T A L- 
easily obtained. Its integrant molecule lias 
the same form. 
Mr. Kirwan has found in this stone almost 
as much magnesia as silex, and only a twen- 
tieth part of alumina. Amongst the varieties 
of talc, which are sufficiently numerous, the 
mixed steatites, the serpentine, and pot 
stones, are not ranked. 
The softness of the texture of the talcs, 
the lineness of their powder, their easy sus- 
pension in water (which they powerfully ab- 
sorb), and the hardness which they contract 
by the action of a moderate heat, render 
them useful in a great number of the arts, or 
for domestic purposes. 
A specimen analysed by Mr. Kirwan con- 
tained 
Silex 5.0 
Alumina 5 
Magnesia 4.5 
100 
TALENT, a money of account ‘amongst 
the antients, equal to 342/. sterling. See 
Coin, and Money. 
Amongst the Jews, a talent in weight was 
equal to 60 maneh, or 1 13 pounds, 10 ounces, 
1 pennyweight, 10 and two-seventh grains. 
TALES, is used in law for a supply of men 
impanelled on a jury, and not appearing, or 
on their appearance challenged and disallow- 
ed, when * the judge upon motion orders a 
supply to be made by the sheriff of one or 
more such persons present in court, to make 
up a full jury. 
TALIO, lex talionis, a species of punish- 
ment in the Mosaic law, whereby an evil is 
returned similar to that committed against us 
by another ; hence that expression, eye for 
eye, tooth for tooth. This law was at first 
inserted in the twelve tables amongst the 
Romans; but afterwards set aside, and a 
power given to the praetor to fix upon a sum 
of money for the damages done. 
TALLOW-TREE. See Croton. 
TALLY, in law, a piece of wood cut in 
two parts, whereon accounts were antiently 
kept, by means of notches ; one part of the 
tally being kept by the debtor, and the other 
by the creditor. As to the tallies or loans, 
one part thereof is kept in the exchequer, 
and the other part given to particular per- 
sons in lieu of an obligation for the moneys 
they have lent to the government on acts of 
parliament. This last part is called the stock, 
and the former the counter-stock, or counter- 
tail. 
TALMUD, or Thalmud, among the 
Jews, a collection of the doctrines of their 
religion or morality. It is the corpus juris, 
or body of the laws and customs of the Jews, 
who esteem it equal to the scriptures them- 
selves. 
TALPA, mole, a genus of the quadrupeds 
of the order ferae. The generic character is, 
front teeth in the upper jaw six, unequal ; in 
the lower jaw eight ; canine teeth one on each 
side, the upper ones largest ; grinders seven 
in the upper jaw, six in the lower. 
The genus talpa or mole is readily dis- 
tinguished by its peculiar shape, habit, or _ ge- 
neral appearance, even without an examina- 
tion of the teeth ; in which particular some 
species resemble the genus sorex, and were 
placed in that genus by Linnaeus. There are 
species \ the most remarkable are : 
T A L 
t. Talpa Europaea, the common mole. The 
whole form of the mole is eminently calcu- 
lated by nature for its obscure and subterra- 
neous life. The body is thick and cylindric ; 
the snout slender, but very strong and ten- 
dinous ; the head not distinguished from the 
body by any appearance of neck ; the legs 
so extremely short as scarcely to project 
perceptibly from the body ; the skin is much 
thicker and tougher in proportion than in 
other quadrupeds, and the fur with which it 
is covered equally surpasses that of other 
animals in fineness and softness. The mus- 
cular strength of the mole is very great, and 
it is enabled to force itself into the ground 
with an extraordinary degree ot celerity. 
The general length of the mole is about five 
inches and three quarters, exclusive ot the 
tail, which measures one inch. This animal 
is supposed to possess the power of hearing 
in an exquisite degree ; and if at any time it 
emerges from its subterraneous retreat, in- 
stantly disappears on the approach of any 
danger. When first taken, either by digging 
it out or otherwise, it utters a shrill scream, 
and prepares for defence by exerting the 
strength of its claws and teeth. According 
to the count de Buffon, so lively and reci- 
procal an attachment subsists between the 
male and female, that they seem to dread or 
disrelish all other society. 
The mole is furnished with eyes so ex- 
tremely small that it has been doubted whe- 
ther they were intended by nature for dis- 
tinct vision, or rather merely for giving the 
creature such a degree of notice of the ap- 
proach of light as might sufficiently warn it 
of the danger of exposure. Galen, how- 
ever, seems to have been of a different opi- 
nion, since he ventures to affirm that the 
eyes of the mole are furnished with the crys- 
talline and vitreous humours, encompassed 
with their respective tunics ; so accurate an 
anatomist was that great man, even unassist- 
ed by glasses. 
