T E T 
T H A 
79 ') 
1. Tetrodon lagocephalus, hare tetrodon. 
T he fishes of this genus, of which there are 
14 species, like the diodons, have the power 
ot inflating their body S?t pleasure, by means 
of an internal membrajie for that purpose, 
and during the time of inflation the small 
spines dispersed over their sides and abdomen 
are raised in such a manner as to operate as a 
defence against their energies : they are 
chiefly natives of the tropical seas, though 
sometimes seen in the higher northern and 
southern latitudes, and are supposed to live 
principally on the crustaceous and testaceous 
animals. 
The present species grows to the length of 
about twelve inches, and is of a thick form in 
front, the hinder parts tapering suddenly 
towards the tail : the colour is yellowish 
brown above, and whitish with a slight silvery 
castbeneath. This species occasionally strays 
into the northern latitudes, and has been 
taken, according to Mr. Pennant, about the 
British coasts, viz. near Penzance in Corn- 
wall. It has the power of inflating the abdo- 
men to avast size: the Linnaean title seems 
to have been given from a fancied resem- 
blance which the fore part of the head bears 
to that of a hare. 
2. Tetrodon lineatus, lineated tetrodon. 
Length ten or twelve inches : shape some- 
what square, but when inflated resembling 
that of the T. lagocephalus : whole body be- 
set with numerous small spines: colour grey 
on the abdomen, with numerous, longitudi- 
nal, deep-brown streaks: tins and tail as in 
the preceding species. Native of the Medi- 
terranean and American seas: sometimes 
found in the river Nile, where Hasselquist 
was assured by the fishermen that on being 
faken the hands were stung in the same man- 
ner as with nettles. 
3. Tetrodon testudineus, tortoise-shell te- 
trodon. Length two feet ; shape lengthen- 
ed ; colour rufous-brown above, marked by 
numerous round, pale-bhm spots ; beneath 
blueish or ash-coloured, beautifully varied by 
longitudinal brown streaks;: fins and tail 
bright ferruginous : the w'hole abdomen is 
furnished.with numerous small spines, which, 
when the animal is in a quiet state, are im- 
bedded in so many corresponding cavities in 
the skin ; but are elevated when the fish, on ‘ 
any alarm, distends its body. Native of the 
Indian seas. The Linnaean name of this fish 
is supposed to have been given from its tor- 
toise-like beak, but perhaps, with more pro- 
priety", from its variegated skin. 
4. Tetrodon ocellatus, ocellated tetrodon. 
Length six or eight inches: shape thick, 
ovate, contracting suddenly towards the tail . 
mouth slightly produced : colour deep-green 
above, gradually growing paler on the sides 
and abdomen, which are whitish. Native of 
the Indian seas, and sometimes of the ad- 
joining rivers, particularly those of China 
and Japan. It is of an extremely poisonous 
nature, if eaten without the greatest care in 
properly cleaning it before dressing, and is 
said sometimes to have proved fatal in the 
short space of two hours. The symptoms, 
according to Rumphius, may be cured by the 
timely administration of a vegetable which 
he calls rex amaroris. The emperor of Ja- 
pan prohibits his soldiers, under very severe 
penalties, from eating this fish : the rest of his 
subjects may, as Mr. Pennant observes, run 
the risk of being poisoned with impunity. 
TEU 
| TEUCRIUM, germander, a genus of 
! plants of the 'class didvnamia, and order gym- 
nospermia ; and in the natural system ran- 
ging under the 42d order, verticillatae. The 
corolla has the upper lip divided into two 
parts beyond the base, and divaricated where 
the stamina issue out. There are 69 spec ies, 
of which the seorodonia, scordium, and cha- 
maedrys, are natives of Great Britain. 1. The 
seorodonia, wood sage, or germander, is dis- 
tinguished by leaves which are heart-shaped, 
serrated, and petiolated ; by racemi, which 
are lateral and ranged in one row ; and by an 
erect stem. The flowers are straw-coloured, 
and the filaments red. ’ The plant has a bit- 
ter taste, and smells like hops with a little 
mixture of garlic. It is used in brewing in 
the isle of Jersey instead of hops. 2. The 
scordium, or common water-germander, has 
creeping perennial roots, sending up many 
square, procumbent, or trailing stalks, brandl- 
ing diffusely, and small reddish flowers. This 
plant was formerly considered as medicinal, 
but has now fallen into disuse. It grows na- 
turally in marshy places, in the isle of Ely 
and other parts of England, and most parts of 
Europe; and is sometimes admitted into gar- 
dens, in moist places, for variety, and as a 
medical plant. 3. The chamasdrys, or small- 
er creeping germander, has reddish flowers, 
growing almost in a verticillus, or whorls, 
round the stalk, three on each peduncle : ap- 
pearing in June and July. There are also 
some foreign species, ornamental as green- 
house plants. 
