MOM M O N 
rt^us. The fore-legs of this fpecies are fmall, and 
there are five long white clav^'s on each ; the nofe 
is long; and the edges are befet with radiated ten- 
drils. The hair on the body is very (hort and 
fine, and of a dufl<y colour; the hinder-legs are 
fcaly; and there are five toes on each foot. The 
length of this animal, from the nofe to the tail, 
is about three inches and three-quarters; and the 
tailj v/hich is ilender and taper, is about an inch 
and a quarti^r long. It is a native of North Ame- 
rica, where it forms fubterraneous paflages in un- 
cultivated fields ; and feeds on roots. 
Mole, Long-Tailed. This fpecies is a native 
of feveral parts of America. The fore-fect are 
broadifli ; and there are fcales on the hin.d-feet, with 
a few hairs interfperfed among them. The claws 
on the fore-feet refemhle thofe of the common 
-Mole; and thofe on the b.ind-ftet are long and 
(lender. The bodv, which is covered with long, 
loft, rufly brown fur, is four inches and a half in 
length; and the tail, which is two inches long, is 
covered with fnort hair. 
Mole, Brown ; the Sorex Aquaticus of Lin- 
ti£us. This animal, which inhabits North Ame- 
rica^ has a flender nofe ; and the upper jaw is longer 
than the under, with two cutting-teeth in the 
former^ and four in the latter, the two middlemoft 
being very finall. The fore-feet are broad, and 
furnifhed with long nails ; and the hind-feet, which 
are fmall, have five claws on each. The hair is 
foft, glolly, and brown at the ends, though grey at 
the bottom; and the tail and feet are v/hite. The 
length of this fpecies, from the nofe to the tail, 
is about five inches and a half ; and the tail, which 
is very flender, about three-quarters ot an inch 
long. 
Mole, PvEd ; the Talpa Rubra Americana of 
Seba. This variety, which is of a pale reddilh 
colour, has three toes on the fore-feet, and one 
on the hind ; and refembles the European kind in 
the form of the body and tail. 
Mole, Cricket. See Cricket Mole. 
MOLLE. A Imall fpecies of whiting, common 
in the Mediterranean; and fold in the markets of 
Rome, Venice, and other cities of Italy ; called 
by ichthyoiOgifts the afellus omnium minimus, 
and merlangus. It is the fmallcft variety of the 
afellus kind, fekiom exceeding four inches in 
length : it has a beard like the cod, depending 
from the angle of the lower jaw ; and on each fide 
nine fpors on it's nofe and gills. The back is of 
a pale brown colour; the belly is white; and the 
fcales are extremicly fmall and foft. 
MOLLET. See Mullet. 
MOLLUSC A. The appellation of the fecond 
genus of vermes or worms in the Linn?ean fyftem. 
Thefe are fimple, naked animals, deftitute of 
llieils, but furnifhed with limbs. They compre- 
hend eighteen fubordinate genera, and one hun- 
dred and ten fpecies. 
MOMOT. a bird defcribed by Nieremberg, 
and faid to be a native of the warmer climates. 
It is about the fize of a pigeon ; the beak is black 
and crooked, about two inches broad, and fer- 
rated at the edge; the head is blue; the feet are 
brown; and the reft of the body is of a plcafant 
green colour. However, the moft fingular cha- 
racter of this bird is, that it has one very long 
feather in the centre of it's tail, naked for a great 
way, and feathered only at the end. This laft 
circumftance is judged by Ray to be wholly falfe; 
as no other bird has a fingle feather of greater 
length than the refl, but always a pair, if the" 
difference is at all confiderable, 
_ MONACANTHUS. An appellation fome- 
times given to the alpheftis, or cinedus : a fidi 
approaching to the turdus kind; but differing in 
the circumftance of having the back fin prickly 
it's whole length, whereas the fore part is only lb 
in the turdus. 
MONEDULA. See Jackdaw. 
MONGOOSE, OR Mo Ncooz. A fpecies of 
Lemur in,the Linnsan fyftem; the Woolly Mau- 
cauco of Pennant; and by fome called the Ma- 
cafiar Fox. This animal has orange-coloured 
irides ; the ears are fliort and round; the end of the 
nofe is black; the-reft of the nofe and the f^.des of 
the cheeks are Vv'hite; and the eyes are lodged 
within a black circle. The w hole upper parr of 
the body is covered v;ith long fur, diick, foft, 
curled or waved, and of a deep brownijli alli- 
colour; the tail is long, and covered with the fame 
fort of hair; the breaft and belly are white; and 
the hands and feet are naked, and duH-iy. 
The Mongoofc is about the fize of a cat; varies 
fometimes v.itli v/hite or yellow paws; and has a 
face Vv'holly brown. It is a native of Madagafcar 
and the adjacent ides. It flceps on trees; ftiekcrs 
itfelf from rain by twining it's tail over it's headj 
lives on fruits; and is very mild and diverting 
in it's manner. 
MONK FISH. An Englifli appellation for 
the fqualus, according to the Artedian fyftem j 
tlie rhina and fquatinus of the ancients. Artedi 
diftinguiflies it from other fquali by the name of 
the fqualus without a pinna ani, and with tlic 
mouth on the top of the head. It is of a middle 
fhape between the long and flat cartilaginous 
fifties, being confiderably broader than the galei, 
and rounder than the rail. It grows to a very large 
fize, fometimes to four, five, or even fix feet in 
length; and is entirely covered with a mucous 
fubftance, under which there is a harfh rough 
fl<in, adapted for the politure of wood and ivory. 
The back and fides are of a browniih grey colour; 
the belly is white; the head is flatted and roundifti; 
the mouth, which is large, contains three rows of 
teeth, eighteen in a row; the eyes are large, and 
placed near the mouth ; the upper pair of fins very 
much refemble wings, ^^i#|M:^it has received the 
name of the angel-fifh; at th^ extremity of thefe 
there are a number of fbajp' hofeked thorns; and a 
row of ftiort prickles extends along the back. 
This fifli is comiUion in the Englifh feas, parti - 
cularly on the Cornifh coafts. 
MONKEY. A difcriminating appellation 
given to fuch apes as are furnifhed with long tailr,; 
which in the ape and baboon tribes are either very 
fhort, or entirely wanting. 
Monkies are alfo fmall in ftature; which, added 
to the length of their tails, eafily diftinguifhes 
them from the congenerous kinds; v/hile the va- 
rieties in the form and colour of dogs or fquirreh 
are far lefs numerous than are perceptible among 
the clafs now under confideration. Eofman and 
Smith enumerate above fifty forts on the Gold 
Coaft alone; and Condamine afferts, that a voluiTie 
would hardly fuffice to defcribe the differences of 
fuch as are found along the river of the Amazons, 
and which are diftin6t from thofe on the African 
coaft. There is fcarcely one country in the tro- 
pical climates that does not fwarm with them, and 
hardly a foreft that is not inhabited by a race of 
Monkies feparate from all orliers. Every difierenc 
vrood 
