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is dyed by the Indian women, and wove into garters Didelphis. and girdles: the skin is very fetid.

Didapper, the nature of things. --The word is formed from the Didelphis Greek Sisuona, doceo, "I teach." There are many words that are only used in the didactic and dogmatic way: and there are many works, ancient and. modern, both in profe and verfe, written after this method: fuch are the Georgics of Virgil, Lucretius's poem De Rerum Natura, and Pope's Effays on Criticism and on Man, &c. &c.

DIDAPPER, in ornithology. See COLYMBUS. Plate CLV. DIDELPHIS, or OPOSSUM, in zoology; a ge(in Vol. V.)nus of quadrupeds belonging to the order of feræ, the characters of which are thefe: They have ten fore-teeth in the upper jaw, and eight in the under one. The dog-teeth are long; the tongue is fomewhat ciliated; and they have a pocket formed by a duplicature of the fkin of the belly, in which the dugs are included.

1. The marfupialis, or Virginian opoffum, has a long fharp-pointed nofe; large, round, naked, and very thin ears; fmall, black, lively, eyes; long ftiff hairs on each fide the nofe, and behind the eyes: the hind part of the neck and back covered with hair two inches long; the bottoms of a yellowish white, middle part black, ends whitifh: the fides covered with hair of a dirty and dufky colour; the belly with foft, woolly, dirty white hair: the tail, for near three inches, clothed with long hairs like thofe on the back; the reft of the tail covered with fmall fcales. The tail of this animal has a difagreeable appearance, looking like the body of a fnake, and has the fame prehenfile quality with that of fome monkeys; the body is round and pretty thick, the legs fhort: on the lower part of the belly of the female is a large pouch, in which the teats are lodged, and where the young fhelter as foon as they are born. The length of the body is 16 or 17 inches; that of the tail 14.-This creature inhabits many parts of America and the Eaft Indies. It is very deftructive to poultry, and fucks the blood without eating the flesh; it feeds alfo on roots and wild fruits, and is very active in climbing trees. It hunts eagerly after birds and their nefts; and will hang fufpended from the branches of a tree by its tail; then, by fwinging its body, it will fling itfelf among the trees that grow in the neighbourhood. It walks very flow; and when purfued and overtaken will feign itself dead. It is not calily killed, being as tenacious of life as a cat. When the female is about to bring forth, fhe makes a thick neft of dry grafs in some close bush at the foot of a tree; and brings four, five, or fix, young at a time. As foon as the young are brought forth, they take fhelter in the pouch or falfe belly; and faften fo closely to the teats, that they cannot be feparated without difficulty. They are blind, naked, and very fmall, when new-born, and refemble fetufes it is therefore neceffary that they fhould continue in that falfe belly till they attain proper ftrength and fight; and are prepared to undergo what may be called a fecond birth. After this they run into the pouch as into an afylum in time of d-nger; and the parent carries them about with her. During the time of this fecond geftation, the female fhows an exceffive attachment to her young, and will fuffer any torture rather than allow this receptacle to be opened; for the has the power of opening or clofing it by the affiftance of fome very strong muscles. The flesh of the old animal is very good, like that of a fucking pig: the hair VOL. VI. Part I.

2. The Molucca opoffum has long, oval, and naked ears: the mouth is very wide: the lower fide of the upper jaw, throat, and belly, is of a whitish afh colour; reft of the hair a cinereous brown tipt with tawny, darkest on the back: the tail is as long as the body; near the bafe covered with hair, the reft naked: the claws are hooked. On the belly of the female is a pouch, in which the young (like thofe of the former) fhelter. Marcgrave found fix young within the pouch. It has ten cutting teeth above and eight below. The length of the animal from nofe to tail is ten inches; and the tail exceeds the length of head and body. Its whole figure is of a much more flender and elegant make than the former. The tail pulverifed, and taken in a glass of water, is reckoned in New Spain a fovereign remedy against the gravel, colic, and feveral other diforders. This fpecies is found in great numbers in Aroe and Solor: It is called in the Indies pelandor aroe, or the aroe rabbet. They are reckoned very delicate eating; and are very common at the tables of the great, who rear the young in the fame places in which they keep their rabbets. It inhabits alfo Surinam, and the hot parts of America.

