, but its flesh is very go

urmuletus), a Fish that is equally remarkable for the

RTEB

LUS

dye-Curious change of colour-Mode of obtaining the dye-The Tyrian purple-The king of the Ethiopians and the purple robe-The profe

e, we now pass to the Invertebrated An

s among the higher animals, the species which can be identified are compara

ological order, we will

ficulty with which a sufficient quantity could be procured for staining a dress. Purple was exclusively a royal colour, which might not be worn by a subject. Among the ancient Romans, during the times of the C?sars, any one who ventured to ap

the ancients to the colour of newly-clotted blood. It is obtained from several Molluscs belonging to the great Whelk family, the chief of which is the Murex brandari

ed bands. It is, however, one of the most variable of shells, differing not only in colour but in form. It always inhabits the belt of the shore

nabled to bore through the shells of mussels and similar Molluscs, and to eat the enclosed animal. It is very destructive to periwinkles, thrusting its

two shells, fare no better, the tongue of the Dog-Whelk

a very fair specimen of the old imper

as a bushel may be obtained in a very short time. Let him provide himself with a piece of perf

p blow of a small hammer, and the receptacle of the colouring matter

e of its future richness of hue. There is only one drop of this matter in each animal,

most curious series of colours. The yellow begins to turn green, and, after a while, the stained portions of the linen will be entirely green, the yellow having been vanquished by the blue. By degrees the blue predominates mor

two hundred years ago there was an established trade in this dye in Ireland; but it has lon

tents on the fabric to be dyed, but simply crushed the whole of the Mollusc, so as to set the colouring matter free, and steeped the cloth in the pulp. Tyre was one of the most cele

dye is shown by many passages in various bo

being ignorant of the best method of reaching the Ethiopians, he dispatched messengers to them, nominally as ambassadors, but practically as spies. He sent to the King of Ethiopia valuable pre

On being told the mode of preparation, he refused to believe the visitors, and, referring to the changing hues of the mantle and to the pe

ve occurs in the thi

helks. In his fourth book, chap. 151, he mentions a man who was a purple-dyer by trade, the word signifyin

the Diadem Staircase Shell (Scalaria diadema) secretes a substance which produces a purple hue, and the

, occurs several times in Scripture, and takes a slightly

"This is the offering which ye shall ta

e, and scarlet, and

ing to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and i

n thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet" ("purple" in margin), "and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." Here we find that the dye i

riably translates the

at it was obtained from a marine Mollusc, but thought that the creature only made its appearance once in seventy years, and that this scarcity was the cause of its costliness. They said that the dye obt

was like the throne of God, and the throne of God was like the sapphire. Therefore, the dye was like the sapphire. It is not impossible even that the dyer

SN

ible-Theory respecting the track of the Snail-The

t every one of them pass away." The Jewish Bible renders the passage in a way which explains the idea which

the smaller it became, until at last it wasted entirely away. The commentators on the Talmud took this view of the case. The Hebrew word shablul, which undoubtedly does sign

is the correct one, and that the Psalmist, when he wrote the terrible series of denunciations in which the passage in

and almost as needless to state that in Palestine there are many speci

ON

r Onycha-Derivation of the word-The Arabic Do

se to be used in Divine worship. The Jewish Bible renders the word rightly, "onycha," while Buxtorf renders it by "onyx,"

nifies a nail, and is indeed the origin of our own word. Secondarily, it is used to denote a precious stone, partly because the white bands of the sardonyx bear some resemblance to the white

rned, and, when mixed with substances more fragrant but less powerful,

described, the following entry occurs:-"October 5, 1848. Sailed for Suakim in a native boat. Cargo: muslins, marawdi, Surat tobacco, sandal-wood, and doofu. This article is the operculum o

place we find that it is not used alone as a perfume, but is burned together with the fragrant sandal-wood. Lastly, we find that the materials of the incense which were ord

has been compared to that of spices, or castoreum, and probably acts the part which is played i

sented by a different Heb

PE

Talmudists-Structure of Pearls-The Pearls of the marine and aquatic mussels-Pearl-fisheries of the Conwa

e found the word which is translated as Pearl, and it is cert

sacred writer uses these words, "No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies." This is the only passage in the Bible which contains the word in its simple f

Hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it." Also xxxviii. 22: "And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I w

ates the word gabish as "pearls" without using any mark of doubt. In Buxtorfs Hebrew Lexicon, the word is translated as "Unio, Margarita pretiosa." It is not

ls, but, before proceeding to their curious disquisitions, it

he common mussels and oysters. This coating is sometimes found upon extraneous substances deposited on the

shot, that I took out of a single plateful of oysters. They are

ained in Britain a sufficient number of Pearls to cover a breastplate, which he dedicated to Venus, and hung in her temple. It is evident from Pliny's account that the Pearls in

nd not, as has been generally thought, from the river Pearl-mussel, which really produces Pearls of considerable value

is plentiful in many of the Irish rivers, from which Pearls of considerable value have been procured. One of these Pearls, seen by

ipsas plicatus. This species attains a considerable size, a specim

L OY

tes were twelve pe

n of real Pearls. They also stamp little images, popularly called josses, out of metal, and force the animal to cover them with nacre in a similar manner. Six such josses are in my specimen. Frequently, however, these incorrigible imitators actually counterfeit

leagrina margaritifera), which is found in several parts of the world, and which

ke stones some of which had Pearls beneath them, but the greater part were without them. In consequence of the difficulty of diving and the precariousness of the search, a number of proverbs were current. For example, a person who perseve

likened to a Pearl, and in this sense we must understand the warning of our Lord, not to

good in almost all

to the well-known "painting the lily and gilding refined

SE

ation-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-Tosse

e single coleopteran is mentioned; for, although the Hebrew word chargol, which occurs in Lev. xi. 21, 22, is rendered in the Authorized Version as "beetle," the

LO

the accompanying plate. Those on the ground are the common Migratory Locusts (?dipoda

uthorized Version; and it is probable that one or two words which are differently rendered in the Auth

hich are translated as "Locust," and then proce

tion were doubtful, the context would be sufficient to denote the proper rendering of the word. Take, for example, the account in Exod. x. of the threatened p

heir camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it." Translating the word rightly as "Locust," we see the real force of this passage. Grasshoppers

h famine, drought, pestilence, and siege. In Prov. xxx. 27 the same writer remarks on the curious fact that these creatures are gregarious and mi

" The voracity of the Arbeh is mentioned in Joel i. 4 and ii. 25. These are but a few passages selected out of the many in which the Arbeh is mentioned, in order to show how completely the word corresponds wi

pper," and, from the context of several passages, it seems to have been less in size than the Arbeh, inasmuch as it is used as a metaphor to express smallness. See, for example, Numb. xiii. 31

f Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth

come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as gr

the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers" (xl. 22). And in Eccles. xii. 5 extr

common Migratory Locust (?dipoda migratoria) and the Acridium peregrinum. If, therefore, the wor

d is sallom, and the Jewish Bible leaves it untranslated. The word chargol which also occurs in the same passage, and is translated in the Authorized

d "cankerworm" may be synonyms for the Locust, either different species, or as express

and its habits, taking the Migrato

folded longitudinally under the front pair of wings when the insect is at rest. In the Locusts these characteristics are admirably shown. The appearance of a Locust when at rest and when flying is so different that the creature is at

most prominent part of the insect, their translucent folds being coloured with the most brilliant hues, according to the species. The body seems to have shrunk as the wing

stems as if cut by scissors. But it is only when they invade a country that their real power is felt. They come flying with the wind in such va

l of them, and the plain was covered with them, and for more than an hour the insect army flew past him. When the Locusts settle, they eat with such voracity that the sound caused by their jaws cutting the leaves and grass can be heard

n vain attempted to stop them. Trenches have been dug across their path, only to be filled up in a few minutes with the advancing hosts, over whose bodies the millions of survivors continued their march. When the trenches were filled with water, the result was the same; and even when fire was substituted for water, the flames were quenched by t

