THE WILD GOAT OF SCRIPTURE. 645 



instead of four. Its usual color is gray, becoming brownish in winter. 

 The male has a black beard. 



The Beden, or Wild Goat of Scripture, is still found in Palestine, in 

 small herds of eight or ten. Its agility is extraordinary, and it flings 

 itself with reckless accuracy from one craggy peak to another. Like the 

 Ibex it is very wary, has very keen eyes and keen scent, and, like all 

 gregarious animals, posts sentries to guard the herd. The flesh is excel- 

 lent, and perhaps the reason why King David took up his abode at 

 Engedi was the necessity of obtaining food for his followers, as it may 

 be safely assumed that the Beden, which is still seen there, was more 

 abundant in old days, before firearms rendered all wild animals afraid of 

 the neighborhood of man. It is probable, too, that it was the Beden 

 which Esau hunted with his quiver and his bow when he sought the 

 savory meat his father loved. 



