concerning the Scripture -Animals . 8j 



But, befides the great Variety of Animals, which have been Difficulties 

 already taken Notice of, from Lev. xi. and Deut. xiv. the cTLtherTni- 

 Scriptures afford us a Number of others; fuch as the Behe-^ll^\(^^\o 

 moth, the Leviathan, the Reem &c. that are no lefs difficult 

 to explain. With Regard likewife to the Botanical Part of 

 the Natural Hiftory of the H. Scriptures, we meet with the 

 like Doubts and Obfcurities ; the Dudaim, the Ktkaion &c. 

 continuing ftill in Difpute, notwithftanding the fame Pains and 

 Labour have been beftowed upon this Subje6t, as upon the 

 Zoology. For it muft be univerfally acknowledged, that we 

 are hitherto very imperfedlly inftruded, and want therefore 

 to be much better acquainted, with the Objedts themfelves, 

 before we can be able to afcertain, with any Certainty, their 

 refpedtive Names, Diftinclions and Varieties. The Names, 

 likewife, which they are called by, at prefent, in thofe Coun- 

 tries, would be of great Affiftance; as fome of them, it may 

 be prefumed, continue to be the very fame ; whilft others may 

 prove to be traditional of, or derivatives * from, the Originals. 



We muft wait therefore for the Aid and Affiftance of fome Future Dir- 



r T-vr- • 1 y-vt f • coveries ne- 



ruture Difcoveries and Obfervations, before thefe Branches of^flary to 



clear up thefe 



Knowledge are brought to any tolerable Degree of Perfection. Difficulties. 

 And indeed, provided every curious Perfon, who has the good 

 Fortune to be acquainted with thefe Eaftern Countries, would 

 contribute his Share, towards this valuable Undertaking ; it 

 might not be long, (according to the prevailing Humour of 

 travelling in this Age,) before a laudable, if not a fufficient 

 Quantity of Materials were colleCled for this Purpofe. And, 

 as few Perfons have had the like Opportunities, of contributing 

 fo largely to this Work, as the Author of The Defcription of 

 the Eafi, who has been fo often taken Notice of; we cannot 

 fufficiently regret, that, amidft that Number of other Subjects, 

 which he has thought fit to treat of, he ffiould have been fo 

 little interefted and engaged in this. For had this Gentleman 

 been as copious in his Drawings, and as circumftantial in his De- 

 fcriptions of the Animals and Plants of thefe Countries, as he 



1 Thus, among others, the Word ZVf/tT pWJ) which is always rendrcd tlie Eagle, is 

 applied, by x\\& Arabs , to the Vtilttir, which is a more fpecious Bird. And, among Plants, 

 Ailoh ("nS") which is commonly rendred the Oak^, is the ordinary Name for a beautiful 

 berry-bearing Tree, otherwiCe called the Az.edarach. See Phjtographia. N°. 74. 



2 The Dbad, the Taiub &c. above-mentioned, may be Inftanccs of this Suppofition. 



X X has 