The mole is reported to feed not only on 
worms, insects, &c. but also on the roots of 
vegetables ; but it is certainly more car- 
nivores than frugivorous. It is even a very 
fierce and voracious animal in particular cir- 
cumstances ; and it is observed by sir T ho- 
mas Brown, that whatever these animals are 
contented with under ground, yet, when 
above it, they will sometimes tear and eat one 
another ; and in a large glass case, wherein 
a mole, a toad, and a viper, were inclosed, 
we have known (says he) the mole to dis- 
patch them, and to' devour a good part of 
them both. 
The mole is with difficulty kept alive in a 
state of confinement, unless constantly sup- 
plied with a provision of damp mould to re- 
side in. 
Like other animals of a black colour, the 
mole is sometimes found perfectly white, or 
cream-coloured, and sometimes spotted. In 
a memoir relative to the mole, published by 
M. de la Faille, it appears that four varieties 
may be reckoned, viz. the white mole, the 
rufous or tawny mole, the greenish-yellow or 
citron-coloured mole (found in some parts 
of Languedoc), and, lastly, the spotted mole, 
which is variegated either with white or tawny 
spots o.r patches. The mole brings four or 
five young. 
The greatest misfortune that befals the 
mole is, the sudden overflowing of rivers, 
TAM 767 
when they are said to be seen swimming in 
great numbers, and using every effort. to ob- 
tain a move elevated situation ; but a great 
many of them perish cn such occasions, as 
well as the young, which remain in their 
holes. 
Linnaeus, in the twelfth edition of the Sys- 
tema Naturae, affirms that the mole hyber- 
nates, or passes the winter, in a state of torpi- 
dity; and the same observation is repeated 
in the Gmelinian edition of that work. r l his, 
however, is flatly contradicted by the count 
de Buffon, who observes, that the mole sleeps 
so little in winter, that she raises the earth 
in the same manner as in summer; and that 
the country people remark that the thaw ap- 
proaches, because the moles make their lulls. 
They endeavour to get into warm grounds, 
gardens, &c. during this season more than at 
others. 
This animal is said to be unknown in Ire- 
land. In Siberia it arrives at a larger size 
than in Europe. The fur is so soft and beau- 
tiful, that it would make the most elegant 
articles of dress, did not the difficulty of cur- 
ing and dressing the skin deter from experi- 
ments of this nature. 
2. Talpa radiata, radiated mole. This is- 
somewhat smaller than the common mole,, 
and is of a dusky or blackish colour. In ge- 
neral form it resembles the preceding spe- 
cies, having broad fore legs with long claws 
the hind legs scaly and with much weaker 
claws ; the nose long, and beset at the end. 
with a circular series of radiated tendrils ; the 
length from nose to tail is three inches and. 
three quarters. It is an inhabitant of North, 
America, forming subterraneous passages, in. 
different directions, in uncultivated fields, and 
is said to feed on roots. This species is the 
sorex cristatus of Linnaeus ; being placed in. 
that genus on account of its teeth, in despite 
of its appearance. It is, perhaps, in reality, 
no other than a variety ot the former species, 
or a sexual difference. 
TAMARINDUS, the tamarind-tree, a. 
genus of plants arranged by Limmis under, 
the class of triandria and order of monogynia ;. 
but Woodville, Schreber, and other late bo- 
tanists, have found that it belongs to the class- 
of monadelphia, and order of triandria. In 
the natural system it is ranked under the lo- 
mantacea?. There is only one species, the 
Indica, which is a native of both Indies, off 
America, of Arabia, and of Egypt, and was 
cultivated in Britain before the year 1633. 
The tamarind-tree rises to the height ofi 
thirty or forty feet, sending off numerous- 
large branches, which spread to a consider- 
able extent, and have a beautiful appearance ; 
the trunk is erect, and covered with rough 
bark, of a greyish or ash-colour ; the leaves 
are small and pinnated, and of a yellowislu 
green colour ; the flowers resemble the papi- 
lionaceous kind, and grow in lateral clusters-; 
the calyx consists of four leaves, and the co- 
rolla of three petals, which are of a yellowish 
hue, and are beautifully diversified with red* 
veins ; the fruit is a pod of a roundish com- 
pressed form, from three to five incherlong, 
containing two, three, or four seeds, lodged 
in a dark pulpy matter. The tamarind is 
easily raised with us from the stones even ot 
the preserved fruit, and is a beautiful stove 
plant, rising to the height of. four or live feet. 
The puip of the tamarind, with the seeds 
