Chapter XLVI: Part 46

The note of the turtle dove is singularly tender and plaintive; in addressing his mate the male makes use of a variety of winning attitudes, cooing at the same time in the most gentle and soothing accents; on which account the turtle dove has been represented in all ages as the most perfect emblem of connubial attachment and constancy. The turtle arrives late in the spring, and departs about the latter end of August; it frequents the thickest and most sheltered parts of the woods, where it builds its nest on the highest trees; the female lays two eggs, and has only one brood in this country, but in warmer climates it is supposed to breed several times in the year. Turtles are pretty common in Kent, where they are sometimes seen in flocks of twenty or more, frequenting the pea fields, and are said to do much damage. Their stay with us seldom exceeds more than four or five months, during which time they pair, build their nests, and rear their young, which are strong enough to join them in their retreat.—_Bewick._

TUSH or TUSK, _s._ The long tooth of a fighting animal, the fang,
the holding tooth.

TUSKED or TUSKY, _a._ Furnished with tusks.

TWINE, _s._ A twisted thread; twist, convolution; embrace; act of
convolving itself round.

TWINLING, _s._ A twin lamb, a lamb of two brought at a birth.

TWITCH, _v._ To pluck with a quick motion, to snatch.

The twitch is a very necessary instrument in a stable, though, when frequently and unnecessarily used, it may have the ill effect of rendering some horses violent and vicious to resist its future application. In many instances blindfolding will do more than the twitch; and some horses may be quieted, when the pain is not excessive, by holding the ear in one hand, and rubbing the point of it with the other. A firm but soothing manner will often engage the attention and prevent violence; but it is seldom that either threats or punishment render an unruly horse better. Inexperienced persons guard themselves against the hind feet only, but they should be aware that some horses strike as truly and as terribly with their fore feet: it is prudent therefore, in all operations, to blindfold the animal, and the more so, as by this he becomes particularly intimidated, nor will he often strike without an aim. Barnacles are a sort of clams used by smiths, into which they introduce the nose in the manner of a twitch. They are only admissible when a person is so situated as to be wholly without assistance.—_Blaine._

TWITTER, _v._ To make a sharp tremulous intermitted noise; to be
suddenly moved with any inclination.

TYMPANUM, _s._ A drum, a part of the ear.

TYRO, _s._ One yet not master of his art.

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VALERIAN, _s._ A plant, of which cats are immoderately fond.

VAPOUR, _s._ Anything exhalable, anything that mingles with the air;
wind; fume, steam; diseases caused by diseased nerves;
melancholy, spleen.

VARNISH, _s._ A matter laid upon wood, metal, or other bodies, to
make them shine.

As moisture is at all times destructive to wood, it is essential for the angler to guard all in his power against its influence on his rod; for, admitting that a shower of rain will not spoil it, yet if not protected by varnish, it may soon be deprived of its elasticity, which is the chief requisite of any, and more particularly of a fly-rod. Variety of methods are used in preparing varnish; the one here mentioned is said to be excellent.

_Varnish Recipe._—Half a pint of linseed oil, and a little India rubber scraped fine; put them over a slow fire, and stir them well together, until the rubber is dissolved, then boil and skim it, apply it warm, and do not use the rod until quite dry. The appearance upon the rod will be like a fine thin bark; it will preserve the rod from being worm-eaten, and from other injuries, and is very durable.

_Another._—Half an ounce of shell, and the same quantity of seedlac powdered fine in a mortar; put into separate phials, with half a pint of good spirits of wine in each, and placed in a sand heat to dissolve; during the process, shake the phials often; when each is dissolved, mix them together in a larger bottle, with half an ounce of gum benzoin; increase the heat, and the dregs will subside; then warm the wood, and with a camel’s hair brush apply that part of the varnish which is become fine; the third coat will remain on the surface, and securely protect the rod from injury.—_Old Receipts._

VARNISH, _v._ To cover with something shining.

VASCULAR, _a._ Consisting of vessels, full of vessels.

VAULT, _v._ To leap, to jump.

UDDER, _s._ The breast or dugs of a cow, or other large animals.

VEAL, _s._ The flesh of a calf killed for the table.

VEGETABLE, _s._ Anything that has growth without sensation, as
plants.

VEGETABLE, _a._ Belonging to a plant; having the nature of plants.

VEHICLE, _s._ That in which any thing is carried; that part of a
medicine which serves to make the principal ingredient potable;
that by means of which anything is conveyed.

VEIN, _s_. The veins are only a continuation of the extreme
capillary arteries reflected back again towards the heart, and
uniting their channels as they approach it.

VEINY, _a._ Full of veins; streaked, variegated.

VELOCITY, _s._ Speed, swiftness, quick motion.

VELVET, _s._ Silk, with a short fur or pile upon it.

VELVET DUCK, DOUBLE SCOTER, or GREAT BLACK DUCK, (_Anas Fusca_,
LINN.; _Le Grand Macreuse_, BUFF.) _s._

The velvet duck is larger than a mallard, weighing about three pounds two ounces, and measuring above twenty inches in length.

They spread themselves in small numbers along the shores of Western Europe, as far as France, where they sometimes appear in company with the large flocks of scoters, and are often caught in the fishermen’s nets with those birds; but they are seldom met with on the British shores.

