48 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

‘ Pictorial Bible :-—“ It is uncertain what is intended by the
word rendered ‘ badger.’ Some take it to mean a prepara-
tion of leather, as morocco ; all the ancient versions regard
it as a colour of leather or skin, and point out crimson or
different shades of blue. The Jewish traditions concur in
this view with some exceptions, and it is supported by the
analogy of the third covering next beneath this, which was
of ‘sheep-skins dyed red.’ Many, however, with our trans-
lators, regard the ¢akask as the name of an animal, but
differ greatly as to the species. As Gesenius remarks, the
construction favours this interpretation, and he adds, that
several Hebrew interpreters explain it by the weasel or
martin; others by the badger. But in Arabic tahash sig-
nifies the dolphin, with which the ancients, in common life,
classed the seal. ‘Seal-skins’ would certainly make a good
sense, and would be tolerably applicable to all the passages
in which the word ¢akashk occurs. But we are still in-
clined to think, that to understand it as a colour, perhaps
purple, is the better alternative.”

Purorrus (Mustela) vutearis.—The Weasel.

This is the smallest of its tribe, measuring eight inches
in length and two and a half in height. The colour varies
in different climates, but generally the upper parts and legs