* the coney.
{Shaphan,} most probably an animal resembling the rabbit,
called by Dr. Shaw, {daman} (probably for {ganam}) Israel,
"Israel's lamb," and by Bruce, {ashkoko,} which name he
imagines is "derived from the singularity of these long
herenacious hairs, which, like small thorns, grow about his
back, and which an Amhara are called {ashok.}" This curious
animal abounds in Judea, Palestine, Arabia, and Ethiopia; and
is described as being about seventeen inches when sitting.
It has no tail; and at first sight gives the idea of a rat.
Its colour is grey, mixed with reddish brown; the belly
white, the body covered with strong polished hairs, for the
most part about two inches in length; the ears round, and not
pointed; the feet round, of a soft, pulpy, tender substance;
the toes projecting beyond the nails, which are rather broad
than sharp; the upper jaw is longer than the other; it lives
upon grain, fruit, and roots, and certainly chews the cud;
and it does not burrow like the hare and rabbit, but lives in
clefts of the rocks.
Ps 104:18 Pr 30:26
* but divideth.
Job 36:14 Mt 7:26 Ro 2:18-24 Php 3:18,19 2Ti 3:5 Tit 1:16
|