* * * * *

The bill broad, with a black knob at the base; the rest of the bill is yellow; the nail red; the edges all round black; the plumage is black, inclining to brown on the belly; under each eye is a white mark passing backwards in a streak; across the middle of the wing is a band of white; legs red; claws black. The female is more inclining to brown, and the protuberance on the bill is wanting; forehead and cheeks under the eye, dull brownish; behind that a large oval spot of white; whole upper parts and neck dark brownish drab; tips of the plumage lighter; second ones white; wing quills deep brown; belly brownish-white; tail hoary-brown; the throat white, marked with dusky specks; legs and feet yellow.

This species much resembles the scoter, only that bird has no white feathers about it, and the colour of the bill is somewhat different. In the windpipe of this bird is a singular bony swelling, the size of a small walnut, situated about two-thirds of the length from the larynx; immediately under the larynx is another oblong bony cavity, of nearly an inch in length; at the divarication the parts become bony, but not greatly enlarged. This is peculiar to the male sex.—_Montagu._

VENATIC, _a._ Used in hunting. _obs._

VENATION, _s._ The act or practice of hunting, obs.

VENEER, _v._ To make a kind of marquetry, or inlaid work.

VENERY, _s._ The sport of hunting; the commerce of the sexes.

VENESECTION, _s._ Bloodletting, the act of opening a vein,
phlebotomy.

VENISON, _s._ Game, beast of chace, the flesh of deer.

VENOMOUS, _a._ Poisonous.

VENT, _s._ A small aperture; a hole; a spiracle; the aperture of a
bird or fish; act of opening; emission; discharge.

VENTER, _s._ Any cavity of the body; the abdomen.

VENT FEATHERS (_Crissum_, LINN.), _s._ In ornithology, are those
that lie from the vent, or anus, to the tail underneath.

VENTILATOR, _s._ An apparatus to supply close places with fresh air.

VENTRICLE, _s._ The stomach; any small cavity in an animal body,
particularly those of the heart.

VERDERER, _s._ An officer of the forest.

In every forest there are usually four verderers, so named from _viridis_ or _vert_. The verderer is a judicial officer of the forest, chosen by force of the king’s writ in full county, and sworn to maintain the laws of the forest, and to view, receive, and enrol the attachments and presentments of all trespasses within the forest of vert and venison.

VERDIGRIS, _s._ The rust of brass.

VERJUICE, _s._ Acid liquor expressed from crab apples.

VERMICULAR, _a._ Acting like a worm, continued from one part to
another.

VERMIFUGE, _s._ Any medicine that destroys or expels worms.

VERMILION, _s._ The cochineal, a grub of a particular plant;
factitious or native cinnabar, sulphur mixed with mercury; any
beautiful red colour.

VERMIN, _s._ Any noxious animal.

_To destroy vermin._—When dogs are afflicted with lice, the most effectual remedy is to rub the whole animal over with train-oil; allow it to remain on half an hour, and then wash it off with salt of tartar, or potashes and water. Soft soap made into a thick paste, and rubbed over the body, and allowed to remain on an hour before washing the dog, will effectually destroy them.

N.B.—The method of giving any bolus, pill, or other medicine to a dog, is to pull out his tongue, then put it down his throat as far as possible, and when the dog draws in his tongue, the medicine will descend into his stomach.

Sopping the skin with tobacco water has been recommended; but it has only a momentary effect, and it not unfrequently poisons the dog. Innumerable other means I have tried to drive away fleas, but the only tolerably certain one I have discovered, is to make dogs sleep on fresh yellow deal shavings. These shavings may be made so fine as to be as soft as a feather bed; and, if changed every week or fortnight, they make the most cleanly and wholesome one that a dog can rest on; and the turpentine in them is very obnoxious to the fleas. But, where it is absolutely impracticable to employ deal shavings, it will be found useful to rub or dredge the dog’s hide, once or twice a week, with very finely powdered resin: if simply rubbed in, add some bran.—_Brown_—_Blaine._

VERNAL, _a._ Belonging to the spring.

_Vernal Birds of Passage._—The earlier or later appearance of our spring birds may be found to arise from accidental vicissitudes of the season in those countries from whence they come; and, viewed in this light, the time of their arrival becomes an interesting phenomena to note down. Generally speaking, they arrive at the following times, on an average of many years:—

Wryneck Middle of March.
Smallest Willow Wren March 25.
House Swallow April 15.
Martin April 20.
Sand Martin April 20.
Blackcap April 17.
Nightingale April 10.
Cuckoo April 21.
Yellow Willow Wren April 20.
Whitethroat April 16.
Redstart April 16.
Night Plover or Stone Curlew March 27.
Grasshopper Lark April 15.
Swift May 9.
Lesser Red Sparrow April 30.
Corn Crake or Land Rail April 25.
Largest Willow Wren End of April.
Fern Owl May 20.
Flycatcher May 3.

Other birds, water wagtails for instance, who only make partial migrations, are more uncertain in their times of appearance.—_Foster._

VERT, _s._ Everything that grows and bears a green leaf within the
forest.

VERTEBRAL, _a._ Relating to the joints of the spine.

VERTEBRÆ, _s._ Joints of the back.

VERTIGO, _s._ A giddiness, a sense of turning in the head. According
to White fast trotters are particularly subject to this disease.

When a horse has been worked hard and fed high, and especially horses that excel in trotting, we often find, in the course of a few years, that they appear giddy at times, or when trotting suddenly stand still; ramble or reel a little, and shake their heads; but after a short time recover. Sometimes they reel and drop down, and lie motionless for some time; when they get up again, and recover in a short time. Sometimes after falling down, they are convulsed, and the eyes are distorted; from this state also they recover after a short time.—_White._

VESICATE, _v._ To blister.

VESICATORY, _s._ A blistering medicine.

VETERINARY, _a._ Belonging to cattle, particularly horses.

