NATURAL HISTORY; BEING AN ACCOUNT OF THE ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND MINERALS MENTIONED IN Holy Scripture, ELUCIDATED BY EXTRACTS FROM THE WORKS OF TRAVELLERS; TOGETHER WITH SOME REMARKS ON THE GEOLOGY, CLIMATE, &c., PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION, LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE; SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORIES: 77, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS; AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. 101.9.73. PREFACE. In the present edition of the "Scripture Natural History" various changes have been introduced. 1. The arrangement has been altered by the subdivision of the main subjects into the classes recognized in the Bible. 2. Introductory notices on this classification are added. 3. Attention has been paid to the correct interpretation of the Hebrew terms referring to Natural History. 4. A number of objects, previously unnoticed, are described, and the work has been made in this respect as complete as possible. 5. The chapters on "Agriculture" and "Pastoral Pursuits " are omitted, as they have been incorporated in "Scripture Manners and Customs," under the head of " Employments." 6. The extracts have been in many instances curtailed, and new ones added from the current literature of the day. The Editor hopes that these alterations will be acceptable to Biblical students. The subject is in many respects a difficult one, partly because the Natural History of Eastern countries has been but imperfectly investigated, and partly because the Biblical notices themselves are in many instances scanty or obscure. The Editor is fully sensible of the deficiencies of the present work in respect to scientific treatment of the subject. The day is not far distant, he hopes, when a larger amount both of materials and of scientific investigation will be brought to bear on this interesting branch of Biblical lore. |