3. The murina, or murine opoffum, hath the face and upper parts of the body of a tawny colour; the belly of a yellowish white: the tail is flender, and covered with minute fcales to the very rump: the length of the animal from nofe to tail, about fix inches and a half; the tail of the fame length: the female wants the falle belly of the former; but on the lower part the skin forms on each fide a fold, between which the teats are lodged. It inhabits the hot parts of South America; agrees with the others in its food, manners, and the prehenfile power of its tail. It brings from 10 to 14 young ones at a time: they affix themfelves to the teats as foon as they are born, and remain attached like inanimate things, till they attain growth and vigour to fhift a little for themfelves.

4. The Mexican opoffum, is of an afh-colour on the head and upper parts of the body: the belly and legs are whitish: the tail is long and pretty thick, varied with brown and yellow; it is hairy near an inch from its origin, the reft naked: the length of the animal from nofe to tail, about seven inches and a half; of the tail, It inhabits the mountains of Mexico, more than 11.and lives in trees, where it brings forth its young: when in any fright, they embrace the parent clofely. The tail is prehenfile, and ferves inftead of a hand.

5. The phalanger, or Surinam opoffum of Buffon, has the upper part of the body reddifh, mixed with a light afh-colour and yellow: the under parts are of a dirty yellowish white; the bottom of the tail is covered with hair, for near two inches and a half; the reft naked: the length of the animal from nofe to tail is near nine inches; the tail ten. It inhabits Surinam, according to Buffon; who fuppofes it may be the fpecies called by the colonifts the cane rat, which is fo deftructive to the fugar-canes. According to Dr Pallas, it inhabits the East India iflands, but is not found in Surinam.

6. The dorfigera, or merian opoffum, hath the head and upper part of the body of a yellowish brown colour; the belly white, and tinged with yellow; the C

tail

Didelphis tail very long and flender, and, except at the bafe,
quite naked. It is a native of Surinam, and burrows
under ground: it brings five or fix young at a time,
which follow their parent: on any apprehenfion of
danger, they all jump on her back; and twifting their
tails round her's, fhe immediately runs with them into
her hole.

7. The kanguroo. This animal has a small head,
neck, and fhoulders; the body increafing in thickness
to the rump.
The head is oblong, formed like that
of a fan, and tapering from the eyes to the nofe;
end of the nofe naked and black; the upper lip divided.
The noftrils are wide and open; the lower jaw is
fhorter than the upper; and the aperture of the mouth
fmall: there are whifkers on both jaws, thofe on the
upper longeft; and ftrong hairs above and below the
eyes. The eyes are not large; the irides are dufky;
the pupil is of a bluish black. The ears are erect,
oblongly ovated, rounded at the ends, and thin, covered
with fhort hairs; four inches long. There are no
canine teeth; but fix broad cutting teeth in the upper
jaw; two long lanceolated teeth in the lower, pointing
forward; and four grinding teeth in each jaw, remote
from the others. The belly is convex and great.
The fore legs are very fhort, fcarcely reaching to the
nofe; and useless for walking. The hind legs are almoft
as long as the body; and the thighs are very thick:
on the fore feet are five toes, with long conic and ftrong
claws; on the hind feet, only three: the middle toe
is very long and thick, like that of an oftrich; the two
others are placed very diftin&t from it, and are fmall:
the claws are short, thick, and blunt: the bottom of
the feet, and hind part, black, naked, and tubercu-
lated, as the animal refts often on them. The tail is
very long, extending as far as the ears; thick at the
bafe, tapering to a point. The fcrotum is large and
pendulous. The hair on the whole animal is foft, and
of an afh-colour; lighteft on the lower parts. The
dimenfions of a full grown animal are not yet known.
The following are thofe of a male lately fent to Lord
Sidney by Governor Phillip.

Length from the point of the nose to the end
of the tail,

Length of the tail,

head,

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5

f.

in.

8

3

O

2

I

carries its tail quite at right angles with its body Didelphis
when it is in motion; and when it alights, often looks
back.