LO

l the locust consum

day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong;

h: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind

the appearance of horses; and

they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoure

e wall like men of war; and they shall march every o

walk every one in his path: and when they fa

run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the hou

shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be d

ice before His army: for His cam

looming and fertile aspect of the land before they settle on it, and its utter desolation when they leave it. Then the poet-prophet alludes to the rushing noise of their flight, which he compares to the sound of chariots upon the

clear enough when we understand the character of the insect to which it refers: "I am gon

ys travel with the wind, just as has been mentioned regarding the quail. So entirely are they at the mercy of the wind, that if a sudden gust arises the Locusts are tossed about in the most helpless manner; and if

ey are taken away by the wind, as is mentioned in the sacred narrative. In the account of the great plague of Locusts, t

of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egy

Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that

ve the plague which had been brought upon the land, the west wind was em

m Pharaoh, and e

ay the locusts, and cast them into the Red Sea; there remaine

ions that, after a severe storm, the Locusts were destroyed in such multitudes, that they were heaped in a sort of wall, varying fro

the use of Lo

ary was so scrupulously limited, should have been permitted the use of the Locust. These insects are, however, eaten in all parts of the world which t

e of diet. "The Nasamones, a very numerous people, adjoin these Auschis? westward.... When they have caught locust

is followed at the present day by

l no ground, so that they care nothing for crops, and they bre

hem, so as to create a thick smoke. The Locusts have no idea of avoiding these smoke columns, but fly over the

they dry the rest over the fires, pulverize them between two stones, and keep

om of eating Locusts. "On a sloping bank, at a short distance in front, we discerned certain large black patches, in strong contrast with the white glisten of the soil around, and at the same

; their camp extended far and wide, and we had already disturbed their outposts. These insects are wont to settle on the ground af

rightened, they or the locusts. It was truly laughable to see so huge a beast lose his wits for fear at the fligh

ht they would have gone mad for joy. Locusts are here an article of food,

yself to taste them, whatever invitations the inhabitants of the land, smacking their lips over large dishes full of entomological 'delicatesses,' would make me

nd down the riders leaped from their starting camels. This one spread out a cloak, that one a saddle-bag, a third his shirt, over the

negroes and Arabs do so. He describes the flavour as being something between the burnt end of a quill and a crumb of lins

custs are really excellent food, and that he was accustomed to eat them, not

ved for future use, they are dried in the sun, their heads, wings, and legs picked off, and their bodies ground into dust. This dust has

ther. Some commentators have tried to prove that St. John fed on the fruit of the locust or carob tree-the same that is used so much in this country for feeding cattle; but there is not t

NOPT

E

e-Bees in dead carcases-The honey of Scripture-Domesticated Bees and their hives-Stores of wild honey-The story of Jonathan-The Crus

the ants, we come to the vast order of Hymenoptera, of which we find several representatives. Beginning with that which is most familiar to us, we will take the Bee, a

opinion as to the derivation of the word, some Hebraists thinking that it is derived from a word which signifies departure, or going forth, in allusion to its habit of swarming, while others

o jealous are the Bees of their domains. Although the Bee is not exactly the same species as that of our own country, being the Banded Bee (Apis fasciata), and not the Apis mellifica, the two insects very much resemble e

E

the desolate valleys and in the

out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah." All those who have had the misfortune to offend Bees will recognise the truth of t

y compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about

are quick as the fire of thorns, but in t

it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the

e" may in this case refer to some noxious fly, which, although it is not a Bee, and does not even belong to the same order of insects, has a sufficiently Bee-like appearance to cause it to be classed among the Bees by the non-zoological O

on the way, he left the carcase alone. The various carnivorous beasts and birds at once discover such a banquet, and in a very short time the body of a de

nd left their bodies to perish. One of the dead sheep had been thrown into a rather thick copse, and had fallen in a spot where it was sheltered from the wind, and yet exposed to the fierce heat of the summer's sun. The consequence was that in a few days it was reduced to

whole process would have been more rapid and more complete, and the skeleton of the lion, with the hard and horny skin strained over it, would afford exactly the habitation of which a w

rson desires to attract the attention of another. A similar sound, which may perhaps be expressed by the letters tst, prevails on the Continent

