110 ON THE ANIMAL CALLED SAPHAN 
larger than a hedgehog, resembling a bear and a mouse ; 
whence, in Palestine, it is called Bear-mouse ; and of this 
kind of creature there is great abundance in these parts ; 
and they are always accustomed to dwell in caverns of the 
rocks, and caves of the earth." 
BocHART says, that the Jerboa deserves the name of 
Bear-mouse, because it rears itself upon its hind legs, as 
the bear does, especially when grappling with its enemy. 
We think the Gannim Israel deserves this title, from 
the shape of its feet. These have something of that clum- 
siness, discernible in the feet of the bear; the fleshy or 
pulpy part extending as far as, or beyond, the claws or 
nails. 
In this form of the feet lies its weakness. Being soft and 
tender, they are very unfit for digging, or fighting ; pro- 
viding a retreat in the ground, or defending itself when 
attacked. 
To countervail this disadvantage, the Author of Nature 
has endowed it with that sagacity, which prompts it to 
choose a dwelling, the best calculated for its safety. Retir- 
ing to the crevices of the rock, or haunting the great stones 
which surround the mouths of caves, dug out of the rock ; 
it can eat its food in quietness, and bring forth its young 
undisturbed. 
It has every character which belongs to the Saphan of 
the Hebrew Scriptures; and as it is very abundant in 
Palestine, Syria, and all the adjoining countries, it is not 
likely that it would escape the attention of Moses, David, 
and Solomon, who were all accurate observers of nature, 
and eager to mark the wisdom of God, displayed in the pe- 
culiarities or habits of his creatures. 
In the common works of zoology this animal is arranged 
under the class Mammalia, order Glires, and genus Hy- 
rax. The suitableness of the term Hyrax, to characterize 
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