VIBRISSÆ (LINN.), _s._ In ornithology, are hairs that stand forward
like feelers: in some birds they are slender, as in flycatchers,
&c. and point both upwards and downwards, from both the upper
and under sides of the mouth. _Vibrissæ pectinatæ_ (LINN.), in
ornithology; these hairs are very stiff, and spread out on each
side like a comb from the upper sides of the mouth of the
nightjar.—_Montagu._

VICE, _s._ The course of action opposite to virtue; a fault, an
offence; a kind of small iron press with screws. _Vice_, in
horses, ill temper, savageness.

VINEGAR, _s._ Wine grown sour.

VINGT-UN, _s._ A game.

Vingt-un, or twenty-one, very much resembles quinze; but may be played by two or more persons, and as the deal is advantageous, and often continues long with the same person, it is usual to determine it at the commencement by the first ace turned up.

The cards must all be dealt out in succession, unless a natural vingt-un occurs, and in the mean time the pone, or youngest-hand, should collect those that have been played, and shuffle them ready for the dealer against the period when he shall have distributed the whole pack. The dealer is first to give two cards, by one at a time to each player, including himself, then to ask every person in rotation, beginning with the eldest hand on the left, whether he stands or chooses another card, which, if required, must be given from off the top of the pack, and afterwards another, or more, if desired, till the points of the additional card or cards, added to those dealt, exceed or make twenty-one exactly, or such a number less than twenty-one, as may be judged proper to stand upon; but when the points exceed twenty-one, then the cards of that individual player are to be thrown up directly, and the stake to be paid to the dealer, who is also in turn entitled to draw additional cards, and on taking a vingt-un is to receive double stakes from all who stand the game, such other players excepted who may likewise have twenty-one, between whom it is thereby a drawn game: when any person has vingt-un, and the dealer not, he who has it wins double stakes of the dealer; in other cases, except a natural vingt-un happens, the dealer pays single stakes to all whose numbers under twenty-one are higher than his own, and receives from those who have lower numbers; but nothing is paid or received by such players as have similar numbers to the dealer: and when the dealer draws more than twenty-one, he is to pay to all who have not thrown up.

Twenty-one, made by an ace and a ten, or court card, whenever dealt in the first instance, is styled a natural vingt-un, should be declared immediately, and entitles the possessor to the deal, besides double stakes, from all the players, unless there shall be more than one natural vingt-un, in which case the younger hand or hands so having the same, are excused from paying to the eldest, who takes the deal of course.

N.B. An ace may be reckoned either as eleven or one; every court-card is counted as ten, and the rest of the pack according to their pips.—_Hoyle._

VINTAGE, _s._ The produce of the vine for the year; the time in
which grapes are gathered.

VIPER, _s._ A serpent of that species which brings its young alive;
any thing mischievous.

When I wrote to you last year on reptiles, I wish I had not forgot to mention the faculty that snakes have of stinking _se defendendo_. I knew a gentleman who kept a tame snake, which was in its person as sweet as any animal while in good humour and unalarmed; but as soon as a stranger, or a dog or cat, came in, it fell to hissing, and filled the room with such nauseous effluvia as rendered it hardly supportable. Thus the squnck, or stonck, of Ray’s Synop. Quadr. is an innocuous and sweet animal; but, when pressed hard by dogs and men, it can eject such a most pestilent and fetid smell and excrement, that nothing can be more horrible.

* * * * *

On August the 4th, 1775, we surprised a large viper, which seemed very heavy and bloated, as it lay in the grass basking in the sun. When we came to cut it up, we found that the abdomen was crowded with young, fifteen in number; the shortest of which measured full seven inches, and were about the size of full grown earthworms. This little fry issued into the world with the true viper spirit about them, showing great alertness as soon as disengaged from the belly of the dam: they twisted and wriggled about, and set themselves up, and gaped very wide when touched with a stick, showing manifest tokens of menace and defiance, though as yet they had no manner of fangs that we could find, even with the help of our glasses.

To a thinking mind nothing is more wonderful than that early instinct which impresses young animals with the notion of the situation of their natural weapons, and of using them properly in their own defence, even before those weapons subsist or are formed. Thus a young cock will spar at his adversary before his spurs are grown: and a calf or lamb will push with its head before its horns are sprouted. In the same manner did these young adders attempt to bite before their fangs were in being. The dam, however, was furnished with very formidable ones, which we lifted up (for they fold down when not used) and cut them off with the point of our scissors.

There was little room to suppose that this brood had ever been in the open air before; and that they were taken in for refuge, at the mouth of the dam, when she perceived that danger was approaching; because then probably we should have found them somewhere in the neck, and not in the abdomen.—_White’s Selborne._

VIPEROUS, _a._ Having the qualities of a viper.

VISCERA, _s._ The bowels or entrails.