much the same now as they were three thousand years ago, it is probable that Bees were kept then as they are now. The hives are not in the least

e interior, while an entrance is made for the Bees in the other end, so that the insects have no business in the house. Whe

at closes the end of the hive, remove as much comb as they want, carefully put back those portions which contain grubs and bee-bread, and replace the door, when the

arthenware cylinders being piled on one another, and a quantity of mud thrown over them in

enient receptacles for the Bees in the rocks, but abundance of thyme and similar plants, vast sto

ave treasures in the field, of wheat, of barley, and of oil, and of honey" (chap. xli. 8). References to the wild honey are frequent in the Scriptures. For example, in the magnificent song of Moses the Lord is said t

ting until the evening. Jonathan, who had not heard the prohibition, was faint and weary, and, seeing honey dripping on the gro

ing for want of nourishment, the Bees breeding abundantly in the desert places he frequented, and affording him a plentiful

spoken understood it as something more than a metaphor. In the work to which reference has already been made Signor Pierotti writes as foll

Edward I. to Palestine, died in great numbers from the excessive heat, and from eating too m

hs are most fully preserved, and the effects of civilization have been felt least, milk and honey may still be said to flow, as they form a portion of every meal, and may

y? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it." A similar warning

Israel formed part of a regular trade with Tyre. See Ezek. xxvii. 17: "Judah and the land of Israel, they

mple, 2 Sam. xvii. 29.) When David and his followers were wearied at Mahanaim, the

he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and choose the good." The same image is repeated in the same chapter: "And it shall come to pass f

mposition of many of their favourite sweetmeats use honey instead of sugar. But an extemporized swe

his preparation is given by Mr. Urquhart in his "Lebanon." "The dibs, the honey of Scripture, which Jacob sent to Joseph, is the inspissated juice of the grape. It is of two sorts: one dark and liquid, resembling molasses-this is the racon; the other is thick, a

other, as the oil seems anciently to have been expressed, judging from the relics I observed near Tyre. The juice is then boiled in the iron pan for an hour

daily for an hour turned or beaten with a fresh branch of fig-tree, or botun. This property of the fig-tree is curious....

very seldom in the Old Testament. No mention is made of any use to whic

ater, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like w

re the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God." It occurs for the third time in Psa. xcvii.

e Lord cometh forth out of His place, and will com

alleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as t

e drone, conspicuous by means of his large eyes, that almost join each other at the top of the head, and for his thicker and stouter body, while the third figure represents the worker Bee. Ne

HO

away by Hornets-The Hornet used as metaphor-Oriental

ted as Hornet. In every case when the word is mentioned the insect is employed in a metaphorical sense. See, for example, Exod. xxiii. 27, 28: "I w

ich shall drive out the Hivite, the Cana

the Lord thy God will send the hornet among them, until they

Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites,

m out from before you, even the two kings of the A

rnets. The reader may remember that the word "bee" is more than once used in a similar manner. This view of the case is corroborated by such passages as Deut. ii. 25: "This day will I begin to put the dread of thee, and the fear of thee, upon the nations that are under th

HO

ets before thee."

hen ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites

ur hearts did melt, neither did there remain

. The Hornets of Palestine and the neighbouring countries are far more common than our own Hornets in England, and they evidently infested some parts

over. Such nests as these would easily be disturbed by the animals which accompanied the Israelites on their journeys, even if the people were careful to avoid them. In such a case, the irrit

in the memory of those who had taken part in them, and

ers, and neither man nor beast could stay in it. It is not likely, however, that such a series of miracles, far exceeding the insect-plagues of Egypt, would have been worked without frequent references to them in the subsequent books

the Hornet is very severe indeed, exceeding in virulence that of the wasp, to which it is closely allied; and it is possible that a boy, or even a man, might be in so feeble a state of health, or be naturally so sensitive to poison, that the sting of a Ho

ation is Vespa orientalis, the insect and nest b

E

Ant-The Ants of Palestine, and their habits-The Agricultural or Mound-making Ant-Preparing ground, sowing, tending

