mole which was blind (Kelim, xxvi, 6) are noticed, with the frog (Taharoth, v, 1) and various snakes, including the basilisk[1] (Baba Metzia, vii, 7). There are few allusions to birds, other than cocks, and pigeons, and doves (Baba Kama, vii, 7),[2] both wild and tame; the fish, tunny, herring, and Spanish Colis have been already mentioned. All reptiles were unclean[3] (Kelim, iv, v, &c.), and centipedes as well (Mikvaoth, v, 3). There remain only to be noticed bees, which were kept in hives (Shebiith, X, 7; Ouketzin, iii, 10) and also found producing wild honey (Macshirin, vi, 4). The hare and the "coney" (שפן) are noticed (Ouketzin, iii, 3) as mentioned in Scripture. The latter is the Arab Wabr or Thofan which still inhabits the rocks near the Dead Sea. It is not a rabbit or hare at all, but belongs to quite another genus. The Shamir[4] or mythical worm that cut the stones for the temple was the size of a grain of corn (Pirki Aboth, V, 6; Sotah, viii, 12), and some suppose the diamond to be intended, as indeed the name would seem to imply.
Of the vegetable, productions of Palestine, fruits, trees, shrubs, grains, and plants, there are many notices in the Mishnah, though some of these products bear names of doubtful meaning. As regards vineyards something has been said, and it need only be added that Helioston refers to grapes prematurely ripened by artificial means under the Sun (Menakhoth, viii, 6), such being considered unfit for consecrated wine. In the same tract (Menakhoth, viii, 3) we read of Anphikinon (אנפיקינון), a purgative oil of bitter taste, made from unripe olives. The best oil came from the ripe olives, beaten from the trees and allowed to ooze; the second quality was beaten on the roofs, and apparently squeezed in the stone mill; the third quality was stored till the olives were rotten, dried on the roofs, and beaten, and put in a basket (Menakhoth, viii, 3, 4). The best was used for the golden seven-branched lamp, and the second for the Menakhoth or "meat (bread) offerings." Other oils were known to the Jews, including sesame oil, nut oil, radish oil, fish oil, that from colocynth or wild cucumber, and naphthah or mineral oil, as well as castor oil (קיקי Κἰκι) all of which were unfit for sacred purposes (Sabbath, ii, 1, 2). The olives are still beaten from the trees in Palestine, and the castor oil plant grows to a tree near Jericho. Mineral oil is now much used by the Jews for lighting.
Among trees the principal ones noticed are the olive and the fig, but many wild kinds are also mentioned. The Persian fig (Shebiith, v, 1) was a foreign tree, but the locust tree or carob (Shebiith, vii, 7; Baba Bathra, ii, 9; Edioth, iv, 7) was the same tree still common in Palestine
- ↑ Otherwise the small panther.
- ↑ The turtle-doves were presented in nests (Maaser Sheni, i, 7; Kenim, iii, 6).
- ↑ As to locusts, see Kholin, iii, 7.
- ↑ The celebrated story of the Shamir worm is found in T. B. Gittin, 68.
in the Talmud, and mentioned with the Jerboa (עכבר) in the Gemara (T. B. Moed Katon, 6b). It was caught in nets, and was blind.