In the account lately published of Governor Phillip's
Voyage, we are told that these animals have been feen
feeding in herds of about 30 or 40; and that one is
always obferved to be apparently on the watch at a
diftance from the reft.-The largest kanguroo which
has yet been fhot, we are there told, weighed about
140 pounds. But it has been difcovered that there
are two kinds, one of which feldom exceeds 60
pounds in weight: thefe live chiefly on the high
grounds: their hair is of a reddish caft, and the head
is fhorter than the larger fort. Young kangurods
which have been taken, have in a few day's grown very
tame, but none have lived more than two or three
weeks. Yet it is ftill poffible that when their proper
food fhall be better known, they may be domefticated.
Near fome water was found the dung of an animal
that fed on grafs, which, it was fuppofed, could not
have been lefs than a horfe. A kanguroo, fo much
above the ufual fize, would have been an extraordinary
phænomenon, though no larger animal has yet been
feen, and the limits of growth in that species are not
afcertained. The tail of the kanguroo, which is very
large, is found to be used as a weapon of offence, and
has given fuch fevere blows to dogs as to oblige them
to defift from purfuit. Its flesh is coarfe and lean,
nor would it probably be used for food, where there
was not a fcarcity of fresh provifions.

Mr Pennant obferves, that this is a very anomalous
animal; but ranks it under this genus as having more
relation to it than to any other. In the account of
of Phillip's Voyage, however, we are informed, that
the pouch of the female, hitherto esteemed pccu
liar to the opoffum genus, has been found both in the
rat and the fquirrel kind in New Holland.

8. The quoll, or spotted opoffum, is described as in
length from the nofe to the beginning of the tail
about 15 inches, and the tail about nine or ten. The
general colour black, inclining to brown beneath; the
neck and body, fpotted with irregular roundish.
patches of white; the ears pretty large and erect;
the vifage pointed, the muzzle furnished with long
flender hairs; the legs, from the knees downward, al-
moft naked, and ath-coloured; on the fore feet are
five claws, and on the hind, four and a thumb without
a claw; the tail, for about an inch and an half from
the root,
is covered with hairs of the fame length as
5 thofe on the body, from thence to the end with long
ones not unlike that of a fquirrel. The female has
fix teats placed in a circle within the pouch.

II

3

7

I

9

4

I I

The above is the largest kanguroo that has yet been
feen, and we are told there is every reafon to believe
that even this had not nearly attained its full growth.

It inhabits the western fide of New Holland, and has
as yet been discovered in no other part of the world.
It lurks among the grafs; and feeds on vegetables: it
goes entirely on its hind legs; making ufe of the
fore feet only for digging, or bringing its food to its
mouth. The dung is like that of a deer. It is very
timid at the fight of men it flies from them by ama-
zing leaps, fpringing over bushes feven or eight feet
high; and going progreffively from rock to rock. It

9. The kanguroo rat is defcribed as fimilar, both in the general thape of the body and the conformation of the legs, to the kanguroo; but the vifage having a ftrong refemblance to that of the rat, and the colour of the whole not ill refembling that animal, it has ob tained the name of the kanguroo rat. It is an inhabitant of New Holland; and two of the species are now to be feen alive at the curious exhibition of animals over Exeter Exchange; where one of them, being a female, has brought forth young. This fpecies has two cutting teeth in front of the upper jaw, with three others on each fide of them; and at a diftance

one

Didelphis. one false grinder, sharp at the edge, and channelled or fluted on the fides; and close to thefe, two true grinders in the lower jaw there are two long cutting teeth formed like thofe of the fquirrel, with three grinders correfponding with those in the upper jaw.

10. The Aying opoffum, a beautiful fpecies, and clothed with fur of the most exquifite texture, is an inhabitant of New Wales. In length, from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail, it is 20 inches; the tail itself is 22 inches, at the bafe quite light, increafing gradually to black at the end: the ears are large and erect: the coat or fur is of a richer and moft delicate texture; appearing, on the upper parts of the body, at first fight, of a gloffy black, but on a nicer infpection found to be mixed with grey; the under parts are white, and on each hip is a tan-coloured spot nearly as big as a fhilling; at this part the fur is thinneft, but at the root of the tail it is fo rich and close that the hide cannot be felt through it. The fur is also continued to the claws. On each fide of the body is a broad flap or membrane (as in the flying fquirrels), which is united to both the fore and hind legs. The jaws are furnished with teeth, placed as in fome others of this genus: in the upper jaw forwards are four small cutting teeth, then two canine ones, and backwards five grinders: the under jaw has two long large cutting teeth, five grinders, with no intermediate canine ones, the space being quite vacant. The fore legs have five toes on each foot, with a claw on each; the hinder ones four toes, with claws (the three outfide ones without any feparation), and a thumb with out a claw, enabling the animal to use the foot as a hand, as many of the opoffum tribe are obferved

to do.

