378 
Moloch 
Molossi. 
en se Prave I.—Spirula australis, 
MO L 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 
fig. 1.—Octopus cirrhosus, fig. 2.— 
Argonauta Argo, fig. 3.—Nautilus umbilicatus, fig. 4. 
—Hyalea globosa, fig. 5.—Pneumodermon diapha- 
num, fig. 6.—Clio borealis, fig. 7.Cleodora lanceo- 
lata, fig. 8.—Cymbulia Peronii, fig. 9. l 
Prate II.—Achathina fasciata, fig. 1.—Helix Cepa, fig. 2.-—Auri- 
cula Mide, fig. 3.—Ampullaria virescens, fig. 4.— 
Testacilla Maugii, fig. 5.—Testacilla haliotoidea, fig. 6. 
—Limnea octanfracta, fig. 7.—Segmentina lineata, 
fig. 8.—Planorbis nitidus, fig. 9.—Ancylus lacustris, 
fig. 10. me 
Pare III.—Scyllea pelagica, fig. 1.—Tritonia Hombergii, fig. 2.— 
Glaucus radiatus, fig. 3.—Dolabella Rumphii, fig. 4. 
—Chiton squamosus, fig. 5.—Fissurella annulata, fig. 
6.—Parmophorus australis, fig. 7-—Bulla aperta, 
fig. 8. 
Prare IV.—Trochus Pagodus, fig. 1.—Turbo rugosus, fig. 2.—Na- 
MON 
tica plieata, fig. 3.—Velutina levigata, fig. 4.—Del- 
phinula calear of Lamark, fig. 5.—Delphinula Lima, 
fig. 6.—Scalaria pretiosa, fig. 7.—Solarium hybridum, 
fig. 8. —Paludina vivipara, fig. 9 —Buccinum levissi- 
mum, fig. 10. . 
Pratz V.—Voluta Japonica, fig. 1.—Terebra crenulata, fig. 2.— 
Harpa ventricosa, fig. 3.—Cassis decussata, fig. 4.— 
Turbinella pyrum, fig- 5.—Fasciolaria traperium, fig. 
6.—Pyrula perversa, fig. 7.—Fusus retroversus, fig. 8. 
—Fusus servatus, fig. 9.—Murex haustellum, fig. 10- 
Scissurella crispata, fig. 11. 
Prare VI.—Terebratula cranium, fig. 1-—Diceras arictina, fig. 2.— 
Unio pictorum, fig. 3.—Crossatella suleata, fig. 4.— 
Cyelas cornea, fig. 5.—Lingula anatina, fig. 6.—Ana- 
tina hispidula, fig. 7.—Teredo navalis, fig. 8. 
Prate VII,—Clavellina lepadiformis, fig. 1—Ciona intestinalis, fig. 
2.—Ascidia N. S. Lister, fig. 3.—Botryllus polyey- 
clus, fig. 4.—Boltenia ovifera, fig. 5.—Cynthia mo- 
mus, fig. 6.—Phallusia nigra, fig. 7.—Salpa cristata, 
fig. 8. i 
e 
MOLOCH, a false god of the Ammonites, who dedicat- 
ed their children to him, by making them pass through 
the fire, as the Scriptures express it. There are various 
opinions concerning this method of consecration. Some 
think that the children leaped over a fire sacred to Mo- 
loch; others are of opinion that they passed between two 
fires ; and others conceive that they were really burned in 
the fire by way of sacrifice to this god. There is some 
foundation for each of these opinions. For, in the first 
place, it was usual amongst the Pagans to lustrate or puri- 
fy with fire; and next, it is expressly said, that the inhabi- 
tants of Sepharvaim burned their children in the fire to 
Anamelech and Adramelech, deities similar to the Moloch 
of the Ammonites. 
Moses, in several places, forbids the Israelites to dedi- 
cate their children to this god, as the Ammonites did, and 
threatens death and utter extirpation to such persons as 
should commit this abominable idolatry. There is great 
probability that the Hebrews were much addicted to the 
worship of this deity ; since Amos, and after him St Ste- 
phen, reproaches them with having carried along with them 
into the wilderness the tabernacle of their god Moloch. 
