of the race of Cain, was the son of Methusael, and father of Jabal, Jubal, Tubal-cain, and Naamah, Gen. iv. 18, 19, 20, &c. Lamech is celebrated in Scripture for his polygamy, whereof he is thought to be the first author in the world. He married Adah and Zillah. Adah was the mother of Jabal and Jubal; and Zillah of Tubal-cain, and Naamah his sister. One day Lamach said to his wives, "Hear me, ye wives of Lamech; I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. If Cain shall be avenged seven fold, truly Lamech seventy and seven fold." These words are an unintelligible riddle. The reader may consult the commentators. There is a tradition among the Hebrews, that Lamech growing blind, Lamech blind, ignorantly killed Cain, believing him to be some wild beast; and that afterwards he slew his own son Tubal-cain, who had been the cause of this murder, because he had directed him to shoot at a certain place in the thickets where he had seen something stir. See Cain.

Several other suppositions are produced in order to explain this passage concerning Lamech, and all almost equally uncertain and absurd.

son of Methuselah, and father of Noah. He lived a hundred fourscore and two years before the birth of Noah, (Gen. v. 25, 31.) and after that, he lived five hundred and ninety-five years longer: thus the whole time of his life was seven hundred and seventy-seven years, being born in the year of the world 874, and dying in the year of the world 1651.

Lamellæ, in Natural History, denotes very thin plates, such as the scales of fishes are composed of.