11. The Cayenne opoffum has a long flender face: ears erect, pointed, and fhort: the coat woolly, mixed with very coarfe hairs, three inches long, of a dirty white from the roots to the middle; from thence to the ends of a deep brown; fides and belly of a pale yellow; legs of a dufky brown; thumb on each foot diftinct; on the toes of the fore feet, and thumb of the hind, are nails; on the toes of the hind feet crooked claws; tail very long, taper, naked, and scaly. Length 17 French inches; of the tail fifteen and a half. The fubject measured was young. Inhabits Cayenne: very active in climbing trees, on which it lives the whole day. In marfhy places, feeds on crabs, which when it cannot draw out of their holes with its feet, it hooks them by means of its long tail. If the crab pinches its tail, the animal fets up a loud cry, which may be heard afar: its common voice is a grunt like a young pig. It is well furnished with teeth, and will defend itself ftoutly againft dogs; brings forth four or five young, which it fecures in fome hollow tree. The natives eat these animals, and fay their flesh resembles a hare. They are cafily tamed, and will then refufe no kind of food.

12. The New Holland opoffum has the upper part of the head, and the back and fides, covered with long, foft, gloffy hairs, of a dark cinereous colour at the bottoms, and of a rusty brown towards the ends: the belly is of a dirty white. The tail is taper, covered with fhort brown hairs, except for four inches and a half of the end, which is white, and naked un

derneath; the toes like thofe of the former. De fcribed by Mr Pennant from a skin, the length of which, from the head to the tail, was 13 inches, and the tail the fame. The animal was found near Endeavour river, on the eastern coaft of New Holland, with two young ones. It lodges in the grafs, but is not common. There are two or three other species.

DIDO, called alfo ELISA, a daughter of Belus king of Tyre, who married Sichæus or Sicharbas her uncle, who was priest of Hercules. Pygmalion, who fucceeded to the throne of Tyre after Belus, murdered Sichæus to get poffeffion of the immenfe riches which he had; and Dido, difconfolate for the lofs of her hufband, whom the tenderly loved, and by whom the was equally efteemed, fet fail in queft of a fettlement with a number of Tyrians, to whom the cruelty of the tyrant became odious. According to fome accounts, the threw into the fea the riches of her husband which Pygmalion fo greedily detired, and by that artifice compelled the fhips to fly with her that had come by order of the tyrant to obtain the riches of Sichæus. During her voyage, Dido visited the coaft of Cyprus ; where the carried away 50 women who proftituted themselves on the fea-fhore, and gave them as wives to her Tyrian followers. A ftorm drove her fleet on the African coaft, and the bought of the inhabitants as much land as could be covered by a bull's hide cut into thongs. Upon this piece of land fhe built a citadel called Byrfa; and the increase of population, and the rifing commerce among her subjects, foon obliged her to enlarge her city and the boundaries of her dominions. Her beauty, as well as the fame of her enterprife, gained her many admirers; and her fubjects wifhed to compel her to marry Iarbas king of Mauritania, who threatened them with a dreadful war. Dido begged three months to give her decifive answer; and during that time fhe erected a funeral pile, as if wifiing by a folemn facrifice to appease the manes of Sichæus, to which fhe had promifed eternal fidelity. When all was prepared, the ftabbed herself on the pile in prefence of her people; and by this uncommon action obtained the name of Dido, " valiant woman," inftead of Elifa. According to Virgil and Ovid, the death of Dido was caused by the fudden departure of Eneas; of whom he was deeply enamoured, and whom he could not obtain as a husband. This poeti cal fiction reprefents Æneas as living in the age of Dido, and introduces an anachronism of near 300 years. Dido left Phoenicia 247 years after the Trojan war or the age of Æneas, that is, about 953 years before Chrift. This chronological error proceeds not from the ignorance of the poets, but it is fupported by the authority of Horace:

Aut fumam fequere, aut fibi convenientis finge. While Virgil defcribes, in a beautiful epifode, the defperate love of Dido, and the fubmiffion of Eneas to the will of the gods, he at the fame time gives an explanation of the hatred which exifted between the republics of Rome and Carthage; and informs his reader, that their mutual enmity originated in their very first foundation, and was apparently kindled by a more remote caufe than the jealoufy and rivalfhip of two flourishing empires. Dido after her death was honoured as a deity by her fubjects.

C 2

DIDUS,

Dido.

Didus.

DIDUS, or DODO, in ornithology, a genus belong ing to the order of galline. The bill is contracted in the middle by two tranfverfe ruga; each mandible is inflected at the point; and the face is bare behind the eyes. Only one fpecies, the ineptus, is mentioned by Linnæus; but three are defcribed by Buffon: though it is doubted whether on further obfervation they may not all prove one and the fame species, differing only in fex or age.

1. The dronte, or hooded dodo, (ineptus, Lin.), is fomewhat bigger than a swan, and near three feet in length. The bill is ftrong, large, and hooked at the end; the gape ftretches beyond the eyes: the colour of it is a very pale blue; except the end of the upper mandible, which is yellowifh, and a red fpot on the bend of it; the end of the lower is blackish: the irides are white. The general colour of the plumage is cinereous, and foft to the touch; the belly and thighs are whitish. The head is large, and feems as it were covered with a black hood or cowl. The wings are very fhort, and of a yellowish afh-colour: the tail feathers are curled, ftand up on the rump, and incline to yellow. The legs have four toes, three before and one behind; are very ftout, fhort, and yellowish: the claws are black. It inhabits the islands of Mauritius and Bourbon in the Indian Ocean.

:

2. The folitaire, or folitary dodo, is a large bird, and the male is faid to weigh fometimes 45 pounds. The neck is of a proportionable length, and the eye black and lively: the head is not creited, and the general colour of the plumage is grey and brown mixed: it has scarce any tail, and the baftard wing fwells out into a round knob the wings are too fhort for flight; and the hind parts are rounded like a horse's rump, being clothed with feathers, which may be termed coverts. The females are covered with fometimes brown and fometimes light yellow feathers, and appear very beautiful. The feathers on each fide of the breaft enlarge into two white tufts, fomewhat refembling the bofom of a woman. Thofe of the thighs are rounded at the end like fhells; and, according to Leguat, the bird has altogether a noble and elegant gait. This is an inhabitast of the Isle of Rodrigue, where it is not uncommon; but not met with in flocks, fcarcely more than two being found together. It makes the neft in by-places, of leaves of the palm, a foot and a half in thickness; and lays one egg, bigger than that of a goofe. The male fits in his turn; and does not fuffer any bird to approach within 200 yards of the fpot while the hen is fitting, which is feven weeks. The young is fome months before it can shift for itself; the old ones, in the mean time, are affectionate to it, and faithful to each other afterwards, though they occafionally may mix with others of their kind. The young birds, though timid, are ftupid enough to fuffer the approach of any one; but when grown up are more fhy, and will not be tamed. They are chafed in the winter feafon, viz. from March to September; being then fat, and the young birds are much efteemed for the table.

3. The Nazarene dodo is bigger than a fwan. The bill is a little bent downwards and large instead of feathers, the whole is covered over with a black down; but the wings are feathered, and it has fome frizzled

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Diemen's

Land.

ones upon the rump, which ferve instead of a tail: the Didymus legs are long and fcaly, and there are three toes on each foot. This was met with in the Isle of France, and defcribed as above by Fr. Cauche; who adds, that the female only lays one egg, which is white, and as big as a penny loaf, and that there is always found with it a white ftone of the fize of an hen's egg; that it makes the neft of leaves and dry herbs, in the forefts, on the ground; and that there is likewife found a grey ftone in the gizzard of the young bird.

