316 An Attempt to ascertain the Animal 



the iguanodon and behemoth being identical, pursue the very 

 same course in pointing out, from the form of the iguanodon's 

 teeth, this remarkable circumstance relative to it, as contrasted 

 with other large fossil saurians, namely, that it fed on vegetables. 



The speaker in Job having pointed out the peculiarity of 

 its food, and that it was similar* to that of the ox, he next 

 describes the great strength of behemoth. " Behold now 

 his strength is in his loins; his vigour in the muscles of his 

 belly." Such, we may fairly presume, was the case with the 

 iguanodon from what is known of its anatomy and size. 



He next remarks upon the size and pliability of the tail of 

 the behemoth. " He plieth his tail, which is like a cedar." 

 The pliability of the iguanodon's tail, if it resembled that of 

 modern iguanas, would be remarkable, as contrasted with the 

 tail of the crocodile, which, from being not so easily bent, has 

 given rise to the fable that the way to escape his jaws is to turn 

 frequently, as from the stiffness of his tail he cannot turn so 

 fast as the person pursued. The present race of iguanas have 

 very flexible tails ; we may, therefore, from similarity of con- 

 struction in the iguanodon, presume its tail to have been very 

 free in its motions, and thus in contrast with the tails of most 

 other saurians in its pliability. Now, the size and shape of the 

 behemoth's tail is represented to be like a cedar tree ; and so 

 in size and shape must that of the fossil iguanodon have been 

 in every respect. When we notice this resemblance, we cannot 

 but smile at those authors who have disputed whether the 

 little tail of the elephant, or the small one of the hippopotamus, 

 was most like a cedar tree, as they maintained one or the other 

 animal to have been the behemoth. 



Next follows a description of the behemoth's size and 

 strength in other parts. " The sinews of his thighs are braced 

 together; his ribs are like unto pipes of copper; his back 

 bone is like a bar of iron. He is the chief of the works of 

 God." Nothing can be clearer than that the above de- 

 scription was applicable to the immense iguanodon. 



And now follows an account of a peculiar feature, which 

 seems to have distinguished the iguanodon from all other 

 saurians with which the Hebrews were familiar ; it is inti- 

 mated in these words : " He that made him hath fastened 

 on his weapon." I entertain no doubt that allusion is here 

 made to the horn, which, in the description of the iguanodon 

 that I have recited [in p. 314.], you will remember is stated 

 to have been placed near the eyes ; and that such was the 

 situation of the weapon, or horn, of the behemoth, I think, will 

 appear from the two last lines of the Scripture description of 

 that animal : " Though any one attempt to take him in a 



