FENNEC ; OR, ZERD A. 
Weasel ; from Foenum, Hay, that being the 
materials of which he builds his nest. But this 
derivation cannot be admitted; for there is no 
such thing known as Hay, in the country 
where the Fennec resides. But, supposing that 
the dry grass in all countries may be called 
Hay, still Fcsnum, a Latin word, coLild not 
be that which would express it in Africa. 
But when we consider, that long before, and 
even after, Alexander's conquest, down as low 
as the tenth century, the language of these 
countries behind Egypt was chiefly Greek, an 
etymology much more natural and chara6le- 
ristic will present itself in the word ^o'l^/s, 
a Palm Tree ; whence comes Phcenicus, ad- 
jedtive, of or belonging to the Palm or Date 
Tree. Gabriel Sionita says, (Clem. 1. part. 1.) 
the Fennec is a White Weasel, that lives in 
Sylvis Nigrorum; that is, in the Woods of 
the Melano Gaetuli ; where, indeed, no other 
tree grows but the Palm tree: and this jusC 
lands us in the place from which the Fennec 
was brought to me at Algiers ; in Biscara, 
Beni-Mezzab, and Werglah. It will be ob- 
served, that he does not say, it is an animal of 
Nigritia: for, that country being within the 
tropical 
