182 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

large; the skin rough and hairy; the horns short; the ears
long and pendent; it has a long mane, reaching below the
neck, and a kind of dewlap under the chin.

The Syrian Sheep, with its pendent ears and large tail,
must be looked upon as the animal mentioned in the Bible;
it is first named in the 4th chapter of Genesis, in speaking
of Abel as a “keeper of sheep;” and again, “He brought
the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof.” The fat
may refer more particularly to the tail, which is especially
alluded to in the law regarding the peace-offering: or
“the same word in Hebrew, differently pointed, means milk
as well as fat. Josephus expressly says it was milk; and
Grotius and others think that milk was part of the offer-
ing. Milk used to be offered in sacrifice by the ancient
Egyptians*.”

Sheep and lambs are constantly mentioned as used in
the Jewish sacrifices; and, indeed, we never read of any
other animals than oxen, sheep, and goats, among quadru-
peds, being devoted to this purpose, thus excluding all
animals not used for food, amongst domestic quadrupeds,
and all wild beasts. This formed one great distinction
between the offerings of the Hebrews and of other ancient

* Pictorial Bible.