Natural History of the Bible

Abstract

THE celebration of the tercentenary of the English authorised version of the Bible is an event of national importance, when everything connected with Holy Writ commands, if possible, more than ordinary interest, not only from Biblical scholars, but also from a large section of the general public. Among the numerous sections of the subject, that which most commends itself to students of natural science is, of course, the natural history of the Bible in the wider sense of that term—that is to say, inclusive of zoology, botany, and mineralogy; and the present celebration affords a fit opportunity of reviewing and revising our knowledge of Bible animals, plants, and minerals, and also of considering whether any emendations of the names by which some of them are referred to in the authorised version ought not to be amended. This has been recognised by the authorities of the British Museum, who are now arranging in the hall of the Natural History Branch at South Kensington an exhibition of Bible animals, plants, and minerals, which will be opened in due course, and will doubtless attract a large amount of attention and interest on the part of the public.