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Thomson.

It would be ridiculous, if a fpit which is ftrong enough to turn a sir-loin of beef, should not be able to turn a lark. Swift.

(4.) Sia, for diftinétion's fake, as it is now given inducriminately to all men, is always prefixed to the knight's Chriftian name, either in fpcaking or writing to them.

(3.) SIR, in geography, a river of Tartary, which rifes in the mountains about 160 miles W. of Kafkgar, and runs into the lake of Arai, in Lat. 45. 10. N.

(4.) SIR ALBERT'S BRIDGE, a fmail town of Ireland, near a bridge so nanied, in the county of Donegal, Ulfter; 120 miles from Dublin.

(5.) SIR BIBY'S ISLAND, a fmall island in Hudfon's Bay. Lon. 93. 4c. E. Lat. 61. 55. N.

(6.) SIR CHARLES HARDY'S ISLAND, an island in the S. Pacific Ocean, difcovered by Capt. Carteret, in 1767. It is level, green, pleafant, of confiderable extent, and abounds with wood. Lon. 153-32. E. Lat. 4. 30. S.

(7.) SIR CHARLES SAUNDERS'S ISLAND, an inland in the S. Pacific ccean, difcovered by Capt. Wallis, in 1767. It is about 6 miles long from E. to W. and has a mountain of confiderable height in the centre, which feemed to be fertile. The inhabitants are neither numerous, nor civized. Lon. 131. 4. W. Lat. 17. 28. S. (3.) SIR THOMAS ROWE'S WELCOME, a large bay in the N. part of Hudson's Bay.

SIRACUSE. See SYRACUSE. SIRADIA, a town of Great Poland, capital of ci-devant palatinate so named, now in the poffeffion of the K. of Pruffia; with a caftie, feated on a plain, on the Warra; 62 miles NE. of Warra, and 105 N. of Cracow. Lon. 18. 55. E. Lat. 51. 32. N,

SIRAF, a town of Pera, in Lariftan, on the N. coaft of the Perfian Guif, chiefly inhabited by Aralians: 30 miles SW. of Lar.

SIRAN, a town of France, in the department of the Herauit: 15 miles SW. of St Pons.

(1.) SIRANI, John Andrew, an eminent hiftoDeal painter, born at Bologna, in 1610. He was a difciple of Gundo. His Last Supper, at Rome, is much admired. He died in 1670.

(2.) SIRANI, Elizabeth, daughter and difciple of the preceding, was born at Bologna, iu 1638. Before the reached her 15th year, he was reckon

ed a prodigy in painting. She painted in the manner of her father and equalled him. She died in 1664.

SIRAVAN, a town of Perfia, in Chufistan; 48 miles NNE. of Sutter.

SIRBO, in ancient geography, a lake between Egypt and Palestine, now cailed Schaket Bardoil. Piin. iv. c. 13.

SIRCAR, n.. any office under the government in Hindooftan. It is fometimes used for the state of government itfelf: alfo for a province, or any number of Pergunnahs placed under one head in the government books, for conveniency in keeping accounts. In Bengal, the under banyans of European gentlemen are called sircars. See CIR

CAR.

(1.) SIRE. n. f. [sire, Fr. fenior, Lat.] 1. A father. Used in poetry.—

He, but a duke, would have his fon a king, And raise his iffue like a loving fire. Shak.

A virgin is his mother, but his fire The pow'r of the moft High. Milton's Par. I oft. Whole fires, great partners in my father's

care,

Saluted their young king.

Whether his hoary fire he spies,

Prior.

Pope.

Or meets his fpoufe's tonder eye. 2. It is ufed in common speech of beasts; as, the horfe had a good fire, but a bad dam. 3. It is ufed in compofition; as, grand-pre, great-grand-fire.

(2.) SIRE was a title of honour formerly given to the king of France as a mark of fovereignty.

(3.) SIRE, was likewife anciently used in the fame fenfe with SIEUR and SEIGNEUR, and appued to barons, gentiemen, and citizens.

(4.) SIRE, OF SIRE', in geography, a province of Abyffinia, about 25 miles fquare. It was fome time ago united to Tigré, on account of the misbehaviour of its governor; but was disjoined from it at the time Mr Bruce was in Abyffinia, with the confent of Ras Michael, who bestowed the government of it upon his fon. Its western boundary is the Tacazze. See ETHIOPIA, § 6.

