The natural history of the Bible ; or, A description of all the quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles, and insects, trees, plants, flowers, gums, and precious stones, mentioned in the sacred scriptures: Collected from the best authorities, and alphabetically arranged / by Thaddeus Mason Harris.

  • Thaddeus Mason Harris
Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The natural history of the Bible ; or, A description of all the quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles, and insects, trees, plants, flowers, gums, and precious stones, mentioned in the sacred scriptures: Collected from the best authorities, and alphabetically arranged / by Thaddeus Mason Harris. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    APPENDIX. LAN UTC 407: But man’s strong hands the furious beast reclaim; Lost is his anger, and his heart is tame, He bears the yoke, his lips the curb obey, Boys stride his back, and point his onward way.” Errow's translation. Historians and travellers relate many tales concerning the pru- dence, penetrating sagacity, and obliging temper of the elephant, which seem almost incredible. It is certain that they appear to be more influenced by a regard to the consequences of their actions than any other domesticated animals, On the promise of a reward, they are often induced to extraordinary exertions of ingenuity and strength. They are said to be particularly fond of wine; and it is frequently offered them to induce them to. perform labours, and given to reward exertion. We find it used in this manner, successfully, in the wars of the Maccabees. 1 Maccab. vi. 34. | The tusks of the elephant have long been applied under the denomination of ivory, to a variety of important uses in the arts. See Ivory. To the longevity, and other prominent qualities of the elephant, Thomson alludes in the following animated lines: “ Peaceful, beneath primeval trees, that cast Their ample shade o’er Niger’s yellow stream, And where the Ganges rolls his sacred wave; Or mid the central depth of blackening woods, High raised in solemn theatre around, Leans the huge elephant: wisest of brutes! O truly wise! with gentle mind endowed, Though powerful, not destructive! Here he sees Revolving ages sweep the changeful earth, . And empires rise and fall; regardless he Of what the never resting race of men Project: thrice happy, could he scape their guile Who mine, from cruel avarice, his steps; Or with his towery grandeur swell their state— The pride of kings! or else his strength pervert, And bid him rage amid the mortal fray, Astonish’d at the madness of mankind.” FISH. : In Ezekiel, xxix. 3, 4, is a prophecy against Pharaoh king of Egypt, under the emblem of the crocodile, which, among the ancients was a symbol of Egypt, in these words, * Lo! I am against thee Pharaoh, king of Egypt; the great crocodile [tanim] mine own, and I have made it for myself: and I will put hooks in thy jaws, and make the fish of thy rivers cleave to thy scales; and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall cleave to thy scales.” ‘This latter cir- cumstance may be understood as a reference to the ‘ echeneis 15 The Nile had seven mouths, Rivers also emptied themselves into it, and channels were cut from it.