_Viscera of the horse._—The alimentary canal is continued from the expellent orifice of the stomach to the anus, or end of the passage; forming a long canal, whose varying dimensions have occasioned it to be divided into the small and large intestines. The length of the tract ranges between twenty-seven and thirty yards; of which proportions the small intestines occupy from twenty to twenty-two yards, and the large from seven to eight. It is not easy to give a determinate place to the intestines, either individually or generally; the large, however, may be said to occupy all the inferior portion of the abdomen throughout, and the small to range between and upon them; both occasionally shifting their position by the peristaltic motion. They are, however, prevented from an unnatural displacement, by membranous productions of the peritoneum, under the name of mesentery, mesocolon, and mesorectum. The first intestinal coat is derived from the peritoneum, which separates to receive the tube between its lamen; at once protecting it, and affording a medium for the transmission of its vessels and a lubricating surface. The second, or muscular coat, presents a longitudinal and a circular plan of fibres; by the contraction of which, the vermicular motion, called peristaltic, is performed, the longitudinal slightly shortening them, and the circular diminishing their diameter; the inner surface of this fabric being garnished with a quantity of dense cellular tissue, was formerly erroneously considered as another and a nervous coat. The inner tunic of the intestinal canal is villous, or mucous, and is very vascular and sensible, its villi presenting an increased surface for the mucous secretion, as well as more numerous chyliferous orifices, with which it is thickly studded; but it presents no valvulæ conniventes, as in the human, their place being supplied by the increased length of the tract.—_Blaine._

VISCOUS, _a._ Glutinous, sticky, tenacious.

VISION, _s._ Sight, the faculty of seeing; the act of seeing.

_Vision of Birds._—Ross, in his voyage to Baffin’s Bay, proved that a man under favourable circumstances could see over the surface of the ocean to the extent of one hundred and fifty English miles. It is not probable that any animal exceeds this power of vision, though birds, perhaps, excel men and most quadrupeds in sharpness of sight. Schmidt threw at a considerable distance from a thrush (_Turdus musicus_) a few small beetles, of a pale grey-colour, which the unassisted human eye could not discover, yet the thrush observed them immediately and devoured them. The bottle tit (_Parus caudatus_,) flits with great quickness among the branches of trees, and finds on the very smooth bark its particular food, where nothing is perceptible to the naked eye, though insects can be detected there by the microscope. A very tame red-breast (_Sylva rubecula_, LATHAM,) discovered crumbs from the height of the branch where it usually sat, at the distance of eighteen feet from the ground the instant they were thrown down, and this by bending its head to one side, and using of course only one eye. At the same distance a quail discovered, with one eye, some poppy-seeds, which are very small and inconspicuous.—_Montagu._

VITRIOL, _s._ Vitriol is produced by addition of a metallic matter
with the fossil acid salt.

VITRIOLIC, _a._ Resembling vitriol, containing vitriol.

VITRIOLATED ZINC, _s._ White vitriol.

VIVES, _s._ A disease in horses.

This disorder consists of a swelling of the parotid gland, situated immediately beneath the ear, and is commonly named the vives or ives. Fomentations of hot water should be first applied, that is, a large piece of thick woollen cloth should be wrung out of hot water, and kept in contact with the swelling. After continuing this operation for some time, the woollen cloth may be confined close to the part, by suitable bandages, until it is convenient to repeat the fomentation. Sometimes these swellings go on to suppuration, and burst; when this happens, the opening should be enlarged sufficiently to introduce the fore-finger, and when the extent of the cavity has been thus ascertained, any further opening, should it appear necessary, may be made. A tent of digestive ointment is then to be applied, and repeated daily until the disease is cured. Sometimes these swellings continue hard, and I have known them prevent a horse from feeding. In a case of this kind, which I met with last spring, I completely relieved the horse in a short time, by rubbing in the following ointment:—

Crystallised tartarised antimony,
very finely powdered. 2 drachms.
Olive oil. 1 drachm.
Hog’s lard. 1 ounce.
Mix.

The hair must be closely cut off from the swelling, and the ointment well rubbed in with the hand for about ten minutes. When horses have sore necks, and lose the jugular vein, which sometimes happens after bleeding, a hard swelling of the parotid gland takes place, which generally continues a considerable time. In such cases, the above ointment, after the disease in the neck has been cured, may be tried.—_White._

ULCER, _s._ A sore of continuance, not a new wound.

Ulceration is a process directly the reverse of granulation; for as that builds up, so ulceration directly breaks down parts, which become absorbed through the medium of the lymphatics; the surfaces thus acted on producing at the same time a purulent or other discharge. An abraded surface thus circumstanced is called an ulcer, for the cure of which we must endeavour to remedy the morbid action, by exciting a new and more healthy one; by which the part being then brought to the condition of a simple wound, will heal. When ulcers have continued for a long time, it is often necessary to employ constitutional remedies to establish a cure. In full habits we increase the other secretions, as those of the bowels, the kidneys, the skin, &c., by purgatives, diuretics, and such remedies as act on the skin. We also lessen the excess of morbid secretion of pus, by establishing a new and artificial drain in the neighbourhood, which is done by setons or by rowels. In some cases, instead of existing plethora the ulcer has occasioned, or is accompanied by great irritability of system, which must be combatted by opium, and other sedatives; or if debility become very apparent, tonics must be given, together with liberal diet. In general cases, stable soiling, a course of carrots, or other total change of food, assists the healing and restorative process greatly. Ulcers are often found of a greater extent internally than externally; and when such cavities extend in different directions, they form the sinuses of the surgeon and the pipes of the farrier: when the edges of the external opening are hardened, it is said to be fistulous. In general cases, the longer an ulcer has lasted, the more obstinately will the vessels have gained a diseased habit, and the more difficulty there will be to bring them back to a healthy state. The external means employed for this purpose are usually three; stimulating injections, seton, or incision; which operations it will not be necessary to enter upon here, as we shall proceed to describe the more common and important ulcers, with their treatment, separately. It remains, however, to state, that ulcers in general are apt to be treated by farriers erroneously, by plugging up the sinuses, by which the matter formed penetrates farther, bringing into its own action all the neighbouring parts. They likewise dress them so seldom, that the pus frequently takes on a process of decomposition, and becomes acrid; and, lastly, they neglect to gain a depending orifice for these collections.—_Blaine._

ULCERATE, _v._ To disease with sores.

