188 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

some of which exist in the present day: in the 3rd verse
- 1s the following expression, “He calleth his own sheep by
name.” “From this it would seem that the Jews, like the
Arabians, gave names to their sheep, by which they called
them to drink or to be milked. This necessarily implies
that the shepherd could distinguish individually the sheep
of his flock, and, however strange this may seem, it is pos-
sible and true, for it is known that shepherds, particularly
in the East, can and do thus distinguish the individuals in
even very large flocks. The pastoral custom here alluded
to, of giving names for distinction to particular sheep, was
by no means confined to the Hast. It was also usual
among the shepherds of Greece*.”

In the fourth verse it is said, “And when he putteth
forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep
follow him, for they know his voice.” ‘The word ren-
dered ‘voice’ has a much wider meaning, being applicable
to any kind of sound, and when thus applied to a shepherd
leading his flock, may mean not only a call in the natural
voice, but any call, such as by a pipe or whistle: and the
shepherd is said to lead his flock, not to drive it, as our
own habits might lead us to suspect. The same custom is

* Pictorial Bible.