TAR 
returns of it regularly for twenty or thirty years. 
Every Tarantula has it's particular and fpecific 
tune; but, in general, they are all brilk, fprightly 
airs, that efFeft a cure. 
Such are the refult and cure of the Tarantula's 
bite, according to GeotTroyj Baglivi, and others; 
and very ingenious theories have, in confequence 
of them, been fpun bv Gcoffroy and Mead: but, 
notwithftanding all this cloud of teftimonies, we 
are rather inclined to believe Dr. Dominico Ci- 
rillo, profeflbr of natural hiftory at the univerfity 
of Naples, who pofitively contradicts their afler- 
tions. This gentleman having had an opportu- 
ritv of exarrming the eftefls of the Tarantula in 
that country wiiere it is found in the greateft abund- 
ance, affirms, that the furprifing cure of the bite 
of this creature by the effefts of mufic is totally 
deftitute of truth; and that it is only an invention 
of the natives, who procure money by dancing 
when they fay the tarantifm begins. He makes 
no doubt that the heat of the climate contributes 
eflcntiallv to warm their imaginations, and to 
throw them into a delirium, wliich may in fom.e 
meafure be cured by mufic: but fever al experi- 
ments have been tried with the Tarantula; and 
neither men nor animals, after the bite, have had 
any other complaint, except a very trilling intlam- 
iTiarion of the pa. t, like that produced by the 
bite of a fcorpion, which goes off" fponraneouily 
without any danger, or the neceflity of medical 
applications. In Sicily, where the fummer is 
ftill warmicr than in any part of the kingdom of 
Naples, the Tarantula is never dangerous; and 
n^-ufic is nc-er employed for the cure of the pre- 
tended tari'.ntifm. 
It is, without doubt, very extraordinary, fiiys 
this writer, that a m.an of fenfe, and a phyfician of 
great erudition, as Baglivi was, fiiould have been 
fatisfied with the account of this difbrder; and 
that, in [lead of examining the fads by exp ri- 
ments, he fliould rather have tried to explain it. 
Every year, this furprifing difbrder lofes ground; 
and he is perfuaded diat, in a very little time, it 
v/ill entirely lofe it's credit. 
All the Neapolitan phyficians regard the Ta- 
rantula in the fame light with Cirillo; efpecially 
fince the publication of the learned book on this 
fubje6t by Dr. Serao, who, by various experi- 
ments, has proved that the bite of the Tarantula 
never produced any bad effefts, and that mufic 
never had any conneclion with it. 
Thus does fable prevail for a time, till it's er- 
rors are detected by reafon and philofophy: then 
the dupes of impofition blufh at their credulity ; 
and impoftors lofe their credit, the fource of their 
Tap-antula is alfo afpecies of lizard common 
in Italy, and called by Aldrovandus Lacertus 
Facetanus. It is of a grey colour; the fl^in is ex- 
treivicly rough; and the body is pretty thick and 
round. It is found, like the common eft, under 
old walls, and amid ruinous buildings, particularly 
in tiie vicinity of Rome. The figure of this crea- 
ture is fo dirgufting, that the Italians hold it nearly 
in the fame abhorrence as the Englifli do the 
toad. It is likevv'ife reckoned poifonous; but 
this quality dees not appear to be v\?ell attefled. 
TARDA AVIS. An appellation by v/hich 
many exprefs the buPcard, more com.monly called 
Otis. 
TAREIEOIA. An American fpecies of fer- 
pent, called alio Cacaboia, though the two appel- 
lations are by fome applied to different animals* 
However, they are t)oth of the amphibious kind, 
and by no means remarkable for their poiibnous 
effeds. They are entirely black, fmaii, and ea- 
fily offended. 
Authors, indeed, have given different defcrip- 
tions of thefe ferpents; fome making the animal 
exprefTed by the latter name diflinft from the 
former, and of a yellow colour. 
TAREIRA. An Ameri can fifli, having an 
oblong and thick body, gradually tapering to- 
wards the tail. The head refcmbles that of a 
fnake; and is raifed into two tubercles over the 
eyes, which are yellow, with black pupils. The 
nofe is pointed, and the mouth is large, and yel- 
low within. There are extremely fliarp teeth in 
both the jaws, and on the tongue. It has eight 
fins, of which the tail is accounted one; and this, 
as well as the refl, is foft, tender, thin, and fu- 
ftained by ibft rays. The fcales arc fo nicely laid 
over each other, that it feems fmooth to the touch. 
The belly is white; and the back and fides are 
variegated with longitudinal green and yellow 
lines. The flefli is eaten, but not much admired 
for it's flavour. 
TARIERA. An Am.erican fredi-water fifxi 
defcribed by Marcgrave. It is of an oblong 
figure, with a ftraight back,and,a beily fomewhat 
depending. I'he under jaw is longer than the 
upper; and the teeth are extremely fliarp, among 
which are two longer than the reliL in the middle 
of the under jaw, and four in the upper. The 
fcaies are large; the bad; is brown; and the belly 
and fides are Vvhitiili. The flelh is well tafled, 
but full of bones. 
TARIN. A French appellation for the citri- 
nella; an Italian bird remarkable for the beauty of 
it's plumage, and the melody of it's notes; and 
therefore always caged. 
TARINGTING. A Philippine name for a 
fpecies of lapwing common on the fea-fliores, re- 
markable for it's fleetnefs in running. 
TARRIER. A fi-nall dog of the"^hound kind, 
with rough hair. It is principally ufed in forc- 
ing foxes or badgers out of their holes; or ratlier 
to give notice, by it's barking, in what part of 
their kennel the fox or badger refides, when the 
fportfmen intend to dig them out. 
TARROCK; the Larus Tridadiylus of Lin- 
nfEus. A marine fowl of the larus or gull kind, 
about the fize of the common pigeon, and not 
very diiTimilar in fuape, except that the head is 
larger and thicker. 
The ufual length of the Tarrock is fourteen in- 
ches; and the expaniion of the wings t'lu-ee feet.. 
The bill is black, fliort, thick, and ilrong. Tlie 
head is large; the colour of which, together with 
the throat, neck, and whole under fide, is white. 
Near each ear, and under the throat, there is a 
black fpot; and on the hind part of tlie neck is a 
black crefcent, the horns pointing to the throat. 
The back and fcapulars are of a blueifn grey co- 
lour; the leiTcf coverts of the wings are dufxy, 
edged with grey; the larger next to them are of 
the fame colour; and the red: are grey. The ex- 
terior fides, and the extremities of the four firit 
quiil-feathers, are black; the tips of the two fuc- 
ceeding ones are black ; but all the reft are wholly 
white. The ten middle feathers of the tail are 
white, tipt with black; the tv;o extrqme ones are 
quite white; and the legs are of a duf!<y a(h-colour. 
The great diftindion of this bird from all. 
others 
