264 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

Vulgate has translated it ‘all sorts of flies,’ and from thence
our version ‘swarms of flies,’ where it is to be observed
that ‘flies,’ in italics, is not in the original. We are left
to conjecture what kind of fly is meant, or whether, indeed,
the plague consisted in flies at all. The language of the
24th verse is remarkable, ‘the land was corrupted by rea-
son of the swarm,’ which could hardly apply to any ‘fly’
properly so called. If also we refer to Psalm Ixxviii., we see
the arob is described as devouring the Egyptians, which is
an act that seems inapplicable to a fly. Upon the whole,
We strongly incline to the opinion which has found some
able supporters of late years, that the Egyptian beetle (Blatta
Afgyptiaca) is denoted in this place. The beetle, which is
almost everywhere a nuisance, is particularly aburidant and
offensive in Egypt, and all the circumstances which the
Scripture in different places intimates concerning the arod,
applies with much accuracy to this species. It devours
everything that comes in its way, even clothes, books, and
plants, and does not hesitate to inflict severe bites on man.
If also we conceive that one object of these plagues was to
chastise the Egyptians through their idols, there is no
creature of its class which could be more fitly employed
than this. insect. What precise place it filled in the