PREFACE. vil

imagery derived from animated nature; and the writers of
the New Testament draw abundantly from the same source.
This familiarity with the wild inhebitants of the forest and
the desert, as well as with the more domesticated tribes,
may be easily accounted for, by the wandering life, and the
simple, pastoral habits of the Eastern nations of antiquity,
which would naturally bring them into frequent contact
with animals, forming either objects of the chase, or the
chief sources of their wealth and distinction. Nor do the
Scriptures alone, testify to the knowledge of the ancients
on this interesting subject; the painting and sculpture of
Egypt, the emblematical and other remains from Nineveh
and Babylon, show, not only that the outward forms of
various animals were well known, but that the distinguish-
ing characteristics bestowed on them by their Creator were
highly and correctly appreciated. Amongst the various
animals delineated in the Nimroud sculptures, are the
Indian elephant, rhinoceros, lion, tiger, wild boar, Bactrian

or two-humped camel, antelope, ibex or mountain goat,