Rev. Dr Scott on the Semamith of Solomo7i. 37 



Whore lizards are so numerous, there must be many species ; 

 and, after all that has been done to clear up differences, consi- 

 derable confusion must still remain, two or more species being 

 described as one, while the same name is given to two or more 

 species. 



While we acknowledge our obligations to Bochart for the 

 chief materials of this essay, we regret that we have not had the 

 power of perusing Scheuchzer, who has treated at great length 

 the natural history of the Bible ; and we have not read or heard 

 of any, who has attempted to point out the kind of lizard whicli 

 corresponds with the semamith of Solomon. 



Cuvier^s Stellio of the Levant may be mentioned, the synonyms 

 of which are the Stellio lacerta of Linnaeus, the Koscordylos of 

 the modern Greeks ; though not the Hardun of the Arabians, 

 if we mistake not, which rather answers to what is called the 

 land crocodile. It is this Stellio of the Levant, which is often 

 killed by the Mahometans, for mocking them, as they suppose, 

 by lowering its head, when they say their prayers. 



Or Solomon's semamith may be the Gecko des murons of 

 Cuvier, the synonyms of which are the Gecko of Hasselquist, 

 the Gecko lohatus of Geoffroy, the Lacerta Hasselquista of 

 Schneider. It is very frequent in the houses of all those coun- 

 tries, bordering on the Mediterranean to the east and south. At 

 Cairo, it is called Ahou hurg, or father of the leper, because it is 

 supposed to communicate the leprosy to those who eat the food 

 which it has touched with its feet. When it creeps over a per- 

 son'*s hand, the skin inflames ; more, perhaps, says Cuvier, from 

 the delicate sharpness of its nails, than the deleterious matter 

 which it communicates. 



We know not whether the Lacerta ocellata, as it has been 

 called by some, be different from the lizards just mentioned. It 

 is about a span long : the feet are short, and five-toed in gene- 

 ral : the colour is greenish-grey, with brown spots or disks. It 

 is a native of Egypt, we presume also of Palestine, and frequents 

 houses. 



Upon the whole, both authority and probability favour the 

 idea, that the semamith of Solomon is a house lizard, and not a 

 house spider ; though at present we are unable to say which spe- 

 cies of house lizard has a preferable claim to every other. 



