YHE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIS'L. 137 
As was the case during the captivity in Babylon, so in that 
in Egypt, a profound impression was made on the mode of ex- 
pression and thought of the Israelites, both in their poetry and 
their prose. Even their language became more or less corrupted 
by their environment. The setting up of the golden calf in the 
wilderness, was a direct result of the influence of Egyptian 
bovine worship. 
The firm rooting of the great tree and its fragrance are 
spoken of by Hosea (Hos. 14 ch., 5-6), and in the Song. Sol. 4 
ch., 11, “Cast forth his roots as Lebanon” and “his branches 
shall spread and his smell as Lebanon.” 
In relating the wisdom of Solomon (1 Kings. 4 ch., 33), 
it is stated that “he spake of trees; from the cedar that is in 
Lebanon even unto the hyssop (caper-bush) that springeth out — 
of the wall.” 
In the magnificent imagery of Isaiah the cedar finds a place 
(Isa. 2 ch., 18), “the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted 
up,” and in 37 ch., 24, the “tall cedars” are referred to. In Ps. 
92, v., 12, the righteous “shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon” 
and in Numb. 24 ch., 6, Israel is compared to “cedar trees beside 
the waters.” Symbolic and other references to the same tree 
occur in many other places. 
Thyine-wood. Amongst the merchandise of Babylon men- 
tioned in Rev. 18 ch., 12, is thyine-wood, the timber of Callitris 
quadrivalvis, a small tree native of Africa. The wood is close- 
grained and heavy, and was used for inlaid and ornamental 
work. It was dark brown in colour, and had a fragrant per- 
fume. 
Almond-tree. (Amygdalus communis). A native of Pales- 
tine, this valued tree is frequently mentioned. The Hebrew name 
Shaged, meaning “to hasten” has reference to the fact of the 
blossoms opening before the leaves. The vision of Jeremiah 
(Jer. 1 ch., 11-12), introduces a rod of this tree as a symbol. 
“What seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. 
Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for J will 
hasten my word to perform it.” Also (Numb. 17 ch., 8), 
Aaron’s rod budded and produced almonds. 
The Hebrew word lwz in Gen. 30 ch., 37, used in the ac-' 
count of the preparation of the rods by Jacob, which, in the 
Authorised Version is translated “hazel” is thought, by students 
to be really almond, the wild variety being designated. 
Amongst the articles which Jacob sent by his sons to Joseph 
in Egypt (Gen. 43 ch., 11), were almonds, from which it is in- 