t, around which an animated controversy has long

-8: "Go to the ant, thou sluggard

no guide, ove

he summer, and gathereth

ost exactly the same manner: "Go to the ant

no captain, ba

he summer, and gathereth

r: "There be four things which are little u

strong, yet they prepare

nature of that food would prevent it from being laid up in store. The objectors thought that the sacred writer had been deceived by appearances, and ha

ation of the word which is rendered as "ant" in the Authorized Version; and that, in the second place, the Ants of a warm count

does not add the mark of doubt. Buxtorf, in his "Hebrew Lexicon," translates it as "formica," and derives it from a root which signifies "to eat," because it eat the seeds which it

vey seeds into their subterranean home; and if their stores should be wetted by the heavy rains which sometimes

e. Any one who wishes to test the truth of his words can easily do so by watching the first Ants' nest which he finds, the species of the Ant not being of much consequence. The nests of the

and it has been called by various popular names, such as the Mound-making Ant and the Agricultural Ant on account of its habits, and the St

communicated to the Linn?an Society by C. Darwin, Esq. His abstract of Dr. Lincecum's observations may be found in the "Journal of

communication, containing only what appears to be mos

gent, provident farmer, makes suitable and timely arrangements for the changing seasons. It is, in short, endowed with skill, ingenuity, and un

r four feet from the entrance. But if the location is chosen on low, flat, wet land liable to inundation, though the ground may be perfectly dry at the time the ant sets to work, it nevertheless elevates the mound, in the form of a pretty sharp cone, to the height of fifteen to twenty inches o

crop in a circle around, and two or three feet from, the centre of the mound, the insect tends and cultivates it with constant care, cutting

closely resemble ordinary rice. When ripe, it is carefully harvested, and carried by the workers, chaff and all, into the granar

and spoil. In this case, on the first fine day the ants bring out the damp and damaged grain, and expose it to the su

y observations on their manners and customs have been limited to the last twelve years, during which time the enclosure surrounding the orchard has prevented the approach of cattle to the ant-farms. The cities which are outsi

r than formerly, thus preventing the ripening of the seeds, I notice that the Agricultural ant is placing its cities along the turn-row

s during the time it is growing. When it is ripe the grain is taken care of, the dry stubble cut away and carried off, the paved area being left unencumbered until the ensuing autumn, when the same 'ant-rice' reappears within the same

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.

d 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. We all know that Solomon's statement concerning the Ant has afforded one of the stock arguments against the truth of Scripture; and here we have his stateme

r 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 com

ESTINE (At

gard; consider her ways,

males and females attain the winged state. Before they assume the transitional or pupal condition, each spins around itself a sl

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, wh

e Arabs have a proverb which is applied to those who are over-ambitious: "If

OPT

RIMSO

e Coccus or Cochineal of Palestine compared with that of Mexico-Differen

o another ord

ither as "crimson" or "scarlet," but its full signification is the Crimson-worm. This is an insect scientifically named Coccus ilicis on account of its food. It is closely allied to the well-k

(Quercus coccifera), a tree which is very pl

RIMSO

as crimson, they shall be

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 s

s-scarlet, purple, and blue-used in the vestments of the priests and

n common with the cicad?, the lantern

the prickly pear, and near them are the tin

DOPT

LOTHE

etween the Hebrew sas and the Greek sês-Moths and garments-Accumulation of clothes

th, by which we must always understand some species of Clothes Moth-in fact, one of

rd 'ash. The resemblance of the Hebrew sas and the Greek sês is to be noted, both of them denominating the same insect. See Is. li. 8: "F

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 b

hen Thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beaut

; the moth shall eat them" (Isa. l. 9). The image is repeated in the next chapter (ver. 8), in which the 'Ash and the Sas are both mentioned. Hosea employ

moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal" (Matt. vi. 19). St. James, in a kind of commenta

rupted, and your gar

a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire

h 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 b

rray the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city

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 thi

st shall put it on, and the in

chambers were set apart for it, and a special officer, called the "keeper o

wealth and power. See Isa. iii. 6: "When a man shall take hold of his broth

t 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, which would be as destructive to that portion o

