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- The Wolf among the Sheep. (John x. 12)
There is no doubt that the Hebrew word Zeëb, which occurs in a few passages of the Old Testament, is rightly translated as Wolf, and signifies the same animal as is frequently mentioned in the New Testament. - The Wanderoo
There is one species of monkey, which is extremely likely to have been brought to Palestine, and used for the adornment of a luxurious monarch's palace. This is the Wanderoo, or Nil-Bhunder (Silenus veter). The Wanderoo, or Ouanderoo, as the name is sometimes spelled, is a very conspicuous animal, 7on account of the curious mane that covers its neck and head, and the peculiarly formed tail, which is rather long and tufted, like that of a baboon, and has caused it to be ranked among those animals by several writers, under the name of the Lion-tailed Baboon. - Oxen bearing the Yoke. (Lam. iii. 27)
Oxen - The Badger (Exod. 26 14)
"Thou shalt make a covering above of badgers' skins." - Dogs prowling at Night. (Psa. 59 14)
Dogs prowling at Night "At evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied"—Psalm LIX. 14, 15. - The Lion and his Den. (Ezek. xix. 2)
An animal so destructive among the flocks and herds could not be allowed to carry out its depredations unchecked, and as we have already seen, the warfare waged against it has been so successful, that the Lions have long ago been fairly extirpated in Palestine. The usual method of capturing or killing the Lion was by pitfalls or nets, to both of which there are many references in the Scriptures. - Ostrich
Ostrich "What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider."—Job xxxix. 18. - Eastern Asses
The Ass is mentioned upwards of fifty times in the Bible, and from its having been selected as the animal on which it pleased our Saviour to enter Jerusalem, it carries with it in some respects a higher degree of interest than any other. References to the ass may be grouped under five heads, according to the Hebrew names for the different sorts in the original. These are (1) CHAMOR, which is the ordinary name for the domestic ass, whether male or female, but more properly the male ; (2) ATON, also a domestic ass, but rendered always a she-ass ; (3) AYIR, a colt or young ass ; (4) PERE, wild ass, and (5) AROD, another term for wild ass. In Eastern countries, as Egypt and Syria, the ass is a far more valuable animal, well cared for and fed, and considerably larger in size than in this country. It is capable of a good day's journey at a moderate pace either an easy canter or a less agreeable trot—with a man on its back, and it has a spirited demeanour and wide-awake manner which render it a pleasant quadruped to deal with. The breed is carefully selected, and a well-bred Syrian ass will fetch forty pounds. Their average height is perhaps two to three hands above that in this country. The Palestine asses are the finest in the world. Their colour and markings are much the same everywhere, and no animal has changed so slightly under domestication as the ass. - Syrian Ants
The Ant is mentioned twice in the Old Testament, both times in the Book of Proverbs (vi. 6 and xxx. 25). Ants are characterized as being exceeding wise, and in both passages are commended for their diligence in preparing their food in the summer, thus by their fore-sight providing for their winter sustenance. Such is at least the` obvious implication contained in the text. This habit was, and is still, contradicted by some writers, from their knowledge of the ways of European ants, which are dormant in the winter, and therefore stand in no need of food. - Horned Asp
The Adder is spoken of five times in the Bible, and the word is used as the translation of no less than four distinct Hebrew words. In Gen. 49:17 the Adder is spoken of as hiding in the way and biting the horse's heels so that the rider is overthrown. The Hebrew term in this passage (elsewhere rendered ' cockatrice ') is probably the same word as the modern Arabic name for the Horned Sand Snake or Cerastes haselquistii. It is the habit of this extremely venomous viper to lurk in the ruts of wheels or the depression of a footprint by the roadside, and to bite the legs of unwary passers-by, or of horses or cattle. Horses, aware of its nature, are said to be in terror of the Cerastes, and cannot be induced to proceed, once they have detected the concealed reptile, for its bite is most deadly. It derives its name of ' horned ' from the presence of two protuberances, one over each eye. It is of a grayish tint, about a foot long, and very active. The asp of Cleopatra, ' the pretty worm of Nilus,' has been identified with this animal, which is to be seen figured on ancient Egyptian monuments. [Adder Horned Asp ]