אנקה, from אנק, or _cry out_, Lev. xi, 30. The ferret is a
species of the weasel; but Bochart will have the _anakah_ to be the
spotted lizard, called by Pliny _stellio_. Dr. James takes it for the
frog, in allusion to the name, which literally signifies _the crier_,
befitting the croaking of that animal; but we shall find the frog
mentioned under another name. Dr. Geddes renders it _the newt_, or
rather _the lizard of the Nile_; and it evidently must be of the lizard
species. Pliny mentions “the _galleotes_, covered with red spots, whose
cries are sharp,” which may be the _gekko_, which is probably the animal
here intended. As its name, in the Indies _tockai_, and in Egypt
_gekko_, is formed from its voice, so the Hebrew name _anakah_, or
perhaps _anakkah_, seems to be formed in like manner; the double k being
equally observable in all these appellations. If these remarks are
admissible, this lizard is sufficiently identified.
species of the weasel; but Bochart will have the _anakah_ to be the
spotted lizard, called by Pliny _stellio_. Dr. James takes it for the
frog, in allusion to the name, which literally signifies _the crier_,
befitting the croaking of that animal; but we shall find the frog
mentioned under another name. Dr. Geddes renders it _the newt_, or
rather _the lizard of the Nile_; and it evidently must be of the lizard
species. Pliny mentions “the _galleotes_, covered with red spots, whose
cries are sharp,” which may be the _gekko_, which is probably the animal
here intended. As its name, in the Indies _tockai_, and in Egypt
_gekko_, is formed from its voice, so the Hebrew name _anakah_, or
perhaps _anakkah_, seems to be formed in like manner; the double k being
equally observable in all these appellations. If these remarks are
admissible, this lizard is sufficiently identified.