D E V 
■hollow, light, and longitudinally divided by pa- 
rallel lines running from top to bottom. It is 
about the thicknefs of a quill, and fomewhat re- 
iembles a dog's tooth. 
Dr. Lifter, in the Philofophical Tranfaftions, 
inentions two fpecies of Dentalia ; one of which is 
commonly found about the fhores of the ifle of 
Guernfey, being a long, flender, white tube, fome- 
what bending and tapering, and open at both ends 
and the other fpecies, which is properly called en- 
talium, is longer and thicker than the former, and 
falcated ; whence the Italian term intaglia. 
The Dentalium, called alfo the fyringites, taken 
internally, is ufed as an alkali in fvveetening acids, 
and in ftopping the dyfentery and fpitting of blood. 
It is alfo adminiftered externally as an abforber of 
jnoifture. 
DENTEX. A filh caught in the Mediterra- 
nean feas in great plenty, and common in the Ita- 
lian markets. See Dentale. 
DENTICULI ELEPHANTIS. An appel- 
lation given by fome authors to the dentale, afhell 
of the tubulus marinus kind, which bears a diftant 
fimilitude to an elephant's tufk. See Dentalia. 
DEPONA. A Mexican ferpent, having a very 
large head and ftrong jaws. The mouth is fur- 
hilhed with cutting, crooked teeth ; among which 
there are two longer than the reft, placed in the 
fore-part of the upper jaw, but eflentially different 
from the fangs of the viper. Round the mouth 
there is a broad fcaly border; the eyes, which are 
very large, give the creature a formidable appear- 
ance; the forehead is covered with large fcales, 
above which there are other fmaller ones curioufly 
arranged: the fcaks are greyiftr on the back, along 
which runs a double chain, whofe extremities are 
united in the manner of a buckler. Both fides of 
the belly are marbled with large fquare fpots of a 
chefnut colour, and in the middle of each there 
is a round yellow dot. This ferpent flies from 
the human fpecies, and is feldom known to do any 
mifchief. 
DERMESTES. A genus of infefls of the 
-order of coleopterae, the antennae of which are cla- 
vated and perfoliated tranfverfely. There are fe- 
•veral fpecies of this clafs, but they are frequently 
confounded with the fcarabsei, or beetles. 
Dermestes, Black. This infe£t has a white 
fpot on each of the cafes of the wings; the body is 
fmall, black, and of an oval fhape; and the legs 
.and feelers are alfo black. It frequents houfes 
and old walls ; and, when touched, or alarmed by 
any noife, it draws it's head and legs under the 
fhell of the body. 
Dermestes, Cylindrical. This fpecies has 
a thick hairy neck, and teftaceous cafes for the 
wings ; thefe cafes are longifti, blunt at their points, 
-.and of a whitifti brown colour ; but the body and 
legs are black. The antennae, or feelers, are red- 
difti. This infeft is not much larger than a loufe; 
-and, when molefted, it contrafts itfelf, and remains 
motionlefs. It is very com^mon in houfes. 
- DEVIL, SEA. A very hideous fifli of the ray 
kind, the flefti of which is reckoned a deadly poi- 
• fon. It is about four feet long, and broad in pro- 
. portion. On it's back there is a kind of bunch, 
covered with thorns or prickles like thofe of the 
hedge-hog; and the fkin, which is hard, unequal, 
rough, and black, rifes into various fmall promi- 
nences, between which there are finall black eyes. 
The mouth is extremely wide, and armed v/ith fe- 
veral very fliarp teeth, two of which are crooked 
DID 
like thole of the v/ild boar. It is furnifhed with 
four fins, and a broad forked tail; but it receives 
the name of Sea-Devil from two fharp black horns 
over the eyes, which bend tov/ards the back. 
Devil, Sea, oy Guinea. This fifh, which is 
about twenty-five feet long, and eighteen broad, 
has four eyes. On each fide rifes an angular fub- 
ftance of a corneous nature, and very fharp ; the 
tail is extremely long, and terminates in a dange- 
rous point ; the back is covered v/ith fmall excref- 
cences, two inches high, and fliarp at the ends; 
the head is enormoufly large; the mouth is armed 
with flat cutting teeth; two of the eyes, which 
are round and large, are fituated near the throat; 
and the other two arc fmall, and placed over them. 
On each fide of tiie throat there are three horns of 
equal lengths, about three feet long, and an inch 
and a half in diameter; but, being flexible, they 
are incapable of doing much injury. The flefli is 
tough and ill-flavoured, and by no means proper 
for food . 
DEW-WORM. A genus ofworms having flen- 
der annulated bodies, furniflied with lateral pores. 
The common Dew-Worm has an hundred and forty 
rings ; die head is taper ; the mouth is round at the 
extremity; the fore-part of the animal is cylindric, 
and the reft deprefl^ed; at nearly one-third of the 
length, there is a prominent annulated belt ; and a 
row of minute fpines extend on each fide of the 
belly, which aflift the creature's motion. 
Dew-Worm, Lesser. This worm is a variety 
of the former, and differs chiefly from it in fize. 
It inhabits the common foil, which it renders apt 
to receive the rain by it's repeated perforations. 
It feeds on the cotelydons of plants, or part of the 
vegetating feed, during the day ; and at night crawls 
abroad, and copulates with the female. 
Worms of this fort afford no inconfiderable fufte- 
nance to moles, hedge-hogs, and vaiious forts of 
birds. 
Dew-Worm, Intestinal. This fpecies lives 
in the lefTer inteftines of the human fpecies, parti- 
cularly thoie of infants; and does not effentially 
differ from the other kinds. 
Dew-Worm, Lug. This infect has a round 
mouth; and a circular body annulated with greater 
and lefTer rings, on each of which there arc two 
tufts of fliort briftles placed oppofite. The tail- 
part is fmooth ; and very curious ramifications ifTue 
from among the tufts in the living worm, which 
is fbft, and full of blood. 
This fpecies inhabits fandy fhores, where it bu- 
ries itfelf deep; but it's retreat is eafily diftin- 
guifhed by a little prominence, with an aperture 
on it's furface. It is much efteemicd as a bait for 
fifli. 
DIABE. A prickly fea-fifh of the orbis oir 
globe fifh kind, exactly refemblTng the porcupine, 
except that it's fpines or prickles are all fixed into 
it's f1<;in bv three infertions. 
DICROTUS. A term ufed by the ancients 
to exprefs the deer or ftag when in it's third year's 
growth. By the ancient Greeks, it was called 
nebus in it's firft year, puttolea in it's fecond, di- 
crota in it's third, and ceraftes ever afterwards. 
DIDAPPER, DIPPER, or DOB-CHICK. 
This bird meafures about ten inches in length, and 
fixteen in breadth; and weighs from fix to feven 
ounces. The head is thick let with feathers, which ' 
in old birds are of a bright bay colour on the 
cheeks ; the top of the head, the whole upper fide 
of tlie body, the neck, and the breaft, are a deep 
brown. 
