76 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE GOAT. 



THE usual scripture name for this animal, in a domestic state, is 

 a word which signifies strength or vigor, and it seems the goat^is 

 so called on account of its agility and vigor. 



Dr. Russell and other travellers inform us, that in Syria they 

 have two kinds of goats ; one that differs little from the common 

 sort in Britain ; the other remarkahle for the length of its ears, 

 which are sometimes upwards of a foot long, and broad in pro- 

 portion. To this description of the goat it is, as Mr. Harrner rea- 

 sonably supposes, that the prophet Amos refers, in expressing the 

 smallness of that part of Israel that escaped from destruction, and 

 were seated in foreign countries: 'As the shepherd taketh out of 

 the mouth of the lion, two legs, or apiece of an ear, so shall the 

 children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria, and in 

 Damascus,' ch. iii. 12. 



The goat was one of the clean animals which the Israelites were 

 permitted to eat, and to offer on the altar, (Exodus xii. 5, &c.); 

 and the flesh of the kid is frequently mentioned in terms 

 which show that it was esteemed as a great delicacy, Gen. xxxviii. 

 16, 17 ; Jud. xvi. Solomon promises, as a reward to the diligent 

 husbandman, that he shall have goafs milk enough for his food, 

 for the food of his household, arid for the maintenance of his 

 maidens, (Prov. xxvii. 27); which to us may appear somewhat 

 strange ; but Russell assures us, that in Aleppo, these animals are 

 chiefly kept for their milk, of which they yield no inconsiderable 

 quantity; that it is sweet and well-tasted, and frequently used for 

 the making of cheese. This furnishes one amongst many install* 



