^y6 Phyfical Ohfer 'cations &c. 



which are, I prefume, ah'eady delineated ' though not defcribed. 

 The former are found in great Numbers in a Fountain uQarBell- 

 mont^ being of the Lizard Kindjall over fpotted^and differ from 

 the commonWater Efts, in the Extent and Fafliion of theirFins. 

 Thefe, in the Males, commence from the Tip of the Nofe, 

 and running the whole Length of the Neck and Back to the 

 very Extremity of the Tail, are continued afterwards along the 

 under Part of the Tail quite to the Navel ; whereas the Tails 

 only of the Female are finned. The Body and Tail of this Ani- 

 mal are accounted to be great Provocatives, and are therefore 

 bought up by the Turks at an extravagant Price. 

 The Daman The Damau Ifrael ', is an Animal likewife of Mount Liba- 

 saphan of nm, though common in other Places of this Country. It is a 

 harmlefs Creature, of the fame Size and Quality with the 

 Rabbet, having the like incurvating Pofture and Difpofition 

 of the Fore Teeth. But it is of a browner Colour, withfmaller 

 Eyes, and a Head more pointed. The Fore Feet likewife are 

 ihort, and the Hinder ^near as long in Proportion, as thofe of 

 the Jerboa \ Though it is known to burrough fometimes in 

 the Ground ; yet, as the ufual Refuge of it is in the Holes and 

 Clifts of the Rocks, we have fo far a more prefumptive Proof 

 that this Creature is the Saphan of the Scriptures than the 

 Jerboa. None of the Inhabitants, whom I converfed with, 

 could inform me why it was called Daman Ifrael, i. e. IfraeTs 

 Lamb , according to their Interpretation. 

 The h,hab\- Befides Greeks^ Maronites, and other Seds οϊ ChriRians ^ 



ta-its of this • • Λ Λ • Λ Λ f-r< >-η a ι 



Country. tliis Coutttry is nihabited by Turks, Turkmans, Arabs, Suories, 

 and Drujes. The Turks are the Mafters of the Cities, Caftles 

 and Garrifons : the Turkmans and Arabs poflefs the Plains; 

 the latter living, as ufual, in Tents; the other in moveable 

 Hovels : whilft the Suor'ies, (the Defcendents perhaps of the 

 Indigence or original Syrians^ cultivate the greateft Part of the 

 Country near Latikea and Jebilee ; and the Drujes maintain a 

 Kind of Sovereignty all over the Cafiravan Mountains. 



I Vid. r/jf/rfttr. Rer. Natural. Aberti Sebi. p. 22. Vol.r. PI. 14. fig.i. & p.d/. PI. 41. 

 fig. 2. the firft exhibits the figure of the Skinkpre, callw^ h Lacertus /Sfricanus dorfo ρεβ'ι- 

 nato, amphibios tuag. Foem'tna peilinata caret pinna in dorfo. The latter gives us the figure 

 of the Cuniculus Americanus, which is very like our Danun Ifrael. 2 Animal quoddam 

 hutnile, cuniculo non diffimile, quod Agnum fiUorum Ifrael nuncupant. Profp, Alpin. Hift. 

 Nat. Mgjpt. pars I. cap. 20. p. 80. &I.4. cap.p. 3 Vid. p. 248. 



As 