(5.) SIRE, a town of Abyffinia, capital of the above province, larger than Axum: but the houles are built of clay, and covered with thatch; the roofs being in the form of cones, which indeed is the fhape of all thofe in Abyffinia. It ftands on the brink of a very steep and narrow valley, through which the road is almost impaffable. It is famous for a manufacture of cotton cloth, which paffes' for money throughout the whole province. At times, however, beads, needles, antimony, and incente, will pafs in the fame way. The country in the neighbourhood is extremely fine; but the inhabitants fubject, by the low fituation, to putrid fevers. Lon. 38. o. E. Lat. 14" 4' 35" N.

*To SIRE. v. a. To beget; to produce.Cowards father cowards, and base things fire Shuk.

the bafe.

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The mouth has two ftrong jaws (2.) SIRE. m. f. [Latin.] A goddefs who enti- menoptera. ced men by finging, and devoured them; any there are two truncated palpi or feelers, filiform antenuæ, an exferted, ftiff, ferrated fting, a felmischievous enticer.file, mucronated abdomen, and anceolated wings. There are 7 fpecies.

SIRGIAN, a town of Perfia, in Kerman, famous for its manufactures of ftuffs, and beautiful pottery: 60 miles E. of Shirauz, and 105 SE. of Ifpahan.

(1.) SIRHIND, SERINDA, or SERINDE, a country of Hindooftan, N. of Delbi.

(2.) SIRHIND, or SERINDE, the capital of the above territory long famous for its filk manufactures, and from whence that manufacture was twice brought to Europe. Procopius records that in the 6th century, in the time of Juftinian I. fick was brought from Serind; and M. Condamine fays, that after the art had been loft in Europe, by the confufions of the times, it was again brought back in the 16th century, by the monks from Serinde. It is 140 miles SE, of Lahore, and 148 NW. of Delhi, or 195, as Dr Brookes has it. Lon. 75. 15. E. Lat. 29. 55. N.

SIRI, a mountain and town of Afia, in Thibet,
Lon. 93. 45. E. Lat. 28. 5. N.
SIRIA, or a town of Afiatic Turkey, in the
SIRJA, Spachalic of Aleppo: 70 miles SE.

of Aleppo.

S.ng, firen, to thyself, and I will dote. Shak. (3.) SIRENES, in fabulous hiftory, were ce(3.) The SIRENS, Slebrated fong!treffes, who were ranked among the demigods of antiquity. Hyginus places their birth among the confequen. c:s of the rape of Proferpine. Ovid makes them daughters of the river god, Acheloüs by the Mufe CALLIOPE, or Melpomene. Their number was 3, and their names were PARTHENOPE, (who gave its ancient name to Naples,) Lygeia, and Lesha; or, as others fay, Molpe, Aglaophongs, and Trelxiope. Some make them haif women and Laif fith; others, half women and half birds. There are antique reprefentations of them ftill fubfifting under both these forms. Paufanias tells us, that the Sirens, by the persuasion of Juno, challenged the Mufes to a trial of skili in finging; and thele having vanquished them, plucked the guiden feathers from the wings of the Sirens, and formed them into crowns, with which they adorned their own heads. The Argonauts were diverted from the enchantment of their fongs by the fuperior ftrains of Orpheus: Ulyffes, however, had great difficulty in fecuring himself from their feCuction. See Odgf. lib. xii. Some say, that the Sucus were queens of the islands named SIRENU- SIRIAN, a fea port town of Afia, in Pegu, on SE, and chiefly inhabited the promontory of Mi- the Appoo, formerly a place of great trade, when arva, (See MINERVE PROMONTORIUM.) upon in polletion of the Portuguefe. It has ftill confithe top of which that goddefs had a temple, buiit_derable trade with the British, French and Dutch. by Ulyffes. Here there was a renowned academy, famous for eloquence and the liberal fciences; but at lait they abused their knowledge, to the corruption of manners, and enticed paffengers, who there confumed their patrimonies, in riot and erminacy. The place is now called MASSA. Some writers tell us of a certain bay, contracted within winding ftraits and broken cliffs, which, by the finging of the winds and beating of the waters, returns a delightful harmony, that allures the pallenger to approach, who is immediately thrown against the rocks, and Iwallowed up by the violent eddies. Horace calls idlenefs a Siren. But the fable may be applied to pleafures in general, which, if too eagerly purfued, betray the incautious into ruin. Mr Bryant fays, that the Sirens were Cuthite and Canaanitish priefts, who had founded temples in Sicily, which were rendered infamous on account of the women who officiated. They were much addicted to cruel ris, fo that the fhores upon which they refided were covered with the bones of men deftroyed by their artifices. Virg. En. lib. v. 864. All ancient authors agree, that the Sirens inhabited the coaft of Sicily. The name, fays Bochart, in the Phoenician language implies a fong ftrefs. Hence it is probable, fays Dr Burney, that they were excellent fingers, but of corrupt morals.

