13 OCTOBER 1888, Page 42

Scripture Animals. By Vernon Morwood. (John Hogg.)—In attempting to identify

Scriptural animals, the writer has set him- self a difficult task. Many animals are only casually mentioned to serve some purpose, allegorical or metaphorical ; hence, in the case of many, no idea can be arrived at as to their real structure and habits. The cuckoo, cankerworm, whale, fox, pygary, chame-

loon were doubtless not the animals which the translator of the Bible imagined. Mr. Morwood's descriptions are very slight and somewhat childish,—a great mistake, for children should certainly learn to appreciate an accurate and not a nursery description of an animal. What a digestion the ostrich must have ; it can digest "leather, metal, and the hardest wood" !