ULCERATION, _s._ The act of breaking into ulcers; ulcer, sore.

UMBLA, or OMBRE CHEVALIER, _s._ A fish.

The umbla or ombre chevalier, is very like a char in form, but is without spots, and has a white and silvery belly. On the table, its flesh cuts white or cream-colour, and it is exceedingly like char in flavour. On February 11th, 1827, one was brought me from the lake of Bourget, in Savoy; it was said to be small for this fish, it was fifteen inches long, and seven and a half in circumference. In the dorsal fin there were twelve spines, in the pectoral nine, in the ventral eight, in the anal eleven, and in the caudal twenty-four.

Bloch says, that it is peculiar to the lakes of Geneva and Neufchatel; but what I have just said must convince you of the inaccuracy of this statement, as I dare say the fish exists in other deep waters of a like character amongst the Alps. It is a fish closely allied to the char, and congenerous both in form and habits.—_Sir H. Davy._

UMBLES, _s._ A deer’s entrails.

UNDER TAIL COVERTS, _s._ Those feathers immediately covering the
base of the tail beneath.

UNDER WING COVERTS, _s._ Those feathers covering the wing
underneath.

UNEARTHED, _a._ Driven from the ground. To unearth a fox, is to
force him from his den.

UNFLEDGED, _a._ That has not yet the full furniture of feathers,
young.

UNFLESHED, _a._ Not fleshed, not seasoned to blood.

UPPER TAIL COVERTS, _s._ Those feathers immediately covering the
base of the tail feathers.

VOLANT, _a._ Flying, passing through the air; active.

VOLE, _s._ A deal at cards that draws the whole tricks.

VOLERY, _s._ A flight of birds.

VOLLEY, _s._ A flight of shot; an emission of many at once.

VOLT, _s._ A round or a circular tread; a gait of two treads made by
a horse going sideways round a centre.

VOMICA, _s._ An encysted humour in the lungs.

VOMIT, _v._ To cast up the contents of the stomach.

VOMIT, _s._ The matter thrown up from the stomach; an emetic
medicine.

VOMITORY, _a._ Procuring vomits, emetic.

VORACIOUS, _a._ Greedy to eat, ravenous.

VORACITY, _s._ Greediness, ravenousness.

URETHRA, _s._ The passage of the urine.

URINARY, _a._ Relating to the urine.

URINE, _s._ Animal water.

Inflammation of the kidneys is generally caused by riding or driving a horse immoderately, by straining the loins, in making him draw heavy loads or carry heavy burthens; or they may become inflamed in consequence of peritonæal inflammation of the bowels. In either case breed freely, or to faintness; cover the loins with a fresh sheep skin, the flesh side under, having first rubbed on them some warm embrocation, such as hartshorn and oil, with a little oil of turpentine, or the following embrocation. Open the bowels with a dose of castor oil and clysters of warm water, with a small quantity of salt and oil, or hog’s lard. I should first have noticed, however, the symptoms of the disorder, which are, a constant desire to make water, without being able to void any, or scarcely any: and the little that is discharged is dark coloured or bloody. There is great stiffness of the hind parts, generally more observable in one leg than the other. The horse often stands straddling or wide, as if in want to make water, and every now and then straining, or making painful and ineffectual efforts to stale. This appearance often leads the groom to think that it is a stoppage of water, and that a diuretic is necessary; but the fact is, that the dark-coloured or bloody urine is so stimulating or acrimonious that the bladder contracts violently in order to force out the smallest quantity that gets into it.

The disorder I have now been describing may happen in various degrees, but still the treatment is the same. It sometimes happens, however, that the urine becomes foul and stimulating from high feeding, or foul and unwholesome feeding. In this case the bladder will contract upon a small quantity of urine, and the urine may be rather high coloured, like beer, or turbid, like whey, and the horse may appear to strain a little in voiding it; but this is very different from those distressing symptoms which attend inflammation of the kidneys, nor is it accompanied with loss of appetite, or any degree of fever, which is always present in inflammation of the kidneys. When the urine becomes thus stimulating, some cold mashes, with a little nitre, may be given, or what is still better, perhaps, some grass, vetches, or lucern. If the horse is at all costive, a clyster should be thrown up. An infusion of linseed is a good drink for a horse when the urine is in this state.

The improper manner in which horses are generally fed, the early age at which they are worked, and the immoderate degree in which they are often worked, are circumstances which either separately or conjointly tend to weaken the stomach, and disturb the digestive functions; in consequence of this the blood becomes foul, or loaded with excrementitious matter, the greatest part of which, in the horse, is carried off by the kidneys. This renders the urine more acrimonious than it would otherwise be, and causes the bladder to contract upon a smaller quantity. We may often observe, also, how the urinary passages are stimulated by such urine, making mares appear as if they were horsing, and causing an erection in geldings. As the horse is often staling in this case, and voiding but a small quantity, and appearing as if he was endeavouring to void more, it is often mistaken for a stoppage in the water, as it is termed, and diuretics are generally given, which, if not too strong, may be of service. But the best plan is to keep the horse on bran mashes chiefly for a few days, and give twice a day, for two or three days, the following powder:—

Nitre 3 or 4 dr.
Carbonate of soda 1 dr. or chalk 2 dr.
Mix for one dose.

Or, No. 2, Nitre, powdered resin, chalk, and levigated antimony, of each two drachms.—Mix for one dose.

If these powders appear to disagree with the stomach they should be discontinued: in such cases the cordial diuretic is more likely to do good, such as has been prescribed for asthmatic affection or broken wind.