LKWORM

ainted with Silk-Present cultivation of the Silkworm-The Silk-farms of the Lebanon-Signification of the word Meshi-Sil

ubtful whether the translation be correct or not, except in one passage of the Revelation: "And the

recious stones, and of pearls, and fine lin

self coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple." The word whic

and shod thee with badger's skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk" (Ezek. xvi. 10). See als

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 k

abundance of the crop which is annually produced. The greatest care is taken in rearing the worms.

dustry 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

labours of the silk-grower in providing food for the armies of caterpilla

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 clearin

f 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

hese cocoons, of which we were continual

; but this arises partly from the neglect and want of care of the peasants themselves, who, reeling off basketful after basketful of c

ek. XVI., is derived from a root which signifies "to draw

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 Silkwor

tion is made by Luis of Grena

. post Pent

ani hostis obsedit, ut nullius divin? vocis fulmi

em aures obstruat, propos

i a graviori tonitrui sono non l?dantur. Tales mihi multi sacrarum concionum auditores hac ?tate esse videntur, qui quotidianis concionibus audiendis sine ullo animi motu assueti, si quis concion

after Pentec

taken such possession, that they be terrified by the thunderbolts

ears of these same men I will, by t

e, they may take no hurt from that sound of the thunder which is heavier. Of such a sort do seem to me to be nowadays many hearers of sacred discourses. For inasmuch as they be used to the hearing of common discourses, by which their minds are nothing move

zed Version "palmer-worm," there has always been some difficulty. It only occurs in th

hat which the palmer-worm hat

ou the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the ca

r gardens, and your vineyards, and your fig-trees, and your olive-trees increased,

IES OF P

a Persephone).? Syrian Ora

w-tail (Papil

orm hath left hath the l

gazam is one of the names to designate the locust, either some distinct species, or the same species in its undeveloped condition. Others have thought that,

y certainty upon the precise species of insect signified by the word gazam; but there can be no harm in following the translation of the Septuagint and Vulgate, both of which render it as "caterpillar."

PT

IE

tacks-Annoyance caused by the House-fly-Flies and ophthalmia-Signor Pierotti's ac

ts, which are very sparingly mentioned in the Scr

rd Baal-zebub-i.e. "Lord of Flies." This word only occurs in two passages, one being the well-known pr

he mollifying substance used as an application for wounds. The ointment of Scripture signifies the various perfumed unguents used as sc

called the apothecary. If, therefore, the unguents were carelessly stored, and the Fli

part of the rivers of Egypt." No particular species of fly is here indicated; but it is evid

than troublesome to human beings. In the New Forest I have been fairly driven back by the attack of the gadflies, which wounded me through a t

e 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

ile a cause of blindness, and so convey the infection with them. A stranger is always struck with the appearance of the children, who have qua

writes feelingly

ver large or however small they may be, a rabid and restless foe, they attack alike, and make themselves ins

ers 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

teenth century, informs us that during his stay at Nazareth a swarm of small black flies, called bargash, invaded the plai

are not now so numerous as to compel the chiefs of the villages or tribes (answer

mple was at Ekron. The reason of this is evident at the present day, for the ancient country of the Philistines i

rs bring with them a perfect druggist's shop from Europe as a protection against these nuisances, and leave behind them this on

he 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 fl

AT

nd swallowing the camel, a typographical error

he Scriptures. This is the Gnat, the name of which occurs in the familiar passage

LIES OF P

.? Camel Fly (Ta

lies among them which devo

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 drink

the contrast between the smallest known insects and the largest known beasts. Gnats, especially those species which are popularly known by the word "mosq

AND APA

LO

he Hebrew word Chinnim-Probability that it may be represented by "tick"-Habi

oned in Scripture with two parasites

plagues of the waters and the frogs, both of which were imitated by the magicians, i.e. the priests, a third was br

ch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that

smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man and in beast;

ents to bring forth lice, but they could not:

have told with greater effect upon the magicians, by whose

arboured 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 bod

e 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

Hebrew word chinnim. Sir Samuel Baker is of opinion that the word oug

exion 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 appare

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 si

ble. 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 portio

FL

ed by them to travellers-Fleas of the Lebanon-The Bey's be

so used to the Fleas that either the insects do not touch them, or by lon

country, and to be contemplated with perfect equanimity. Miss Rogers, for example, in her "Domestic Life in Palestine," mentions how

hed 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

e pests is regarded, I quote a passage from Mr. Farley's "Druses of the Lebanon.

