Page:Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894.djvu/230

190 common rat {Mus demimanus). But in the days of Samuel that animal presumably had not reached Palestine from its original home in Central Asia, whence it has travelled all over the world. If, therefore, the amulet is to be regarded as copied from an animal of ancient date, we must look for its original among the indigenous rats of Palestine. One of these, the sand rat (Psammonys obesus), appears very likely to have served as the model. It is about the right size and proportion, and has the peculiarly short ears noticeable in the amulet. This rat is very common all over Palestine, and has probably lived there from a very remote period.