S90 Origmes Zoologies, 



reason, as far as the evidence goes, to upset the theory of the 

 zodiacal light, and bring so dangerous, though brilliant, a 

 neighbour as this cometic gentleman seems to be. If I be 

 wrong, and Professor Olmsted be right, the^earth will in all 

 probability enjoy the celestial carnival again in November, 

 when meteors will fly about as sweetmeats and bon-bons do at 

 Naples and Rome. 



Stanley GreeJi^ August 9. 1834. 



Art. II. Origines Zoologicce, or Zoological Recollections. By 

 William Turton, M.D. &c. [Continued from p. 328.] 



THE ox. 



In the earliest stages of society this valuable quadruped 

 became an object of domestic care and regard ; for we read 

 in Genesis (xiii. 6, 7.) that " there was a strife between the 

 herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's 

 cattle;" the flocks of each of whom were so numerous " that 

 the land was not able to bear them, and they could not dwell 

 together." The ox was held sacred by the Egyptians, and 

 elevated into one of the twelve signs of the zodiac (Taurus), 

 A representation of the ox became an object of idolatrous 

 worship, as in the golden calf erected by Aaron. (Ex- 

 odus, xxxii.) At this day, in India, the sacred cow, as repre- 

 senting one of the transformations of the deity, is held in the 

 highest veneration, and the flesh forbidden to be eaten. The 

 ox became, from associations like these, an acceptable offer- 

 ing of propitiation or gratitude; as we find (Genesis, iv. 4.) 

 that Abel offered in sacrifice the firstlings of his flock ; that 

 Abram was directed (Genesis, xv. 9.) to sacrifice a heifer, 

 of three years old, as an offering for the promise of a son ; 

 and that twenty- two thousand were sacrificed by Solomon at 

 the dedication of the temple. (1 Kings, viii. 6S.) The seven 

 years of plenty and the seven years of want were typified by 

 the fat and the lean kine of Pharaoh. (Genesis, xli.) 



Veal, it appears, was the first dressed meat upon record : 

 for, when Abram entertained the three angels (Genesis, 

 xviii. 7.), " he ran into the herd, and fetched a calf tender 

 and good, and gave it to a young man, and he hasted to dress 

 it." The ox and the ass, as the most valuable represent- 

 atives of pastoral possessions, are expressly forbidden, in the 

 Tenth Commandment (Exodus, xx. 17.), to be unlawfully 

 coveted from our neighbour : and the ox and the sheep were 

 pointed out to Moses, from Mount Sinai, as the chief subjects 

 of sacrifice. (Exodus, xxix.) 