ething 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,

herein the word "flea" is mentioned, and in both of which it is used a

ea?" The second is in chap. xxvi. of the same book, ver. 20: "Now therefore ... the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one

CHN

SCOR

bits of the Scorpion-Dangers of mud walls-Venom of the Scorpion-

sented in Scripture by

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 v

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

der 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

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 o

SCOR

scorpions: and there were stin

s sting, though one or two allude to its habit of dwelling in desert places. See, for example, Deut. viii. 15, which forms part of the address that M

ilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and sco

of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, thoug

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 ma

, 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

ms part of the rash counsel given to Rehoboam by his friends: "My father made your yoke heavy, and I w

strument 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

tween the south end of the Dead Sea and Zion was named after it. The southern boundary of Judah is said to be at Maale

SP

of a Scriptural passage-Talmudical opinions respecting th

her hands, and is in kings' palaces." There is much doubt whether the word semamith, which is here translated a "spider," does not rather allude to the Gecko, a lizard whi

corpion," founded on the belief that the Semam, whatever it might be, crept into the ears of the scorpion. Another proverb is, "A Semam a

a, i.e. an ape, as calamotes, which signifies a kind of fish, or as kalabotes and askalabotes, w

), and there is a similar image in Job viii. 14: "So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish. Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose

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 Eu

ELI

WO

sion of the words-The Rimmah and the Tole'ah-The

ained under the article Moth; the second is rimmah; and the third tole'ah. There is very great difficulty in ascertaining the real significati

ttacked by the larva of another kind of beetle. Then we use the word "palmer-worm" to signify the larva of a moth, "glow-worm" to signify a beetle, "tape-worm" to signify an entozoo

"worm" that was bred in the manna when it had been kept beyond the specified time,

case: "My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome" (vii. 5). In xxv. 6 he uses both words: "Man that is a worm, and the son of man that is a worm." This passage is more correctly rendered in the

on being much more correct. The Worm is not mentioned at all in that passage, which the Jewish Bible ren

d of Jonah was a Tolaeth (another

f their holes like worms of the earth" (vii. 17). In this case, however, the expression is a general one, and, as may

ORSE

Arabic word-Leeches in Palestine-The

e Scriptures. This is alukah, which is translated as horse-le

translation is a correct one. Buxtorf renders the word as sanguisuga hirudo, and it is wor

ls who come to drink, and cause great annoyance and even danger. The following anecdote, related by Mr. H. Dixon in his

; 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.

torn these suckers from her flesh, and soused the water about her wounds; and how my hun

tly. Even in England this will happen. While bathing in a Kentish stream, I have found, when coming out of

A AND R

E AND

t Jews were acquainted with it-Sponges of the Mediterranea

be said on either

pped 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

pearls" (Job xxviii. 18). The second occurrence of the word is in Ezek. xxvii. 16: "They occupi

ea, where the Coral abounds, and where it attains the greatest perfection. The Hebrew word

RA

be made of coral

DE

Han

er nisu

peregri

us buba

s,

ax,

er,

Elepha

s,

ar,

, 2

e ibe

dix Hey

ragus

kah

lida

al, 618. Mound-makin

ad,

e,

ipter

ta, 612. me

ra,

a?tos, 354.

nida,

cinere

el,

beth

a arval

hemippu

oko,

esticated, 26

ua, 371. Pe

, 621. malef

al,

lah,

l,

an Cam

ger

7. Long-he

longice

t,

r,

en,

anded, 606.

moth

nde

on,

rn, 8

Vultur

Thrus

leate

sus,

Monke

ah,

stellar

le,

buffel

373. maximus, 374

alo,

01. Wil

203. b

saxatil

f,

16. Arab

anus, 216. dro

ted Sph?

