or TESSIN, one of the cantons of Switzerland, in the extreme south of that country, on the Italian side of the Alps, bounded on the N.W. by the canton of Valais, N. by those of Uri and Grisons, E. by that of Grisons, S.E. and S. by Lombardy, and W. by Piedmont. Its form is that of an irregular triangle, with its apex towards the south; its length from N. to S. is 39 miles, its mean breadth 29, and its area 1033 square miles. The greater part of the canton is mountainous, and is divided into many valleys by several offsets from the central chain of the Leponine and Rhaetian Alps. The largest of these valleys are the Val Levantina, in the centre; the Val Maggia, the upper part of which is called the Val Lavizzara, to the west; and the Val Blegno to the east; all extending in a nearly parallel direction from north to south. The Ticino, the principal river of the canton, rises in Mount St Gothard, flows down the Val Levantina, and enters Lake Maggiore at its northern extremity. Leaving this lake near Sesto in Italy, the river flows on in a southerly direction, forming the boundary between Lombardy and Piedmont, and, after a course of about 100 miles, enters the Po at Pavia. The Maggia, the next in size of the rivers of the canton, flows down the Val Maggia, and enters Lake Maggiore, near Locarno. This lake does not so properly belong to Switzerland as to Italy; for only a small portion at its very head is included within the limits of the canton. The Lake of Lugano, on the contrary, belongs chiefly to Ticino; its shape is very irregular, its length 20 miles, and its breadth little more than one. It discharges its waters, by means of the river Tresa, into Lake Maggiore; and it receives several small streams, which are separated from the other rivers of the canton by a chain of hills called Monte Ceneve, running from north-east to south-west, and terminating in the shore of Lake Maggiore. These hills divide the country into two unequal parts, differing widely in their climate and physical characteristics; the northern and larger portion being rugged and mountainous, while the southern is lower, and has more of an Italian than of a Swiss character. In the extreme north of the canton there are some of the loftiest summits in Switzerland; such as the Splügen, St Bernardin, and St Gothard; and from these hills many large glaciers descend. The rugged surface and inclement climate of the north of the canton render it unsuitable for agriculture; and the inhabitants are obliged to depend chiefly upon the rearing of cattle for their subsistence; while even the Alpine pastures here are not so large and good as on the northern slopes of the Alps. The south of the canton, however, has a very different character. Here the climate is mild; the hills are covered with forests of chestnuts, the lower slopes with vines and olives, and the plains with corn-fields and orchards, where grow figs, oranges, pomegranates, and peaches. Few minerals are found in Ticino in any considerable quantities; in some parts iron is wrought, and coal to a small extent; but marble is the most valuable mineral production of the canton, and is found in great abundance and of various kinds. The other productions are very varied. Cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, are numerous; horses and mules few. Many kinds of game abound in the forests, and chamois on the mountains; and the rivers and lakes contain abundance of fish. Cattle, cheese, wine, fruit, hides, hay, and marble are the chief articles exported; and corn is imported from Lombardy. The manufactures are few and of little importance, consisting of coarse cloth, leather, platted straw, and tobacco. Many of the natives of Ticino, unable to find work at home, emigrate to the neighbouring countries. The people are of Italian origin, and, with few exceptions, Roman Catholics. The language spoken is a dialect of the Italian. The government is republican; and the right of suffrage is vested in all natives who are above twenty-five, and possess property to the value of L8. These elect every four years a grand council of 114 members, which appoints the executive council of 9, and the judges in the various courts. There is a supreme court for the canton, and inferior tribunals for each district. The grand council sits by rotation at Lugano, Locarno, and Bellinzona, which are the chief towns. The canton is represented by 2 members in the council of states, and by 6 in the national council of Switzerland. It is the 18th in rank of the states of the confederation, to which it was not admitted till 1815, having been previously a territory subject to the other cantons. Pop. (1850) 117,759.