Retention of urine, strangury, or stoppage of water, may be caused by inflammation and swelling of the neck of the bladder; and this may be brought on by a peculiar acrimony in the urine, such as that produced by cantharides when taken as medicine. The different species of pepper, or grains of paradise, may produce some effect of this kind. The neck of the bladder may be pressed down upon the pubis by an accumulation of dung in the rectum, so as to stop the passage completely. A clyster is always proper on these occasions, for if an accumulation of dung be the cause, it will be speedily removed. But there will be some difficulty in giving the clyster, unless some of the hard dung is first taken out with the hand. The neck of the bladder may be so affected with spasm as to confine the urine. This may be the cause of the stoppage of water that happens in flatulent colic, but I rather think it depends entirely upon an accumulation of dung in the bowels, therefore I always prescribe a clyster in colic, of whatever kind it may be.—_Blaine._

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WADDING, _s._ That substance which secures the powder and shot in
loading a gun.

_Wadding._—Paper not being stiff enough, hat dirty, card too thin, and leather apt to soften with the heat of the barrel, the common, and perhaps the best punched wadding is pasteboard. The larger the bore, the thicker should be the wadding, which may be got to any size, among the discarded cuttings of a book-binder.

Nothing is better to punch your wadding on than a round block, sawed out of some close grained kind of wood; such as beech, chestnut, lime, sycamore, &c. Lead is improper, as it wears out the punch.

Be careful not to let your wadding get damp, or in drying it may shrink so much as to become too small for the calibre of your gun.

* * * * *

In countries where orchards abound, a very fine moss, of greenish grey colour, is found adhering to the apple-trees, which is extremely proper for wadding, and which even possesses the extraordinary quality of making the barrel less greasy and foul than paper, which always contains a certain quantity of oil.—_Hawker_—_Essay on Shooting._

WADE, _v._ To walk through the waters, to pass waters without
swimming.

WADERS, _s._ A class of waterfowls.

WAGER, _s._ A bet, anything pledged upon a chance or performance.

WAGER, _v._ To lay, to pledge as a bet.

WAGTAIL, _s._ A bird.

The species of this kind are few, and these are chiefly confined to the continent of Europe, where the individuals are numerous.

They are easily distinguished by their brisk and lively motions, as well as by the great length of their tails, which they jerk up and down incessantly, from which circumstance they derive their name. They do not hop but run along the ground very nimbly after flies and other insects, on which they feed: they likewise feed on small worms, in search of which they are frequently seen to flutter round the husbandman whilst at his plough, and follow the flocks in search of the flies which generally surround them. They frequent the sides of pools, and pick up the insects which swarm on the surface. They seldom perch; their flight is weak and undulating, during which they make a twittering noise.

In almost all languages the name of this bird is descriptive of its peculiar habits. In Latin, motacilla; in French, motteux, la lavandière, or washer; in England, they are sometimes called washers, from their peculiar motion; in German, brook-stilts; in Italian, shake-tail, &c. &c.—_Bewick._

WAIN, _s._ A carriage.

WALK, _s._ Act of walking for air or exercise; gait, step, manner of
moving; a length of space, or circuit through which one walks; a
fish: _Walk_ is the slowest or least raised pace, or going of a
horse.

WALL-EYED, _a._ Having white eyes.

WALNUT, _s._ The name of a tree; the fruit and wood of the tree.

WANDER, _v._ To rove, to ramble here and there, to go without any
certain course; to deviate, to go astray.

WANDERER, _s._ Rover, rambler.

WARBLE, _v._ To quaver any sound; to cause to quaver; to utter
musically.

WARBLER, _s._ A singer, a songster.

This very numerous class is composed of a great variety of kinds, differing in size from the nightingale to the wren, and not a little in their habits and manners.

They are widely dispersed over most parts of the known world; some of them remain with us during the whole year; others are migratory, and visit us annually in great numbers, forming a very considerable portion of those numerous tribes of singing birds, with which this island so plentifully abounds. Some of them are distinguished by their flying, which they perform by jerks, and in an undulating manner; others by the whirring motion of their wings. The head in general is small; the bill is weak and slender, and beset with bristles at the base; the nostrils are small and somewhat depressed; and the outer toe is joined to the middle one by a small membrane.—_Bewick._

WARDEN, _s._ A forest officer. The chief warden of the forest is a
great officer, next to the justices of the forest, to bail and
discharge offenders, but he is no judicial officer.

WARN, _v._ To caution against any fault or danger; to give previous
notice; to admonish to any duty to be performed; to warn off
trespassers from a manor.

WARP, _v._ To contract, to shrivel; to turn aside from the true
direction.

WARREN, _s._ A kind of park for rabbits.

WARRENER, _s._ The keeper of a warren.

WART, _s._ A corneous excrescence, a small protuberance on the
flesh.

WARTY, _a._ Grown over with warts.

WASH, _s._ Alluvion, anything collected by water; a bog, a marsh, a
fen, a quagmire; a medical or cosmetic lotion; a superficial
stain or colour.

WASP, _s._ A brisk stinging insect, in form resembling a bee. _Vide_
ADDER.

Abundance of wasps are said to denote a good fruit year. We have remarked also the converse of this, for in the present season, 1824, perhaps the worst for apples and stone fruit that we remember, there is scarcely a wasp to be seen. In general towards the close of summer they are very numerous, particularly in the month of September. In 1821 they were prodigiously plentiful, and in 1822 there were a great many of them, while 1824 scarcely presented a solitary wasp, even where they usually abound.—_Foster._

WATER, _s._ One of the four elements; the sea; urine; _to hold
water_, to be sound, to be tight; it is used for the lustre of a
diamond.