. Mambrica, 202. Nubi

s Musim

n Emys

t,

le,

stes

leon,

ois,

idah

r-pero

tah

led

gna,

a nigr

s gallic

nosus, 368.

ber,

ra,

trice

ivia, 418. palumbus,

ey,

a,

al,

Antelop

nna,

rant,

corax, 447. monedula

a hippur

hene,

, 1

ne,

frument

dile,

Hooded

oo,

. Great Sp

inus

finis, 389.

xanthic

pus,

r,

ul,

or,

bb,

aircase S

s,

plicatu

era,

us,

on,

b,

iwinkle, 586

hawk

ouse

k, 418. Egyptian Rock, 418. Ring,

Hawk

6. Golden, 354. Imperia

ola, 552. ca

s remor

Mastigu

hant

Indicu

aspica

lus,

eh,

es Scop

aceu

us, 362. per

Deer, 1

foot

, 489. Sick

anicula

Owl

ret

tall

-mous

Suckin

es,

a,

2. Came

Domest

x,

olin,

Edible, 559

a Dorc

lle,

ko,

Eagle

Snak

de,

t,

t,

ucker

g, Syri

hearwat

houn

Vultur

ner,

inerea

fulvu

hempric

ter,

e,

367. Hen, 369

t,

. Dove, 369. Ring-ta

ehog

er,

rie

on,

este

d,

?grag

irica, 388.

tera,

ey,

uman

oe,

et,

se,

g Leop

ne Gallin

na,

us niloti

opter

ax,

rix,

Arabia

Glossy or Green, 489. religio

cts,

b,

mur,

kal

daw,

, 186

Owl,

boa

th,

ong

rel,

el,

Antelo

ash,

p?d

9. Common, 358. Egyp

-das

him

viridi

rgeie

Falco

ing,

Horse

ard,

opter

ea,

ah,

than,

n,

en, 530. Jersey,

96. Migra

ned Gaze

se,

s Rhes

ques

ie,

rik,

ur,

earwate

. House, 38

margariti

. Egyptiacus, 36

r Goa

e,

uscs

. Land, 539.

eros,

uzzard

uito

624. Grain, 626

lon,

se,

e,

ur mulet

na,

helen

ris, 586. tr

ale

544. trip

iloticu

nia Ose

percuopte

z,

k, 377. -

hunde

Perch

Wild Go

migrator

ha,

ip, Syri

b,

x,

ay,

rage,

ich,

ce,

160. laticaudatus, 160. laticauda

3. European Eagle, 374. Great, 373. Little, 371. Little Night,

,

s glanda

halia?

sh,

lack, 430. Desert

402. montanus, 40

ock,

Mussel, 593.

495. Cres

s crista

yphus cya

. House, 41

on aurat

upin

veterum,

try,

es ente

ozoa

urus sci

s pallas

opus

lorum, 407.

stoma, 586.

rg,

il,

coccif

ata,

sculen

y-necked, 447.

Deer

m,

a microp

sus

Rabbi

, 1

k,

-rat

yr,

a diade

opusic

officina

pion

av,

s,

ents

ak,

fishes

ep,

iphon

-mous

us ve

macracan

nk,

il,

, 543. Hora

n's fl

lax

. -hawk, 365

sepsoid

er,

ge,

l Hawk

gazer

ling

nbok

478. Bl

flamme

llet,

, 2

. Rufous or Russet, 388. -t

n,

ne,

Galilean, 389. Marsh, 404

ling, 631. Orange-tip,

maroca

ash,

o Gr?c

thynnu

granel

us alauda

meth,

,

Sacre

oise

coa,

Ram's-h

alis

bi,

ny,

19. Collared,

us, 421. Sene

r-dero

ah,

orn,

garitife

epop

pus-scab

sabelli

s,

riental

ed, 551. Sand, 5

Bearded, 36. Egyptian,

lizar

eroo

sel

-bird

116. Goat,

hover

shell

f,

r, 630. Crimson,

ya ?gypt

h?ph

ar,

b,

vivipa

Y, SONS, AND T

TNO

TNO

ob xx

s. cx