90 GAZELLES. 
from the verb depxoucs, to see. The common Eng- 
lish word antelope, which zoologists have adopted as 
the generic name of the group, is a corrupt form of 
the term avforol, employed by Eustathius to desig- 
nate an animal of this genus, and literally signifying 
bright eyes ; and according to the learned Bochart, 
Tabitha, the name of the disciple raised to life at 
Joppa, is derived from tzedi, the Hebrew name of 
the common gazelle, and alludes likewise to the 
beauty of its eyes. Among the Greeks and Romans 
also, as we learn from Agathias, and others, dorcas, 
dorcalis, and damalis, all names of different ante- 
lopes, were common names of women likewise, be- 
stowed, without doubt, on account of the remarkable 
beauty of their eyes; and Prosper Alpinus and more 
recent travellers inform us, that ‘ Aine el ezazel— 
you have the eyes of an antelope, is the greatest 
compliment which at the present day an Oriental 
admirer can pay to his mistress. Eastern poetry 
and romance, as well as the works of the Greeks and 
Romans, abound with similies and metaphors taken 
from the form and habits of these animals: they are 
universally the images of gentleness and timidity, of 
grace and fleetness. ‘The inspired writer beautifully 
compares the speed of Asahel to that of the wild ga- 
zelle ; the Gaadites also are said to have been as swift 
as mountain gazelles—for this is the proper significa- 
tion of the Hebrew word t¢zebz, improperly translated 
roe in our English version of the Scriptures; and many 