Water varies considerably in its qualities and temperature. In deep wells it rarely changes from 40° of Fahrenheit, while in exposed streams and lakes, there may be a variation of from 12 to 16 degrees. Much, consequently, depends upon the watering of horses, in quality, quantity, and temperature. Horses, if they be not violently exercised, cannot be too frequently watered.

* * * * *

_Water Birdlime._—Procure the strongest and best of birdlime possible, and wash it in clear spring water till you perceive the hardness is completely removed, and the lime has become very pliable: then squeeze or beat out the water remarkably well, till you cannot observe a single drop; dry it well: after this, put it into an earthen pot, and mix with it the fat of fowls, unsalted, as much as will make it run; then add two table spoonfuls of strong vinegar, a table spoonful of the best salad oil, and a small quantity of Venice turpentine. This is the quantity of ingredients which must be added to every pound of strong birdlime. Having thus mixed them, boil them all gently together over a small fire, stirring the whole continually till the mixture is complete, when it may be taken from the fire and suffered to cool. When at any time you have occasion to use it, warm it and then anoint your twigs or straws, or any other small things, and water will not take away the strength of it. This sort of birdlime is well calculated for snipes, &c.—_Gamekeeper’s Directory._

WATER, _v._ To irrigate, to supply with moisture; to supply with
water for drink.

WATER CRAKE, SPOTTED RAIL, LESSER SPOTTED WATER RAIL, SKITTY, or
SPOTTED GALLINULE, (_Rallus porcana_, LINN.; _La Marouette_,
BUFF.) _s._

This bird weighs about four ounces, and measures nearly nine inches in length, and about fifteen in breadth. The bill is of a greenish-yellow, and not more than three quarters of an inch long. The top of the head, to the nape, is dusky, and slightly streaked with rusty-brown; a brown and white mottled stripe passes from the bill over and behind the eyes; the cheeks and throat are of a freckled dull grey. The neck and breast are olive, marked with small white spots; the sides dusky and olive, crossed with bars of white, and the under parts are a mixture of cinereous, dirty and white yellow. The colour of the plumage of all the upper parts is dusky and olive-brown, spotted, edged, barred or streaked with white; the spots on the wing-coverts are surrounded with black, which gives them a studded or pearly appearance; and the white bars and streaks on the scapulars and tertials form a beautiful contrast to the black ground of the feathers on these parts. The legs are of a yellowish-green. The water-crake in its figure and general appearance, though much less, is extremely like the corn-crake or land-rail; but its manners and habits are very different. Its common abode is in low, swampy grounds, in which are pools or streamlets, overgrown with willows, reeds, and rushes, where it lurks and hides itself with great circumspection; it is wild, solitary, and shy, and will swim, dive, or skulk under any cover; and sometimes it is said, will suffer itself to be knocked on the head, rather than rise before the sportsman and his dog. This species is very scarce in Great Britain, and from its extreme vigilance it is rarely to be seen. It is supposed to be migratory here, as well as in France and Italy, where it is found early in the spring; it is also met with in other parts of Europe, but no where in great numbers. The conformation of its nest is curious; it is made of rushes and other light, buoyant materials, woven and matted together, so as to float on, and to rise or fall with the ebbing or flowing of the water, like a boat; and to prevent its being swept away by floods, it is moored or fastened to the pendent stalk of one of the reeds, by which it is screened from the sight, and sheltered from the weather. The female lays from six to eight eggs. The young brood do not long require the fostering care of the mother, but as soon as they are hatched, the whole of the little black shapeless family scramble away from her, take to the water, separate from each other, and shift for themselves. The flesh is said to have a fine and delicate flavour, and is esteemed by epicures a delicious morsel.—_Bewick._

WATERCRESSES, _s._ A plant. There are five species.

WATER CRICKET or CREEPER, _s._ A cricket used as bait for fish.

It is an error to suppose this the same as the cad bait, for though generally found by the water side, the latter is always in some kind of husk, the creeper never, nor has ever wings, and cannot therefore be the stone-fly; it may be kept in the same way as the cadis.

They may be kept in a large horn, like that for powder, with gravel at the bottom, and some holes at the sides to admit air: the mouth of the horn should be wide enough to receive a quart bottle cork, and should be placed in water with the creepers, when not using them.—_Daniel._

WATER DOG, _s._ A rough and web-footed spaniel.

_The Great Rough Water Dog._ (_Canis Aquaticus_, LINN.)—The great rough water dog has long curly hair, is web-footed, swims with great ease, and is extremely useful in the sport of shooting aquatic birds. He has many of the qualities of the land spaniel.

This dog has a great liking to fetching and carrying, and such is his exquisite sense of smell, that he will find a particular stone thrown by his master to the bottom of a river: he dives with astonishing dexterity. He is particularly valuable on board of ships, as he leaps from the side of a vessel after any article which has fallen overboard, and is very useful for recovering birds that have been shot from the deck of the ship. Above all, he is lively, playful, good-tempered, and much attached to his master.

_Large Water Spaniel._ (_Canis Inquisitor._)—The large water spaniel is about the size of an ordinary setter, but much stronger in the bone and shorter in the legs. His head is long, his muzzle moderately acute, and his face is quite smooth, as well as the front of all his legs; his ears are long, which, together with his whole body, is covered with deep hair, consisting of firm, small, and distinctly crisped curls, not unlike those of a wig, his tail is rather short, and clothed with curled hair. His hair is very differently curled from the great water dog and poodle, as that of the two latter consists of long and pendulous curls. His general colour is a dark liver-brown, with white legs, neck, and belly; and is sometimes, though rarely to be met with, all black, or with a black body and white neck and legs.

