123 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 



who use the words to describe these, and perhaps several other 

 large animals in addition to them, among which is the crocodile, 

 who is more particularly marked out, by the term LEVIATHAN. 



'The main proof that the leviathan is the crocodile of the Nile,' 

 says Mr. Vansittart, 'arises chiefly from some particular circumstan- 

 ces and contingencies attending the crocodiles of JEgypt, and of no 

 other country ; and if these circumstances are such, that we can 

 suppose the Hebrew writer drew his ideas from them in his de- 

 scription of leviathan, they will afford an almost certainty that levi- 

 nthan represents the crocodile of the Nile.' The writer then quotes 

 a passage from Herodotus, where the historian describes this ani- 

 mal, and relates the peculiarities attendant upon him in parts of 

 Egypt ; remarking, that ' some of the Egyptians hold the crocodile 

 sacred, particularly the inhabitants of Thebes, and others bordering 

 upon the lake Mceris, who breed up a single crocodile, adorn him 

 with rings and bracelets, feed him with the sacred food appointed 

 for him, and treat him with the most honorable distinction.' With 

 much ingenuity, he then proceeds to illustrate the description in the 

 book of Job, and to consider it as strongly indicating the peculiari- 

 ties of the Thebaid crocodile. 



The description of leviathan commences at the twelfth verse, and 

 is divided into three parts, classed under the different heads of, (1.) 

 his parts; (2.) his great might ; (3.) his well-armed make. Of these, 

 the first and the third describe him as truly as a naturalist would 

 do. The second part magnifies him as a god. 



It is difficult, perhaps impossible, to find a description so admi- 

 rably sustained in any language of any age or country. The whole 

 appears to be of a piece, and equally excellent. 



To stir up or awake leviathan is represented, in chap. xli. 8 10 

 of the same book, to be inevitable destruction. It was natural to 

 mention such a terrible casualty in the strongest terms of abhor- 

 rence, and to lament those who so miserably perished with the most 

 bitter imprecations on the disastrous day. Job calls for the assist- 

 ance of such language, to execrate the fatal night of his nativity. 



By the term leviathan, in Psalm Ixxiv. 14, we may suppose Pha- 

 raoh to be represented, as a king of Egypt is called by Ezekiel 

 (chap. xxix. 3) ' the great dragon [or crocodile] that lieth in the 

 miust of his rivers.' 



THE UNICORN. 



IT would be o'f little advantage to the reader, were we td detail 

 the various opinions entertained relative to the identity of the ani- 

 mal designated the UNICOKN, in our translation of the Bible. The 

 oryx, a species of the wild goat ; the urus, a species of the wild bull ; 



