Lizard

LIZARD. Moses¹ places two Sorts of Lizards among the unclean Creatures, which he forbids his People to eat, Stellio and Lacerta. There are several Sorts of Lizards which are very well known to us. There are some in Arabia, of a Cubit long; but in the Indies there are some, they say, of four and twenty Feet in Length. In America, where Lizards are very good, they eat them. One Lizard is enough to satisfy four Men. It is very probable likewise, that they were eaten sometimes in Arabia and Judæa, since Moses ranks them among the unclean Creatures.

We find several Sorts of Lizards in the Scripture; at least we have three or four Words there for it; Letæa, Chomet, Tinschemeth, and Semamith. The three first Words are to be met with in the Place above cited from Moses: The two former whereof are translated Stellio and Lacerta. The third is translated a Mole; but Bochart maintains it is a Chameleon. The fourth is described in the Proverbs xxx. 28. and there rendred Stellio a Lizard. The same Author, to whom we have a great Regard in these Matters, maintains the Version of the Vulgate and the Septuagint, against those, Plin. l. vi. c. 28.who translate an Ape, a Leach, or a Spider. Any one may see his de Animal. Sacris, prima parte, l. iv. c. 4, 5, 6, and 7.

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