820 Origines %oologica, 



Son of God, in his entry into Jerusalem. With the jaw- 

 bone of an ass Samson slew a thousand of the Philistines ; 

 from the hollow part of which a miraculous stream of water 

 was made to flow, wherewith to quench his thirst. (Judges, 

 XV. 15 — 19.) And when the prophet was returning from 

 a feast, where he had been in disobedience to the commands 

 of the Lord, he was slain by a lion ; and his ass, on which 

 he rode, was found standing, together with the lion, by the 

 side of the carcass, uninjured and undismayed. (1 Kings, xiii.) 

 He has, nevertheless, been considered as the emblem of 

 stupidity and folly. Midas, of old, for his scurvy decree 

 between Pan and Apollo, was rewarded with the ears of an 

 ass. FalstafF, when his eyes were first opened to the tricks 

 played upon him by the Merry Wives of Windsor, exclaims, 

 " I do begin to perceive that I am made an ass." And honest 

 Dogberry, in indignant vindication of his office, says, " O 

 that he were here, to write me down an ass ! But, masters, 

 remember that I am an ass : though it be not written down, 

 yet forget not that I am an ass." 



The milk of the ass is much esteemed, and is of valued 

 efficacy, in cases of pulmonary affection. In the days of 

 Augustus, the flesh of young asses was considered as the 

 greatest delicacy of the table, more especially the shoulder. 

 The first-born of man, and those animals which were pro- 

 nounced to be clean, or fit for food, were ordered to be de- 

 dicated to the Lord : but the ass, as unclean, was directed to 

 be redeemed with a lamb ; and in default of such redemption, 

 his neck was ordered to be broken. The skin is manufactured 

 into a thick and polished material, used principally for tablets. 



THE LION. 



The emblem of courage and majesty : bold as a lion. In 

 heraldry, the symbol of nobleness of birth, valour, and 

 generosity ; and borne on the banners of the tribe of Judah. 

 He is said to sleep with the eyes open, probably because 

 they are furnished with a nictitant membrane, or cover- 

 ing, distinct from the lids; and, like most beasts of prey, 

 as dogs and cats, the female brings forth the young blind. 

 The kings of Persia, at this day, punish criminals with death, 

 by casting the victims into the dens of lions ; and have a pair 

 chained at the entrance to the palace for the purposes of state. 

 So we read in the Chronicles, that the entrance to the audience 

 chamber of King Solomon was guarded by two lions; and the 

 six steps to his throne, by twelve golden lions, one on each 

 side to each step. In the legends of romance, this noble 

 animal was thought to be able to distinguish a true maiden. 



