T AM 
TAIIBL An Amerkart animal, defcribeci by 
Marcgrave, and fome odier authors ; but gene- 
rally fuppofed to be only the male opofTum. 
TAIPARA. The Brazilian appellation for a 
fpecies of parroquet common in that country. It 
is about the fize of a lark; the whole body is of a 
pale green colour; the fail is fhort; the beak is 
red; and the legs are grey. Near the origin of 
the beak there is a femi lunar red fpot; and on the 
middle of each wing there is a yellow fpot. 
According to Marcgrave, this bird builds in 
trees, in the deferted abodes of ants. 
TAINHA. An appellation by which fome 
authors exprefs a fpecies of mullet commonly 
caught in the American feas, more ufually deno- 
minated curema. 
TALABONG. A Philippine appellation for 
a fpecies of heron common in thofe iflands; en- 
tirely white; and confiderably lefs than the Eu- 
ropean heron. 
TALAPOIN. A fpecies of monkey, fo called 
by Biiffon. It is diftinguilhed from the other 
fpecies by it's beautiful variety of green, white^ 
and yellow hair; as well as by that under the eyes, 
which is of a greater length than the refb. This 
animal is generally fuppofed to be confined to 
the African and Oriental climates. 
TALBOT. A fort of dog, remarkable for it's 
quick fcenr, and for purfuing it's game in conti- 
nual cry. 
TALPA. The claffical appellation for the 
mole. 
TAMANDUA; the Ant-Bear, or Ant-Eater. 
This animal has a very long and fliarp fnout; and 
it's tongue is (lender, and capable of prodigious 
cxtenfion. It has no teetii; the body is covered 
with hair; and from the neck, acrofs the flioulders 
to the fides, there is a black line, bounded above 
with white. The tail is about thirty inches long, 
and covered with black, coarfe hair, almoft a foot 
long. 
This creature is the Myrmecophaga Jubata of 
Linn:Eus, withfdur toes on the fore-feet, and five 
on the hinder ones; and is a native of Brazil, and 
the country ronnd the Cape of Good Hope. 
Ants compofe the principal food of the Ta- 
mandua. It catches them by means of it's tongue, 
which is extended as a lure; and, when covered 
with thefe infedls, haftily drawn into it's mouth. 
Though this animal is deftitute of teeth, it is 
neverthelefs fierce and dangerous. It fieeps by 
day, and preys by night. It's flefh has a ftrong 
and difagreeable tafte; but is eaten by the Indians. 
The Lefiier Tamandua, or Myrmecophaga Te- 
tradaclyla of Linnseus, inhabits the fame regions 
as the former; and refembles it in it's manners. 
The Leaft Tamandua, or Myrmecophaga Didac- 
tyla of Linnaeus, is by Buiion denominated Four- 
millier. 
Linnreus alfo enumerates another fpecies, which 
he dcfcribes under the appellation of the Myrme- 
cophaga Tridaftyla. It is a native of the Eaft 
Indies ; and feems to refemble the reft of the ge- 
nus in it's difpofition and appetites. 
TAM ATI A. A very fingular Brazilian bird, 
appearing to be a fpecies of cancroma; the Can- 
croma Canchrophaga of Linnasus. The head is 
very large ; the eves are full and black ; the beak 
is ihaped fomewhat like that of a duck, but 
pointed at the extremity ; the upper chap is black ; 
and the under yellow. The legs and toes are 
long; the thighs are chiefly naked ; and the tail 
TAP 
is very Ihort. The head is black ; the back ancl 
wings are of a plain dufky brown hue; and the 
belly is alfo of the fame colour, variegated with 
white. 
TAMIS BIRD. An appellation by which 
fome authors exprefs the pintada, or Guinea hen. 
TAMO ATA. An American frefii-water fifn, 
denominated Soldido by the Portuguefe. It is of 
a fmall oblong figure; with a flat head, fome- 
what like that of a frog. The mouth is fmall ; 
and from each angle of it depends a long fingle 
filament, by way of a beard. It is deftitute of 
teeth ; and the eyes are extremely fmall. The 
fins are eight in number: two at the gills, of the 
length of a finger, hard, and firm, like horns ; two 
on the belly, of a fofter llibftance; one on the 
middle of the back ; another near the tail ; a 
fmall one oppofite to it, on the belly ; and the 
tail conftitutes the eighth* The whole head is 
covered above with a hard coat like a fhell ; and 
the body with a fort of coat of mail compofed of 
oblong, hard, fquamofe bodies, dented at their 
edges. 
The flefli of the Tamoata is efteemed delica:te. 
It lives in frefh-water rivers only ; and when the 
water in which it refides accidentally dries up, it 
is faid to crawl out on the dry land, and to go in 
queft of more. 
TANAGRA. A genus of pafTeres : the cha- 
racflers of which are ; that the bill is conic, and aL 
little inclining towards the point ; the upper man- 
dible nightly ridged, and notched near the extre- 
mity. Liinnaeus enumerates twenty-four fpecies.- 
Birds of this genus inhabit North and South 
America; but are m oft common in the latter. 
To this tribe belong the jacapu, iacarini, teitei, 
fayacu, and others, defcribed by Marcgrave. 
TANT. An Englifh appellation for a fmall 
fpider of the opilio kind, having only two eyes, 
and eight very long legs j commonly fuppofed to 
be very venomous. It is entirely of an elegant 
fcarlet colour, refembling that of the flowers of 
the red poppy when full blown, except that the 
belly has a whitifli caft. 
Thefe infe£ls are common in dry paftures dur- 
ing thefpring; and farmers entertain a notion, 
that if an ox fliould fwallow one of them, he 
would inftantly die. 
TANTALUS. A genus of the order of 
grails, in the Linnasan fyftem. It's charafters 
are : the bill is long, thick at the bafe, and wholly 
incurvated ; the face is naked ; the tongue is 
lliort and broad ; the noftrils are linear j and the 
feet, with four toes, are palmated at the bafe. 
Linnasus enumerates feven fpecies, of which 
the Egyptian ibis conftitutes one. 
TAPAYAXIN. An American appellation 
for a very remarkable fpecies of lizard, called by 
Hernandez the Lacertus Orbicularis. It is nearly 
as broad as long j and in fliape pretty nearly re- 
fembles the ray-fifti, though feldom exceeding 
four inches in length or breadth. It poflTefles a 
very beautiful variety of colours. The head is 
exceedingly hard and elate, and has a fort of 
prickly crown for it's defence: neverthelefs, the 
animal is perfedlly innocent; and feems attached 
to mankind, as it delights to be handled by them. 
TAPE- WORM. A fpecies of worm which 
breeds in the human bowels; and is called by au- 
thors taenia, and lumibrlcus latus, or the broad 
worm. 
According to the L.innaean fyftem, it confti- 
tuteg 