SIRENUSÆ, in ancient geography, 5 fmall iflands near Capræa, on the coaft of Italy, faid to have been anciently inhabited by the SIRENS. They are now cailed Galli. See GALLI, N° 3. SET, a river of European Turkey, which runs into the Danube, 4 miles S. of Galacz.

SIKLX, in zoology, a genus of animals belonging to the clufa of infects, and to the order of by

It is 72 miles S. of Pegu, and 116 E. of Perfaim.
Lor. 96. 50. E. Ferro. Lat. 16. 54. N.

* SIRIASIS. n, f. [igia.] An inflammation of the brain and its membrane, through an exceffive heat of the fun. Di&.

SIRICIUS, pope of Rome, who fucceeded pope Damafus I. A. D. 384, to the exclufion of Urficinus. His Epistles are preferved in Conftant's coilection. He died A. D. 398.

SIRIES, Violante Beatrice, a celebrated Italian paintrefs, born at Florence in 1710. She became the difciple of Fratellini, then in high esteem, and made great progrefs under him, in crayons and water colours. She afterwards went to France, where he acquired the art of painting in oil, and executed feveral portraits of the nobility. On her return to Florence, the was highly patronised by the grand duke. One of her chief performances is a picture of the whole imperial family.

SIRIK, a town of France, in the department of the Mofelle, and ci-devant duchy of Lorrain, feated on the Mofelle, 14 miles SE. of Luxemburg. It is defended by a castle feated on an adjacent hill; and has belonged to France fince 1643. Lon. 6. 38. E. Lat. 49. 36. N.

(1.) SIRINAGUR, an extensive rugged country of Alia, between Hindooftan Proper and Thibet; bounded on the N. and NE. by the moun. tains of Thibet; on the SE. by Napaul; on the S. by Rohilla; on the SW. by Delhi, and on the NW. by Lahore.

(2.) SIRINAGUR, the capital of the above coun try. It is 70 miles ENE. of Hurdwar, and 219 NNE. of Delhi, according to Mr Cruttweil; but Dr Brookes makes it only 160 N. of it. Lon. 78. 45. E. Lat. 30. 24. N.

(1.) SIRIS,

r.) SIRIS, an ancient name of the Nile. See NILE, $5.

(2.) SIRUS, a river of Abyffinia. See ETHIOPIA, $6.

(3, 4.) SIRIS, an ancient town of Italy, in Magna Græcia, at the mouth of a river fo named, famous for a battle fought on its banks between Pyrrhus and the Romans. See ROME, § 25.

(5.) SIRIS, a town of Thrace, in Poonia. SIRIUM, in botany; a genus of plants belong. ing to the clafs of tetrandria and order of monornia. The calyx is quadrifid; there is no corolla; the nectarium is quadriphyllous and crown. ing the throat of the calyx; the germen is below the corolla; the ftigma is trifid, and the berry trilocular. There is only one fpecies;

SIRIUM MYRTIFOLIUM, the Myrtle-leaved Sinium.

(1.)* SIRIUS. n.. Latin.] The dogftar. (2.) SIRIUS, in aftronomy, is a bright star in the confteilation Canis. See CANICULA N° 1. (3.) SIRIUS ISLAND, an island in the S. Fa eific Ocean, about 18 miles in circuit; difcovered by Lieut. BALL, in 1790. Lon. 162. 30. E. Lat. 10. 52. S.

