CHAPTER V. 



REPTILES. 



THIS numerous and diversified class of being is distinguished by 

 two appellations in the sacred writings, (Gen. i. 24, 25 ; vii. 21 ;) 

 the one being expressive of its motion , that is, crawling ; and the 

 other of its abundant production or increase. Reptiles of all sorts, 

 except those furnished with wings, were unclean, Lev, xi. 41. We 

 shall notice them under three divisions: LIZARDS SERPENTS 

 WORMS. 



SECTION I. 

 LIZARDS. 



THE TORTOISE. 



DR. SHAW has shown, that the tzab or tjab of Lev. xi. 29, which 

 we call the tortoise, is a lizard, called in Arabic, with a near ap- 

 proach to the Hebrew name, dhab or dab, agreeing nearly in shape, 

 and in the hard pointed annule or scales of the tail, with the candi- 

 verbera or shake-tail, as it is represented in Gesner, and Johnson. 

 ' The dab, or Saharawan lizard, is about eighteen inches long, and 

 'three or four inches broad across the back. I i.- not poisonous. It 

 lays eggs like the tortoise. It is very swift, and, if hunted, will hide 

 itself in the earth, which it penetrates with its nose, and nothing 

 will extricate it but digging up the ground.' 

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