DIDYMUS of Alexandria, an ecclefiaftical writer of the fourth century; who, though he is faid to have loft his eyes at five years of age, when he had fcarcely learned to read, yet applied fo earneftly to ftudy, that he attained all the philofophic arts in a high degree,. and was thought worthy to fill the chair in the famous divinity-fchool at Alexandria. He was the author of a great number of works: but all we have now remaining are, a Latin tranflation of his book upon the Holy Spirit, in the works of St Jerome, who was the tranf lator; fhort ftrictures on the Canonical Epiftles; and a book against the Manichees.

DIDYNAMIA (from is twice, and Suvais power),, the name of the 14th clafs in Linnæus's fexual method; confiting of plants with hermaphrodite flowers, which have four ftamina or male organs, two of which are long and two fhort. See BOTANY, the Scheme, and Plate CII. fig. 14.

DIEMEN'S LAND, the fouthern coaft or point of New Holland, S. Lat. 43° 21' 20", E. Long. 147° 29'. This coaft was difcovered in November 1642 by Taf man, who gave it the name of Van Diemen's Lands Captain Furneaux touched at it in March 1773, and the country has been fince further explored by our late navigators. Here is a very safe road, named by Cap tain Cook Adventure Bay. The parts adjoining to the bay are moftly hilly, and form an entire foreft of talk trees, rendered almoft impaffable by brakes of fern,. fhrubs, &c. The foil on the flat land, and on the lower part of the hills, is fandy, or confifts of a yellowith earth, and in fome parts of a reddish clay; but further. up the hills it is of a grey tough caft. This country,. upon the whole, bears many marks of being very dry, and the heat appears to be great. No mineral bodies, nor ftones of any other kind than the white fand-ftone, were obferved: nor any vegetables that afforded fubfiftence for man. The foreft-trees are all of one kind,, generally quite ftraight, and bearing clusters of small white flowers. The principal plants obferved were. wood-forrel, milk-wort, cudweed, bell-flower, gladio lus, famphire, and feveral kinds of fern. The only quadruped feen diftinctly was a fpecies of opoffum, about twice the fize of a large rat. The kanguroo, found farther northward in New Holland, may also be fuppofed to inhabit here, as fome of the inhabitants had pieces of the skin of that animal. The principal forts of birds in the woods are brown hawks or eagles, crows, large pigeons, yellowish paroquets, and a fpecies which was called motacilla cyanea, from the beautiful azure colour of its head and neck. On the fhore were feveral gules, black oyster-catchers or fea-pies, and plovers of a ftone-colour. In the woods were seen fome blackith fnakes of a pretty large fize; and a species of lizard fifteen inches long and fix round, beauti

fully

is feated at the mouth of the river Argues, in E. Long. 1. 9. N. Lat. 49 55.

Diemen's fully clouded with yellow and black. Among a varieLand ty of fish caught, were fome large rays, nurfes, leatherDieppe. jackets, bream, foles, flounders, gurnards, and elephant-fifh. Upon the rocks are mufcles and other fhell-fish, and upon the beach were found fome pretty Medufa's heads. The most troublesome infects met with were the mufquitoes; and a large black ant, the bit of which inflicts extreme pain.

The inhabitants feemed mild and cheerful, with little of that wild appearance which lavages in general have. They are almoft totally devoid of perfonal activity or genius, and are nearly upon a par with the wretched natives of Terra del Feugo. They difplay, however, fome contrivance in their method of cutting their arms and bodies in lines of different directions, raised above the furface of the fkin. Their indifference for prefents offered them, their general inattention and want of curiofity, were very remarkable, and teftified no acuteness of understanding. Their complexion is a dull black, which they fometimes heighten by fmutting their bodics, as was fuppofed from their leaving a mark behind on any clean fubstance. Their hair is perfectly woolly, and is clotted with greafe and red ochre like that of the Hottentots. Their nofes are broad and full, and the lower part of the face projects confiderably. Their eyes are of a moderate fize; and though they are not very quick or piercing, they give the countenance a frank, cheerful, and pleating caft. Their teeth are not very white nor well fet, and their mouths are wide: they wear their beards long and clotted with paint. They are upon the whole well proportioned, though their belly is rather protuberant. Their favourite attitude is to fland with one fide forward, and one hand grafping across the back the oppofite arm, which on this occafion hangs down by the fide that projects.