SIRLET, Flavius, an eminent Roman engra. wer on precious ftones: his Laocoon, and repreentations in miniature of antique ftatues at Rome, are very valuable and fearce. He died in 737.

SIR-LOIN. n.. See SIR, N° 1. Def. 4.
SIRMIA. See SERMIONE.
SIRMICH. See SIRMIUM.

SIRMIO. See SERMIONE, N° 1. and 2. SIRMIUM, or SIRMICH, an ancient and celebrated town of Sclavonia, capital of a county fo named. The emperor Probus was born and killed in it. (See PROBUS, and ROME, 78.) In 270, the emperor Claudius II. died in it, of the plague. In 1668, the imperialifts drove the Turks out of it. It is now ruinous, though a bishop's fee, founded fo early as the reign of Trajan. It is feated on the Bosweth; near the Save, 42 miles SE. of Effeck, and 27 NW. of Belgrade. Lon. 20. 19. E. Lat. 45. 13. N.

SIRMOND, James, a learned French Jefuit, the fon of a magiftrate, born at Riom, in 1559. After ftudying at the college of Billom, he joined the fociety in 1576. In 1588, he began to tranflate the works of the Greek fathers, and to write Notes upon APOLLINARIS SIDONIUS. In 1590, his general Aquaviva fent for him to Rome to be his Secretary; which office he executed fuccessfully for 16 years; vihting libraries, ftudy. ing antiquities, and confuiting M. SS. He alfo affifted Card. Baronius in his Ecclesiaftical Annals. He returned to Paris, in 1606; where he pubfushed many works. Lewis XIII. appointed him his confeffor, in 1637. In 1645 he returned to affift at the election of a new general. He spent much of his time in collecting the works of the writers of the middle age, which he published with notes. His whole works amounted to 15 vols. folio, of which 5 are entirely his own. He died at Rome, 7 Oct. 1651, aged 92.

SIRNAME, n.f. [from Sire and name,] the faily name. Ah. See SURNAME.

To SIRNAME. V. a. To give the family name; to give a new or additional name.

(1.) * SIROCCO. n. S. [Italian; syrus ventus, Latin.] The fouth-eaft or Syrian wind.

Forth rufh the levant and the ponent winds, Eurus and Zephyr, with their lateral noife, Sirocco and Libecchio. Milton.

(2.) The SIROCCO, or SCIROCHO, is a periodical wind which generally blows in Italy and Dalmatia every year about Eafter. It blows from the SE. by E. it is attended with beat, but not rain; its ordinary period is 20 days, and it usually ceafes at unfet. When the rocco does not blow in this manner, the fummer is almoft free from wefterly winds, whirlwinds, and ftorms. This wind is prejudicial to plants, drying and burn. ing up the buds; though it hurts not men any otherwife than by causing an extraordinary weaknefs and laffitude; inconveniences that are fully compenfated by a plentiful fishing, and a good crop of corn on the mountains. In fummer when the wefterly wind ceafe for a day, it is a fign that the firocco will blow the day following, which ufually begins with a fort of whirlwind.

SIROD, a town of France in the dep. of Jura: 3 m. SSW. of Nozeroy, and 12 SE. of Poligny. SIRONG, or SERONGE. See SERONGE.

SIROP. See SIRUP.

SIROPUM, an ancient town of Egypt, mentioned by Pliny, fuppofed to be modern Siwa.

SIROWY, a town of Hindoostan, in Agimere: 48 miles NW. of Cheitore, and 60 SE. of Agi mere. Lon. 74. 23. E. Lat 26. 1. N.

SIRPY, a town of Hindooftan, in the Myfore: 30 miles SE. of Chittldroog, and 65 N. of Seringaparam.

SIRR, or SIR. See SIR, N° 3.

SIRRAH. n. J. \fir, ha! Minfher.] A compellation of reproach and infuit.

Go, firrab, to my cell, Shakesp -Sirrah, There's no room for faith, troth, or honefty in this bofom of thine. Shak.-It runs in the blood of your whole race, firrah, to hate our family. L'Eftrange.

Guefs how the goddess greets her fon; Come hither, firrah; no, begone. Prior. SIRUM, a town of Perfia, in the province of Segeftan: 40 miles E. of-Zareng.

