Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894/Remarks on facsimile of Metal Mouse in the Collection of Baron Ustinoff at Jaffa
REMARKS ON FACSIMILE OF METAL MOUSE IN THE COLLECTION OF BARON USTINOFF AT JAFFA.
By Oldfield Thomas, Esq., of the Natural History Department, British Museum.
The little amulet mentioned by Herr Schick as being perhaps of the same character as the five golden mice spoken of in 1 Samuel vi, 4-11, is not sufficiently characteristic to determine with certainty the particular animal from which it has been copied. In a general way it appears to represent one of the rat tribe; indeed it would do very well for the 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.
metal figure from baron ustinoff's collection. drawn from the original by william simpson, esq.