\TIT-. 



BASSIA. 



uxl others amygdaloidal, the** characters are sufficient to authorise a 

 ooncliiidon that the whole mas* baa not been produced at one upliurnt 

 of Basalt, but that there were wreral flows of melted matter to which 

 different conditions gave different characters ; the amygdaloidal struc- 

 ture particularly pointing to the absence of very considerable pressure 

 upon the Ilaxalt *o characterised, before it became solid, 

 crietv of Jasper. [JABPEB.] 

 i hydro-fluoride of Cerium. [CEHirM.] 



BASIL. .I'M AMIXTHA.) 



BA'Sll.ISK (lintilucui, Daudin), a genus of Saurian Reptile*, 

 belonging to the Iguanian Family. It ia to be observed that the 

 Basilisk of modem Krpetology is a very different animal from the 

 Basilisk (0o<r<Ai<r*os) or Royal Serpent of antiquity, the Tupha or 

 TripkoHi of the Hebrews, which is translated Codcatrict in our English 

 version of the Scriptures, and which was formerly the subject of so 

 many fabulous narrations. [COCKATRICE.] 



The Basilisks are distinguished from other genera of the Iguanian 

 Reptiles by the absence of the hue aud dilatable vkin under tin 

 throat, by the want of thigh pores, and still more particularly by the 

 elevated crest or tin which, like the dorsals of some fishes, runs along 

 the whole length of the back and tail, and is supported by the Bpiuous 

 processes of the dorsal and caudal vertebra. To the occiput is 

 attached a membranous bag, which the Basilisk has the power of 

 distending with air, or emptying, as its occasions require, and which 

 appears to supply in this genus the absence of the dilatable skin on 

 the throat, with which nature has furnished the guanas, either as a 

 reservoir to contain a quantity of fresh air to supply their tic. 

 while diving, or by enlarging their magnitude without adding to their 

 weight, to assist them in the actions of swimming and in keeping the 

 head above water, or perhaps for both these purposes. In the parti- 

 cular case of the Basilisks, their aquatic habits are still more power- 

 fully increased by the vertical fin of the back, which, like that on 

 the tail, is capable of being erected or depressed at the will of the 

 animal, mid consequently, whilst it does not impede its motions on 

 tin dry land, greatly facilitates its power of swimming and moving 

 about iu the water. In short, these animals may be said to carry 

 about with them a portable swimming apparatus, which is of the 

 utmost service to them as aquatic animals, without encumbering 

 them at other times, a beautiful provision of nature to supply the 

 deficiency of palmated or webbed feet, which, as in the case of all other 

 palmated animals, would have reduced the progression of the basilisks 

 on land to a slow and awkward gait, and rendered it altogether 

 impossible for them to ascend trees or move securely among their 

 branches. Yet their whole organic structure, the length of their 

 limbs, aud the division and flexibility of their toes, all announce the 

 rapidity of movement and arboreal habits of these animals, in which 

 are united, by the most simple means, functions and habits the most 

 directly opposed to one another. The genus Opkryema of authors 

 exhibits much of the same structure, though perhaps not quite HO 

 strongly developed, nor is it easy to conceive any just grounds for 

 separating these animals from the Basilisks. Two species only are 

 usually referred to this genus. 



1. B. milrattu (Daudin), the Hooded Basilisk, measures 7 or 8 inches 

 from the nose to the origin of the toil, which is itself nearly twice as 



Hooded BullUk (D. milratui). 



ong again, being 19 or 20 inches in length. This animal is easily 

 recognised by the generic characters already dem-rilied. ami more 

 especially by the bag or hood of the occiput, which may be said to 

 be in a manner peculiar to it, since it is but slightly indicated in the 

 other species; thin bag, when distended with air, is about the size of 

 a pullet's egg. The general colour is a mixture ( vinous and sandy 

 brown, slightly marbled on the back and sides with different shades of 

 blue, and silvery-white on the belly. Transverse bands of a deep- 

 brown colour, but broken and irregular, pass down the sides from the 

 dorsal fin to the flanks ; two small whitish bands pass over the eyes 

 and from the corners of the mouth, nnd are prolonged upon tl 

 of the neck ; and the tail is so remarkably attenuated towards the 

 extremity, as to show the articulations of the vertebra beneath. This 

 species inhabits Guyana and the tropical parts of South America 

 generally. It* habiU have been sufficiently noticed in speaking of the 

 general characters of the genus. 



2. B. AmboiHHui, (I>ati'lin), the Crested Basilisk, a large species, 

 upwards of S feet in length, is of a green colour, marked with white 

 lines on the head and neck, brown on the back and t.dl. and - 

 lute on the belly, irregularly dotted with numerous white points. 

 This species, as its scientific name imports, is an inhabitant . f 

 Aini-iyiia and the islands of the Indian Archi|>elago generally. It 

 keeps in the vicinity of rivers and fresh-water ponds, where it loves to 

 bask on the branches of the trees which overhang the stream. On 

 the first appearance of danger it drops into the water, and conceals 

 itself beneath some rock or stone, whence it may be taken with the 

 naked hand, or with a noose, for it is a stupid and timid animal. It 

 is caught for the sake of its flesh, which is white and as tender as 

 chicken ; in taste it is said to resemble venison. The female deposits 

 her eggs in the sand, and leaves them to be hatched by the sun, paying 

 no attention afterwards to her young pn . 



BAS1 1 -USA I ' 1 ; i Dr. Harlan for a 



large fossil animal, of which the remains were collected in Tertiary 

 Strata on the river Waehita in Louisiana. The animal was probably 

 70 feet long. Professor Owen has referral it to the Cetaceans, under 

 the title of Zruglodo* Crloiilrt. 



I'.ASIN. In Geology, depressions of the strata occasioned by 

 synclinal dips are thus designated, especially such an are on a large 

 scale. Thus the Tertiary Basins of London, llami^hire, and Paris, 

 resting on Chalk ; the Coal-Basin of South Wales, resting on Old Red- 

 Sandstone ; aud, in a larger sense, the European Basins between the 

 Ural, the Scandinavian chains, and the Pyrenees, Alps, 4c. Sonic of 

 these Basins are due to the original circumstances of deposition ; other. 

 have acquired their configuration from elevations and depressions of 

 particular geographical areas. 



BASSE, a Fish, \\.\i 



BA'SSIA, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order 

 Sapotacm. It has a calyx of four or five leaves, a mono]. 

 fleshy corolla, with its border generally 8-parted, and a great number 

 of stamens. The ovary terminates in a long taper style, and contains 

 from six to eight 1 -seeded cells. The fruit has a pulpy rind, with 

 not more than three or four cells, the remainder being ul> 



The species are found in the East Indies and in A ; 

 are of great economical importance on account of the al.i 

 of a sweet buttery substance which is yielded by their seeds when 

 boiled. 



B. butyraem, the Indian Butter-Tree, the Kuhvn, or I'liulwiu-. 

 is found wild on the AJmora hills in India, when- it grows to a 



. liulter-Tree (llaaiii In!;. 



rafale size, ite trunk sometimes measuring 60 feet in hejgi, 



-.nee. It has brood, ovoJ, long-stalked leaves, 

 from 8 to 12 inches long, smooth on their UJI|MT surface, ban 

 their under. Tin- flowers, which are large and pale-yellow, hang down 



lie. tips of the br.melic*, In. m the axil.-< :.f tin le.ivcn, and 

 generally grow three together. They ore succeeded l>y smooth, pulpy 