* SIRUP. SIROP. n. f. [Arabick.] The juice of vegetabies boiled with fugar.

Her words in firup laid of fweetest breath.
Sidney.

Not poppy, nor mandragora,
Nor all the drowly firups of the world
Shall ever med'cine thee to that sweet fleep.
Shak.

With fpirits of balm, and fragrant fyrope
Milton.

mixt.

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We'll lick the fyrupt leaves. Drayton. *SIRUPY. adj. [from firup.] Resembling firup. -Apples are of a firupy tenacious nature. Mort. SISACHTHIA,

SISACHTHIA, in Attic antiquity; r. A law inftituted by SOLON, for the remittance of ail debts: z. a folemn facrifice inftituted in commemoration of that law. See ATTICA, § 8. SISAL, a town of Mexico, in Yucatan; 24 mides E. of Cape Condecedo.

SISCAR, a town of Spain, in Arragon. SISCO, a town of Corfica; a m. N. of Baftia. SISE. . f. [contracted from afize.]— You faid, if I returned next fize in lent, I fhould be in remitter of your grace. Donne SISERA, a general of the Canaanites, under K. Jabin II. who was defeated by the Ifraelites under DEBORAH and BARAK, with great flaughter of his troops, and obliged to fly for refuge to Jael the wife of Heber, the Kenite, who was at peace with Jabin, but who treacherously murdered him, while fleeping in the confidence of her protection. It is impoflible to vindicate this action of Jaei's, unicís upon the general principle, that it is lawful to rid the world of apprefors by any means. De borah, indeed, praises and pronounces a blessing apon her for it, in the popular fong the compofed after the victory, (Jud. v. 14.) but though the was undoubtedly an infpired prophetefs, we are not certain, if in this compofition fhe was infpir. ed by any thing but her patriotic zeal for her countrymen, now reftored to their liberty, after a tedious oppreffion of zo years. That this act of Jael's, whereby the victory of the Ifraentes over their oppreffors was completed, was ordained by the Almighty, is evident from the context (Ch.v.g.) where it was foretold by Deborah; but this does not juftify the action, any more than the treachery of Judas, which was alfo foretold many centuries before it happened, but is no-where Indicated on that account.

SISGOW, a territory of the Helvetic republic, in Balle. SISSAC is the capital.

SISIBOU, a town of Nova Scotia, on the W. coaft: 25 miles SSW. of Annapolis.

SISIGAMBIS or SYSIGAMBIS, the mother of Darius III. K. of Perfia. See MACEDON, 16; and ORATORY, § 267.

SISINILLA, a town in the island of Cuba; 12 miles ENE. of Trinidad.

SISIMITHRÆ, a fortified town of Perfia, in Bactriana; 15 ftadia high, and 80 in circumfe. fence where Alexander married Roxana. Stra bo, 11.

SISINNIUS, Pope of Rome, was a native of Syria, who role through various gradations in the clerical line, till at laft, on the death of John VII. in 708, he was elected pope, but did not enjoy the triple crown 3 weeks, dying the 20th day after his election.

1.) SISKIN. n. f. \chloris, Lat.} A bird; a green finch.

(2) SISKIN. See FRINGILLA, N° 12. SISNOVIA, a town of Maritime Auftria, in Iâr: 3 miles SE. of Pedena.

SISON, BASTARD STONE PARSLEY, in bota ny: A genus of plants belonging to the clafs of pentandria, and to the order of dignia; and in the natural system arranged under the 45th order, ambellata. The fruit is egg-shaped and ftreaked; the involucra are fubtetraphylious. There are 7 [pecies;

1. SISON AMMI.

2. SISON AMOMUм, common baftard parsley, or field stone-wort, is a biennial plant about three feet high, growing wild in many places of Britain. Its feeds are small, Atriated, of an oval figure and brown colour. Their tafte is warm and aromatic. Their whole flavour is extracted by fpirit of wine, which elevates very little of it in diftillation; and hence the fpirituous extract has the flavour in great perfection, while the watery extract has ve ry little. A tincture drawn with pure spirit is of a green colour. The feeds have been esteemed aperient, diuretic, and carminative; but are now little regarded.

3. SISON CANADENSE, the Canada baftard parskey, is common in Canada.

5.

