TACHASH (eintl), a word of uncertain mean ing, but which is generally believed to be the name of an animal the skins of which were used to cover the tabernacle (Exod. xxv. 5 ; xxvi. 14 ; Num. iv.. 6, 8, etc.), and shoes or sandals made of which were worn by women (Ezek. xvi. to). The ancient versions understand it of a colour (LXX. I'm:dye:7m ; Aq. and Symm. icipOwa ; Chal. and Syr. NYinD, saegona, red ; Arab. Yult2d oleirish, a black skzn). Bochart follows this view, giving hysginus, dark red, as the rendering (Hieroz. 30). But this view hardly any in more recent times have adopted ; the common opinion being that the Tachash was an animal. It is not agreed, however, what animal was thus designated. According to the Talmud it was an animal resembling the marten ; according to Rashi it was the badger, the seal, or the a'olphin. Luther and the A. V. follow Rashi in making it the badger, and this Gesenius defends. It seems, however, a fatal objection to this that the badger is not found in Asia so far south as Palestine or Arabia, and therefore could not be familiar to the Israelites so as to supply them with coverings for the tabernacle. It is doubtful also whether the skin of an unclean animal would have been em ployed to cover the dwelling of Jehovah. The latter objection applies also to the seal, though in other respects there is much in favour of the opinion that this was the tachash. From the fact that the Arabs call a species of dolphin tuhas, an argument may be drawn in favour of Rashi's last suggestion ; but it may be doubted whether the skin of the dolphin could be conveniently used to cover a tent. We think there is rnuch probability in the sugges tion thrown out by Colonel Hamilton Smith in the former edition of this work, that as animals of the antelope tribe, and bearing the names of pacasse, tacasse, and tachmitze, abound in eastern Africa, it may be one of them which was known as the tachash to the Hebrews.—W. L. A.
TAcumAs (onnn, Lev. xi. 16 ; Dent. xiv.
15) is mentioned as one of the unclean birds in the Pentateuch, but so little characterised that no de- I cided opinion can be expressed as to what species I is really intended. In the A. V. it is translated cnvi, but we rather incline to identify the Tachmas with the night-hawk of Europe (Caprimulgus Euro pans), which, or a species very nearly allied to it, is an inhabitant of Syna, and belongs to a genus closely connected with superstitions in all countries. The night-hawk is a migratory bird, inferior in size to a thrush, and has very weak talons and bill ; but the gape or mouth is wide ; it makes now and then a plaintive cry, and preys on the wing ; it flies with the velocity and action of a swallow, the two genera being nearly allied. Like those of most night birds, the eyes are large and remarkable, and the plumage a mixture of colours and dots, with a prevailing gray effect ; it is finely webbed, and entirely noiseless in its passage through the air. Thus the bright eyes, wide mouth, sudden and inaudible flight in the dusk, are the original causes of the superstitious fear these birds have excited ; and as there are in southern climates other species of this genus, much larger in size, with peculiarly contrasted colours, strangely dis posed feathers on the head, or paddle-shaped single plumes, one at each shoulder, projecting in the form of two additional wings, and with plaintive loud voices often littered in the night, all the species contribute to the general awe they have inspired in every country and in all ages.—C. H. S.