6 FAUNA AND FLORA OF FALESTINE. 



even seen it on the Mount of Olives, close to Jerusalem. It is frequently 

 mentioned in Scripture, and rendered ' Roe ' in our translation ; and is a 

 favourite symbol both of fleetness and of beauty. There are many species 

 or geographical races of Gazelle, some of them difficult to discriminate. 

 The Dorcas Gazelle is found from Algeria through Egypt, and thence 

 extends into Arabia and Syria. 



17. Gazella arabica. {^) Ehrenb. Symb. Phys. Mamm. i r. 



This species, larger than the Dorcas Gazelle, is found in the desert 

 country east of Jordan. I had formerly identified it with Ehrenberg's 

 species from .South Arabia ; but Sir Victor Brooke, while recognising its 

 distinctness, is inclined to believe it another race, less widely separated 

 from G. dorcas. The Persian G. subviitlurosa and the Indian G. bcncttii 

 are distinct. 



Caprinae. 



18. Capra Jdrcus. L. Syst. Nat. i., p. 94. The Goat. Heb. I^SV, 

 He-goat ; ly. She-goat. Arab. ;>«^, ]\Idz. 



The Goat is more abundant in this hilly and scantily watered country 

 than the Sheep, and constitutes its chief wealth. There are many different 

 breeds or races. The ordinary Black Goat of Syria, universal through- 

 out the country, with pendent ears a foot long, hanging down far below 

 the recurved horns, has been distinguished as Capra inambrica, L. Syst. 

 Nat. i., 95. The INIohair-Goat {Capra angorciisis, L. Syst. Nat. i., 94) 

 is occasionally bred in some parts of the north of Palestine. 



19. Capra beden. Wagn. Schreb. Saug. V. a. 1303. (C sinaitica. 

 Ehrenb. Symb. Phys., t. 18.) Ibex. Heb. D*Sy\ Arab. ^\, Bcden. 



Plate II. 

 The Syrian Ibex, or Beden, is still f<5und, not only in the ravines ot 

 Moab, but in the wilderness of Judaea, near the Dead Sea. I have pro- 

 cured several specimens on both sides of Jordan. It is not now known in 

 the north or in Lebanon, where I have found its teeth in cave-breccia, along 

 with flint implements. The Beden is of a much lighter fawn colour than 

 the European Ibex, with horns much more slender and recurved, wrinkled 

 and knotted on the front face only. It is the ' Wild Goat' of Scripture. 



