M Y A 
M Y S 
the weafel in fhape. They are all carnivorous ; 
and diftinguifhed from the other quadrupeds of 
that fort by the fmallnefs of their fize, the length 
of their bodies, and the narrownefs of their heads. 
The feet are fmall; and the legs are fhort. The 
teeth arelefs numerous than in many quadrupeds, 
being only thirty-two in number; whereas, in the 
dog kind, there are forty. Their inteftines are 
fhort and fimple; and they have neither colon 
nor coecum, nor any diftindlion of great and 
fmall guts. 
MUSTELUS. An appellation given by 
Gaza, and fome other naturalifls, to the fifh called 
galeus afterias, and ftellatus, by the moderns. 
This filh is only a variety of the galeus lasvis, or 
fmooth dog-filh. Both are accounted one fpecies 
by Artedi, and exprefled by the name of the fqua- 
lus with obtufe or glandulous teeth. 
MusTELUs L^vis. A name by which Aldro- 
vandus, and fome other ichthyologifts, have called 
the galeus Isvis, or fmooth hound-fifli of the mo- 
derns. 
MUSTUS FLUVIATILIS. An appella- 
tion fometimes ufed to exprefs that fpecies of cy- 
prinus known in Englilh by the name of the bar- 
bel. 
MUTILLA. A genus of infefts of the or- 
der of hymenoptera in the Linnsean fyftem : the 
chara<f}:ers of which are; that in general they are 
deftitute of wings ; that the body is covered with 
fhort hair or down; that the hinder part of the 
thorax is obtufe ; and that the fting is hidden and 
pointed. There are ten fpecies of this genus, 
MUTILUS, A clafTical name for the com- 
mon mufcle. 
MUTU. A Brazilian bird of the gallinaceous 
kind, more ufually called the mitu. 
MYA. A genus of the teftacea clafs of 
worms. It's characfters are; that the fliell is bi- 
valve, gaping at one end ; and that the hinge, for 
the moft part, is furnilhed with a thick, ftrong, 
broad tooth, not inferted in the upper valve. Lin- 
nseus enumerates feven fpecies. 
Mya, Pearl. The fhell of this fpecies is 
thick, coarfe, and opake; of an oblong figure, 
bending inwards on one fide; and externally 
black. It's ufual breadth is from five to fix in- 
ches; and it's length about two and a quarter. 
It is found in large rivers, efpecially thofe 
which water the mountainous parts of Great Bri- 
tain ; and is famous for producing pearls. There 
have been regular fiflieries for this Ihell in feve- 
rar of our rivers; and fixteen have fometimes been 
found within one fhell. They are faid to be the 
difeafe of the fifh, analogous to the ftone in the 
human body. On being fqueezed, they cje6l the 
pearls; and often caft them fpontaneoufly in the 
fand of the ftream. 
The River Conway was noted for them in the 
days of Camden. The Irt, in Cumberland, alfo 
produced them; and that celebrated navigator Sir 
John Hawkins obtained a patent to fifh for them 
in that river : he had obferved that pearls were very 
plentiful in the Streights of Magellan, and flat- 
tered himfelf with being enriched by procuring 
them within his own ifland. In the laft century, 
feveral of a large fize were found in the rivers of 
the county of Tyrone and Donegal, in Ireland. 
Scotland alfo produces pearls in abundance; and 
fome of confiderable value. 
Suetonius reports, that Csfar was induced to 
undertake his expedition into Britain for the fake 
of the pearls v/hich he- expefled to find there; 
being brought to believe them fo large, that it 
was neceflary to ufe the hand in trying the weight 
of a fingle one. Csefar was unqueilionably dilap- 
pointed in his hopes; neverthelefs, we are told 
that he brought home a buckler made of Britifli 
pearls, which he fufpended in the temple of Ve- 
nus Genetrix, as a prefent to that goddcfs. 
Mya, Abrupt. This (pecies has a broad, up- 
right, blunt tooth, in one valve of the fliell ; the 
doled end rounded; the open end truncated, and 
gaping wide. The external colour of the fliell is 
yellow, marked with concentric wrinkles. It is 
found near low-water mark, under flutchy 
ground. 
Mya, Sloping. This fhell is brittle, femi- 
tranfparent, furnilhed with a hinge flightly pro- 
minent, lefs gaping than the abrupt, and floping 
downwards near the open end. It is found on 
different fliores of the Hebrides; where the in- 
clofed fifli is eaten by people of condition. 
Mya, Sand. This fliell is upwards of three 
inches broad, and two inches long in the centre: 
the mouth is large, and rough at the bafe; and the 
whole fhell is of an ovated figure, being narroweft 
at the gaping end. 
Mya, Painting. This fliell is frequently 
ufed by painters for the purpofe of holding wa- 
ter-colours in ; whence it receives it's name. It 
is about two inches broad, and one long; has a 
fingle longitudinal tooth, refembling a lamina, in 
one fhell; and two in the other. This fpecies is 
found in rivers. 
MYCTERIA. A genus of the gralls; of 
which there is only one known fpecies, the Jabi- 
rugua of Marcgrave. 
MYOPS; the Ox-fly. An infedl frequently 
confounded with the breeze-fly, but in reality 
differing from it very effentially. It is common 
in woods, and about pathways; and has a long 
and fomewhat depreffed body, of a blackiih grey 
colour. It naturally fixes on oxen, which it tor- 
ments with unceafing virulence. 
MYRMECIPHAGA. An appellation fome- 
times given to the ant-eater. See Ant-Eater. 
MYRMELION. A genus of the neuroptera 
clafs of infedls: the difl:inguifliing charafters of 
which are; that the mouth is formed v/ith jaws, 
and furnifhed with two teeth; that the palpi are 
four, and elongated; that there are no fl:emmaLaj 
that the tail of the male is a forceps, confifting of 
two fl:raight filaments; that the antenns are ele- 
vated, and of the length of the thorax; and that 
the wings are defle6l:ed. Linnasus enumerates 
five fpecies. 
MYR US. A fpecies of fea-ferpent of the an- 
guiliform kind; fuppofed, but falfely, to be the 
male muraena. The fnout is very long and fliarp- 
pointed ; the body is black, fiender, and round, 
without fcales or fpots; the cavity for the gills is 
only one on each fide; near the neck a few yellow 
fpots are perceptible while the creature is alive j 
but, after it is dead, they are fcarcely difi:inguifli- 
able. The fiefii is efteemed tender and deli- 
cate. 
MYS. An appellation given by JElian, and 
other ichthyologifts of antiquity, to the caprifcus of 
later writers. See Goat-Fish. 
MYSTOCEROS. An appellation given by 
Gefner to that fpecies of the filurus ufually known 
among the moderns under the name of the Iheat- 
fifli. It is the Glanus of Pliny and other ancient 
naturalifts; 