Solomon built a temple to Moloch upon Mount Olivet ; 
and Manasseh, long afterwards, imitated his impiety by 
making his son pass through the fire in honour of Moloch. 
It was chiefly in the valley of Tophet and Hinnom, to the 
east of Jerusalem, that the Israelites paid their idclatrous 
worship to this false god of the Ammonites. 
There are various sentiments concerning the relation 
which Moloch bore to the other Pagan divinities. Some 
believe that he was the same with Saturn, to whom it is 
well known that human sacrifices were offered; others sup- 
pose him to be Mercury; others confound him with Mars, 
Mithras, and Venus; and others, again, take Moloch for 
the Sun, or the king of heaven. Moloch was likewise call- 
ed Milcom, as appears from what is said of Solomon, that 
he went after Ashtaroth the abomination of the Zidonians, 
and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 
MOLOSSES, Motasszs, or Melasses, the gross fluid 
matter of sugar remaining after refining, and which no boil- 
ing will bring to a consistence more solid than that of sy- 
rup. Properly, molasses are only the sediment of one kind 
of sugar called chypre, or brown sugar, which is the refuse 
of other sugars, and cannot be whitened or reduced into 
loaves. Molasses are much used in Holland for the pre- 
paration of tobacco, and also amongst poor people instead 
of sugar. There is a kind of brandy or spirit made of mo- 
lasses ; but it is held by some to be exceedingly unwhole- 
some. 
MOLOSSL, a people of Epirus, who inhabited that part 
of the country which was called Molossia, from Molossus, 
a son of Pyrrhus and Andromache, the king of the coun- 
try. Molossia had the Bay of Ambracia as its boundary 
on the south, and the country of the Perrheebeans on the 
east. The dogs of this country were famous, and received 
the name of Molossi amongst the Romans. Dodona was 
the capital of the country, according to some writers ; but 
others think that it was the chief city of Thesprotia. 
MCOLTON, Sours, a town of the county of Devon, in 
the hundred of its own name, 179 miles from London. It 
stands on the river Mole or Mould, and has some ttade in 
making serges, shalloons, and other woollens. It is an an- 
cient corporation, and formerly sent two members to par- 
liament. It has a well-supplied market, which is held on 
Saturday, and also five fairs. The population amounted in 
1801 to 2753, in 1811 to 2739, in 1821 to 3314, and in 
1831 to 3826. About two miles from it is the parish or 
town of North Molton, the population of which amounted 
in 1801 to 1541, in 1811 to 1526, in 1821 to 1847, and in 
1831 to 1937. 
MOLUCCA ISLES. These islands were formerly un- 
derstood to signify all the islands situated to the east of 
the Molucca passage, in longitude 126° east, particularly 
those of Gilolo ; but in general the term has been restrict- 
ed to the Spice Islands, namely, Amboyna, Banda, Ceram, 
Ternate, Tidore, and Batchian. These islands, which are 
famous for the production of spices, particularly nutmegs 
and cloves, were first, in 1510, visited by the Portuguese, 
who took possession of them, and whose right was con- 
tested by the Spaniards. They succeeded, however, in 
acquiring possession of them, but were conquered by the 
Dutch in 1607. These islands were taken from the Dutch 
by the British during the French revolutionary war, but 
restored at the peace. 
MOMUS, in fabulous history, was the god of raillery, 
or the jester of the celestial assembly, who ridiculed both 
gods and men. Being chosen by Vulcan, Neptune, and 
Minerva, to give his judgment concerning their works, 
he blamed them all; Neptune for not making his bull with 
horns before his eyes, in order that he might give a surer 
blow; Minerva for building a house which could not be 
removed in case of bad neighbours ; and Vulcan for mak- 
ing a man without a window in his breast, that his treach- 
eries might be seen. For the freedom of his reflections 
upon the gods, Momus was expelled from heaven. He is 
generally represented as raising a mask from his face, and 
holding a small figure in his hand. 
MONA, in Ancient Geography, is a name applied to. 
two islands in the sea between Great Britain and Ireland. 
The one, described by Czsar as situated in the middle pas- 
sage between both islands, called Monaceda,. Monapia, or 
Monabia, is supposed to be the Isle of Man. But there was 
‘Molton, 
South — 
ll 
Mona. 
Se a 