4. SISON FALSUM, the false bastard parsley. SISON INUNDATUM, leaf water-parfnep The ftem is about 8 or 10 inches high, branched, and creeping: the icaves, below the water, are capillary; above it are pinnated the umbels are bifid. It grows wild in our ditches and ponds. i

6. SISON SEGETUM, corn parsley or honeywort. The ftems are numerous, flender, ftriated, branched, and leaning; the leaves are pinnated; the pinnæ are oval, pointed, and serrated, fix or eight pair, and one at the end the unbels fmall and drooping; the flowers minute and white. It grows in our corn-fields and hedges.

7-SISON VERTICILLATUM, verticillate fifon, has small leaves in whirls, and capillary; the stem is two feet, with few leaves; the common umbel is compofed of 8 or 10 rays, the partial of 18 or 20; both involucra are compofed of five or fix oval acute foliola; the flowers are ail hermaphrodite, and the petals white. It grows wild in Britain.

SISSA, a town of Parina; 12 miles NW. of Parma.

SISSAC, or a town of the Helvetic, republic SISSACH, in Bafle, capital of Sifgow; 13 miles SE. of Baße.

SISSAN, a town of Martime Auftria, in Istria 3 miles ENE. of Pola.

SISSEG, a town of Croatia, on the Save; 47 miles E. of Carlstadt, and 28 of Zagravia. Lon. 16. 17. E. Lat. 46. 6. N.

SISSONNE, a town of France, in the dep. of Aifne: 10 miles E. of Laon, and 20 N. of Rhimes.

SISSOPOLI, or SIZEBOL, a town of European Turkey, in Romania; with a Greek archbishop'> fee on a peninfula of the Black Sea; 25 miles S. of Mefembria, 75 NE. of Adrianople, and 97 or ros NW. of Conftantinople. Lon. 28.9. E. Lat. 42. 31. N.

(1.) SISTER. n. f. [fheofter, Saxon; zufter, Dutch. 1. A woman born of the fame parents;

correlative to brother,

Her fifter began to fcold.

Shak.

I have faid to the worm, thou art my mother and my fifter. Job, xvii. 14. 2. Woman of the fame faith; a chriftian. One of the fame na

ture, human being.—If a brother or fifter be naked, James, ii. 15. 3. A female of the fame kind.→→→ He chid the fifters. Shak. Macbeth. 4. One of the fame kind; one of the fame coildition.The

The women, who would rather wreft the laws, Than let a fifter-plaintiff lofe the cause. Dryden. There grew two olives, closeft of the grove, With fifter-fruits: one fertile, one was wild. Pope. (2.) SISTER IN LAW. n. A husband or wife's fifter.-Thy fifter in law is gone back unto her people: return thou after thy fifler in law. Ruth, i. 15.

SISTERHOOD. n. f. [from fifter.] 1. The of fice or duty of a fifter.

She left to do the part

Of fifterhood, to do that of a wife.

Daniel. 2. A fet of fifters. 3. A number of women of the fame order.

Wishing a more strict restraint Upon the fifter bood.

Shakespeare. -A woman who flourishes in her innocence, amidft that fpite and rancour which prevails a mong her exasperated fifter hood, appears more amiable. Addifon.

* SISTERLY. adj. [from fifter.] Like a fifter; becoming a fifter.

My fifterly remorfe confutes mine honour, And I did yield to him. Shakespeare. SISTERON, a town of France, in the dep. of the Lower Alps, and ci-devant prov. of Provence; feated on the right bank of the Durance, at the foot of a high rock, on which it has a citadel, which was for fome time the prifon of Cafimir V. king of Poland. It is 30 miles NE. of Apt, 35 SW. of Embrun, and 45 NE. of Aix. Lon. 6. 1. E. Lat. 44: 12. N.

SISTERSDORF. See ZISTERSDORF. SISTON, a manufacturing village of England, in Gloucestershire, 7 miles from Briftol; feated in a pleasant vale, on a rivulet that runs into the Avon. It has manufactures of brafs and faltpetre; and tin ore is found near it.