TEUTHIS, a genus of fishes of the abdo- 
minal order. The generic character is, head 
truncate on the fore part; gill-membrane 
five-rayed ; teeth equal, rigid, approximate 
in a single row. There are two species, 1. 
The hepatus, that inhabits Carolina and Am- 
boina. 2. The jarva, that takes its name 
from the place where it is found. 
TEUTONIC ORDER, a military order 
of kights, established towards the close of 
the twelfth century, and thus called as con- 
sisting chiefly of Germans or Teutons. The 
origin, &c. of the Teutonic order is said to be 
this : The Christians, under Guy of Lusig- 
nan, laying siege to Acre, a city of Syria, on 
the borders of the Holy Land, some Germans 
of Bremen and Lubec, touched with com- 
passion for the sick and wounded of the army, 
who wanted common necessaries, set on foot 
a kind of hospital under a tent, which they 
made of a ship’s sail, and here betook them- 
selves to a charitable attendance on them. 
This excited a thought of establishing a third 
military order, in imitation of the templars 
and hospitalers. The design was approved 
of by the patriarch of Jerusalem, the archbi- 
shops and bishops of the neighbouring places, 
the king of Jerusalem, the masters of the tem- 
ple and hospital, and the German lords and 
prelates then in the Holy Land, and pope Ca- 
lixtus III. confirmed it by his bull, and the 
new order was called the order of Teutonic 
knights of the house of St. Mary at Je- 
rusalem. The pope granted them all the 
privileges of the templars and hospitalers 
of St. John, excepting that they were to 
be subject to the patriarchs and other pre- 
lates, and that they should pay tythe of 
what they possessed. The officers of the 
Teutonic order, while in its splendour, were 
the grand master, who resided at Marienburg ; 
under him were the grand commander ; the 
grand marshal, who had his residence at 
Koningsberg; the grand hospitaler, who re- 
sided at Elbing; the draper, who took care 
to furnish the habits ; the treasurer, who lived 
at the court of the grand master ; and several 
commanders, as those of Thorn, Culme, 
Brandenburg, Koningsberg, Elbing, &c^ 
I hey had also their con inlanders of particular 
castles and fortresses, advocates, proveditorsj 
intendants of mills, provisions, &c. This or* 
der is now little more than the shadow ot 
what it formerly was, having only three on 
four commandcries, scarcely sufficient for the 1 
ordinary subsistence of the ’grand master and; 
his knights. 
THALIA, a genus of plants of the class! 
monandria, and order monogynia; and in the 
natural system ranging under the eighth or- 
der, scitamineae. The corolla is pentapeta- 
lous and undulated; and the drupe lias I 
unilocular kernel. There are two specie^ 
the genic ulata and cannseformis. 
T HA LICTRUM, meddozv rue, a genus] 
of plants of the class polyandria, and orden 
polygynia ; and in the natural system ranging 
under the 26th order, multisiliquae. There is 
no calyx ; the petals are four or live in nunw 
her, and the seeds are naked and without ai 
tail. There are 22 species ; three of whici 
are indigenous, the flavum, minus, and alpi 
num. ]. The flavum, or common raeadovi 
rue, has a leafy furrowed stalk, and a man! 
fold erect panicle. It has commonly 24 stdj 
mina, and from ten to sixteen pistils. Thi 
root and leaves of this plant dye a yellow" cti 
lour, and cattle are fond of it. It grows of 
the banks of some rivers. 2. The minus, oi 
small meadow-rue, has sexpartite leaves, anc 
bending flowers. This plant is frequent i 
sandy soils and mountainous pastures, j 
The alpinum, or alpine meadow-rue, has 
very simple stalk, and almost naked ; and 
racemus simple and terminal. It is frequen 
on the sides of rivulets. 
r l HALL1TE, a stone found in the fi< 
sures of mountains in Dauphiny, and o 
Chainouni, in the Alps. It is ’sometime 
amorphous, and sometimes crystallized. Th 
primitive form of its crystals is a rectangula 
prism, whose bases are rhombs with angles c 
ll4°37', and 65° 23'. The most usual va 
riety is an elongated four-sided prism (ofte 
flattened), terminated by four-sided incom 
plete pyramids ; sometimes it occurs in regula 
six-sided prisms. The crystals are often ver 
slender. 
Its texture appears fibrous. Lustre 2 
Glassy. Causes single refraction. Brittle 
Specific gravity 3.45 to 3.46. Colour dar 
green. Powder white or yellowish green 
and feels dry. It does not become eleclri 
by heat. Before the blowpipe, froths, an 
melts into a black slag. With borax melt 
into a green bead. 
A specimen of thallite, analysed by Mi 
Descotils, contained 
37 silica 
27 alumina 
17 oxide of iron 
14 lime 
1.5 oxide of manganese 
96.5 
THASPIA, the deadly carrot, a genus o: 
plants of the class pentandria, and order di 