His smell is extremely acute, and he has in some instances been taught to set, but this is rather a difficult task, from his naturally lively disposition. He takes the water with great eagerness, on which account he is a valuable dog in shooting wild fowl; he watches with much keenness and anxiety the motions of his master, and as soon as the bird is killed he instantly plunges into the water, fetches it out, and lays it at the feet of his master. He is very quick at finding the haunts of wild fowl; he is also easily taught to fetch and carry articles, and will seek things which have been lost, on which account he has received in England the appellation of the finder.

The great water spaniel has sometimes been employed in otter hunting, but it is seldom he has the pluck to combat with so keen an adversary. He is an animal naturally distinguished for mildness and docility, qualities which are pourtrayed in his countenance, and is remarkable for his attachment to his master.

The native country of this dog is Spain; but we conceive that the variety we possess, which is a very distinct one, is not the pure breed as originally imported into this country, but that it is the produce of the large water dog and the English setter, as it appears to be intermediate between these, not only in figure, but also in their united qualities.

_The Small Water Spaniel, or Poodle._ (_Canis Aquaticus minor._)—This variety is presumed to be the offspring of the large water dog and the small cocker; it has all the appearance of the former, not only in shape, but also in the thick curled silky hairs. It is a most lively active dog, with an acute sense of smell, and is very susceptible of instruction of almost every kind. Its general colour is white, although individuals are sometimes found with black patches over various parts of their bodies. The poodle is very fond of diving, and can find at the bottom of a river or pond any particular stone thrown in by his master.

In France this dog is a great favourite, and is taught many curious tricks. He is an excellent companion in shooting of wild fowl, which, when killed in the water, he very soon recovers.

Some dogs are more easily instructed than others, though all are sufficiently docile. The poodle breed is the most extraordinary for aptitude in this particular; many have been made so useful as to perform the common offices of a servant, such as to go on ordinary errands, shut and open doors, ring bells, &c. and their knack at mimicry is extreme.

* * * * *

I have tried poodles, but always found them inferior in strength, scent, and courage. They are also very apt to be sea-sick. The Portland dogs are superior to them.

A water-dog should not be allowed to jump out of a boat, unless ordered so to do, as it is not always required, and therefore needless that he should wet himself and every thing about him without necessity.

For a punt or canoe, always make choice of the smallest Newfoundland dog that you can procure; as the smaller he is the less water he brings into your boat after being sent out; the less cumbersome he is when afloat; and the quicker he can pursue crippled birds upon the mud. A bitch is always to be preferred to a dog in frosty weather, from being, by nature, less obstructed in landing on the ice.

If, on the other hand, you want a Newfoundland dog only as a retriever for covert shooting, then the case becomes different; as here you require a strong animal, that will easily trot through the young wood and high grass with a large hare or pheasant in his mouth.—_Brown_—_Hawker._

WATER FOWL, _s._ Fowl that live or get their food in water.

WATER HEN, COMMON GALLINULE, or MOORHEN, (_Fulica chloropus_, LINN.;
_La Poule d’Eau_, BUFF.) _s._

The weight of this bird varies from ten and a half to fifteen ounces; the length from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail is about fourteen inches, the breadth twenty-two; the bill is rather more than an inch long, of a greenish yellow at the tip, and reddish towards the base, whence a singular kind of horny or membranous substance shields the forehead as far as the eyes; this appendage to the bill is as red as sealing-wax in the breeding season; at other times it varies or fades into a white colour. The head is small and black, except a white spot under each eye, the irides which are red; all the upper part of the plumage is of a dark shining olive green, inclining to brown; the under parts are of a dark hoary lead colour; vent feathers black; those on the belly and thighs tipped with dirty white; long loose feathers on the sides, which hang over the upper part of the thighs, are black, streaked with white; the ridge of the wing, outside feathers of the tail, and those underneath, are white; the upper bare part of the thighs is red; from the knees to the toes, the colours are different shades, from pale yellow to deep green; the toes are very long, the middle one measuring to the end of the nail, nearly three inches; their undersides are broad, being furnished with membranous edgings their whole length on each side, which enable the bird to swim, and easily run over the surface of the slimy mud by the sides of the waters where it frequents.

The female makes her nest of a large quantity of withered reeds and rushes, closely interwoven, and is particularly careful to have it placed in a most retired spot, close by the brink of the waters, and it is said, she never quits it without covering her eggs with the leaves of the surrounding herbage. Pennant and Latham say, she builds her nest upon some low stump of a tree, or shrub, by the water side; no doubt she may sometimes vary the place of her nest, according as particular circumstances may command, but she generally prefers the other mode of building it. She lays six or seven eggs at a time, and commonly has two hatchings in a season. The eggs are nearly two inches in length, and are irregularly and thinly marked with rust-coloured spots on a yellowish white ground. The young brood remain but a short time in the nest, under the nurturing care of the mother, but as soon as they are able to crawl out they take to the water, and shift for themselves.

Although the water-hen is nowhere very numerous, yet one species or other of them is met with in almost every country in the known world. It is not yet ascertained whether they ever migrate from this to other countries, but it is well known that they make partial flittings from one district to another, and are found in the cold mountainous tracts in summer, and in lower and warmer situations in winter.

On examination of several specimens of this bird, in full feather, they were found, like most birds of plain plumage, very little different from each other.—_Bewick._