Near the fhore in the bay were observed fome wretched constructions of sticks covered with bark; but these feemed to have been only temporary, and they had converted many of their largest trees into more comfortable and commodious habitations. The trunks of thefe were hollowed out to the height of fix or feven feet by means of fire. That they fometimes dwell in them was manifeft from their hearths in the middle made of clay, round which four or five perfons might fit. Thefe places of fhelter are rendered durable by their leaving one fide of the tree found, fo that it continues growing with great luxuriance.

DIEMERBROEK (Ibrand), a learned profeffor of phyfic and anatomy at Utrecht, was born at Montfort, in Holland, in 1609, where he acquired great reputation by his lectures and his practice; and died at Utrecht in 1674. He wrote a treatife on the plague, which is esteemed; and feveral learned works in anatomy and medicine, which were printed at Utrecht in 1685 in folio.

DIEPPE, a handfome fea-port town of France, in Upper Normandy, in the territory of Caux; with a good harbour, an old cafle, and two handfome moles. The parifh-church of St James is an elegant ftructure; and there is a tower from which, in fine weather, the coaft of England may be feen. The principal trade confifts in herrings, whitings, mackerel, ivory, toys, and laces. It was bombarded by the English in 1694, and it is not now fo confiderable as it was formerly, It

DIES MARCHIE, was the day of congrefs or meeting of the English and Scots, annually appointed to be held on the marches or borders, in order to adjuft all differences between them.

DIESIS, in mufic, is the divifion of a tone lefs than a femitone; or an interval confifting of a lefs or im、 perfect femitone.

Diefis is the smallest and softeft change or inflexion of the voice imaginable: it is called a faint, expreffed thus X, by a St Andrew's crofs or faltier.

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DIESPITER, in antiquity, a name given to Jupiter; and fignifying diei pater, "father of the day." St Auguftin derives the name from dies" day," and partus " production, bringing forth;" it being Jupiter that brings forth the day. Of which fentiment were Servius and Macrobius; the former adding, that in the language of the Ofci they called him Lucentius, as Diefpiter in Latin..

DIET, in medicine, according to fome, comprehends the whole regimen or rule of life with regard to the fix non naturals; air, meats and drinks, fleep and watching, motion and reft, paffions of the mind, retentions and excretions. Others reftrain the term of diet to what regards eating and drinking, or folid aliments and drinks. See FoOD.

The natural conftitution of the body of man is fuch, that it can eafily bear fome changes and irregularities without much injury. Had it been otherwife, we fhould be almoft conftantly put out of order by every flight caufe. This advantage arifes from thofe wonderful communications of the inward parts, whereby, when one part is affected, another comes immediately to its relief.

Thus, when the body is too full, natnre caufes eva cuations through fome of the outlets: and for this rea-fon it is, that difeafes from inanition are generally more dangerous than from repletion; because we can more expeditiously diminish than increase the juices of the body. Upon the fame account, alfo, though temperance be beneficial to all men, the ancient phyficians advised perfons in good health, and their own mafters, to iadulge a little now and then, by eating and drinking more plentifully than ufual. But, of the two, intem. perance in drinking is fafer than in eating and if a perfon has committed excefs in the latter, cold water drank upon a full ftomach will help digettion; to which it will be of fervice to add lemon juice, or elixir of vitriol. If he has eaten high feafoned things, rich fauces, &c. then let him fit up for fome little time, and afterwards fleep. But if a man happen to be obliged to faft, he ought to avoid all laborious work. From fatiety it is not proper to pass directly to fharp hunger, nor from hunger to fatiety: neither will it be fafe to indulge abfolute reft immediately after exceffive labour, nor fuddenly to fall to hard work a ter long idleness. In a word, therefore, all changes in the way of living fhould be made by degrees.

The fofter and milder kinds of aliment are proper for children, and for youth the ftronger. Old people ought to leffen the quantity of their food, and increase that of their drink: but yet fome allowance is to be made for cuftom, especially in the colder climates like ours; for as in thefe the appetite is keener, fo is the

digeftion.

Dies

Diet.

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