SISTRUM, or CISTRUM, an ancient mufical inftrument used by the priests of Ifis and Ofiris. It is defcribed by Śpon as of an oval form, in manner of a racket, with three fticks traverfing it breadthwife; which playing freely by the agitation of the whole inftrument, yielded a kind of found which to them feemed melodious. Mr Malcolm takes it to be no better than a kind of rattle. Oifelius obferves, that the fiftrum is found represented on feveral medals, and on talif.

mans.

SISY, or SISY SUR OURCO, a town of France, in the dep. of the Seine and Marne: 7 miles NE. of Meaux, and 131 E. of Damartin, feated on the Ourcq.

SISYGAMBIS. RATORY, 267.

See Macedon, § 16; and O

SISYMBRIUM, WATER CRESSES, in botany: a genus of plants belonging to the clafs of tetradgnamia, and to the order of filiquo a; and in the na tural fyftem ranged under the 39th order. Siliquofe. The filiqua, or pod, opens with valves fomewhat ftraight. The calyx and corolla are expanded. There are 29 fpecies, of which & are natives of Britain; viz.

1. SISYMBRIUM AMPHIBIUM, water radish. The ftem is firm, erect, and two or three feet high; the leaves are pinnatifid, and ferrated; the flowers are yellow, and in fpikes; the pods are fomewhat oval, and short. It grows in water.

2. SISYMBRIUM IR10, broad leaved rocket or hedge mustard; the ftem is smooth, and about 2 feet high; the leaves are broad, naked, pinnated, and halberd fhaped at the end; the flowers are yellow, and the pods erect. It grows on wafte ground.

3. SISYMBRIUM MONENSE, yellow rocket. The ftem is smooth, and about 6 or 8 inches high; the leaves are pinnatifid; the pinnæ remote, generally 7 pair; the flower is yellow; the petals entire; the calyx is clofed. It grows in the Ile of Man.

4. SISYMBRIUM MURALE, or wall rocket. The ftems are rough, and about eight inches high; the leaves grow on foot-ftalks, lance-shaped, imooth, finuated, and ferrated; the flowers are yellow; the pods a little compreffed, and flightly carinated. It grows on fandy ground in the North, Angifea, &c.

5. SISYMBRIUM NASTURIUM, common quater crefs, grows on the brinks of rivulets and water ditches. The leaves have from 6 to 8 pair of fmooth fucculent and feffile pinne; the flowers are small and white, and grow in fhort fpikes or tufts. The leaves have a moderately pungent tafte, emit a quick penetrating fmell, like that of muftard feed, but much weaker. Their pungent matter is taken up both by watery and fpiritous menftrua, and accompanies the aqueous juice, which iffues copioully upon expreflion. It is very volatile, fo as to arife in great part in diftillation with rectified firit, as well as with water, and almoft totally to exhale in drying the leaves, or infpiffating by the gentleft heat to the confiftence of an extract, either the expreffed juice, or the watery or fpiritous tinctures. Both the infpiffat ed juice, and the watery extract, difcover to the tafte a faline impregnation, and in keeping throw up cryftalline efflorefcences to the furface. diftilling confiderable quantities of the herb with water, a small proportion of a fubtile volatile very pungent oil is obtained. Water-creffes obtain a place in the Materia Medica for their antifcorbutic qualities, which have been long very generally acknowledged by phyficians. They are alfo fuppofed to purify the blood and humours, and to open vifceral obftructions. They are nearly allied to fcurvy grafs, but are more mild and pleasant, and for this reafon are frequently eaten as falad. In the pharmacopoeias the juice of this plant is directed with that of fcurvy-grafs and Seville oranges: and Dr Cullen has remarked, that the addition of acids renders the juices of the plante filiquofe more certainly effectual, by determining them more powerfully to an acefcent fermen

tation.

On

6. SISYMBRIUM SILVESTRE, water-rocket. The ftem is weak, branched, and above a foot high. The leaves are pinnated; the pinnæ lance-shaped, and ferrated; the flowers fimall, and yellow; and grow frequently in fhallow water.

7. SISYMBRIUM SOPHIA, FLIXWEFD. The ftem is firm, branched, and two or three feet high; the leaves are multifid; the fegments are narrow; the flowers are yellow; the petals much less than the calyx; the pods are long, ftiff, curved, withont ftyle, and erect; the feeds are minute, and yellow. It grows oo wails, wafte ground, &c.

8. SIS

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