264 SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE CHESNUT TREE. 



IT is difficult to conceive the reasons which induced the English 

 translators to render the Hebrew aumuz * chesnut tree.' It occurs 

 only in Gen. xxx. 37, and Ezek. xxxi. 8 : in both places the Vul- 

 gate understand the ' plane tree,' as do the LXX. in the former 

 passage, but in the latter they have the * fir.' The majority of in- 

 terpreters concur with the Latin version, which is certainly very 

 suitable to the sense of the passage in the prophet, which requires 

 a tree possessing extensive branches, and producing a considerable 

 shade ; qualities for which the plane tree has ever been celebrated. 



THE FIG TREE; 



fig tree is very Common In Palestine and the East, and it 

 flourishes with the greatest luxur'-ance in those barren and stony 

 situations where little else will {Trow. 



Figs are of two sorts, the ' 'ooccore,' and the 'kermoirse.' The 

 boccore, or early fig, is produced in June, though the kermouse, 

 the fig properly so called, which is preserved, and made up into 

 cakes, is rarely ripe before August. There is also a long dark co- 

 lored kermouse^ that sometimes hangs upon the trees all the win- 

 ter. For these figs generally hang a long time upon the tree be- 

 fore they drop off; whereas the boccores drop as soon as they are 

 ripe, and, according to the beautiful allusion of the prophet Nahum, 

 fall into the mouth of the eater, upon being shaken,' ch. iii. 12. 

 Dr. Shaw, to whom we are indebted for this information, remarks, 

 that these trees do not properly blossom, or send out flowers, as 

 we render Hab. iii. 17. They may rather be said to shoot out their 



