76 



cf 



the rest of the kind, in our climate, they 

 lie torpid during the winter, being some- 

 times found in vast numbers twisted to- 

 gether. 



BLOODHOUND. ( Canis [domestictts] san- 

 guinarius.) A species of the canine genus, 

 celebrated for its exquisite scent and un- 

 wearied perseverance, qualities which were 

 highly esteemed by our ancestors for tracing 

 and recovering such game as had escaped 

 from the hunters in a wounded state, or 

 had been killed and stolen out of the 

 royal forests. These hounds were also for- 

 merly much employed in pursuing criminals 

 escaped from justice, or in tracing out 

 robbers or enemies, whose course was in- 

 evitably discovered when once the Blood- 

 hound was placed upon their trail. The 

 genuine Bloodhound breed was large, strong, 



(OA.NI8 [nOMESTICOs] SANGUINARIOS.) 



muscular, broad-chested, the upper lip large 

 and pendulous ; the expression stern and 

 noble ; the colour a deep tan, and gene- 

 rally marked with a black spot over each 

 eye ; this species, however, seems now to be 

 blended with the other smaller hounds, and 

 the original stock is all but extinct. 



Sir Walter Scott and other writers narrate 

 many surprising feats of the " sleut-hound," 

 whose unflinching pertinacity generally 

 overcame all impediments, whether engaged 

 in the usual objects of the chase, or directed 

 against political delinquents. " For such 

 purposes as these," says Mr. Bell, " the 

 Bloodhound has been employed, at various 

 times, in every part of the United Kingdom: 

 in the clan feuds of Scotland, in the border 

 contests of the debatable land of the two 

 kingdoms, and in the unhappy Irish re- 

 bellion, its extraordinary powers have been 

 taken advantage of without much regard to 

 the claims either of justice or of mercy. Such 

 scenes, however, have now become mere 

 matter of history and of tradition ; for, on 

 the one hand, the improvements which have 

 taken place in the breed of hounds for the 

 purposes of the chase, and on the other, the 

 gradual introduction of a more regular sys- 

 tem of police, aided, we may hope, by some 

 amelioration in the feelings of the people, 

 have annihilated the use of the Bloodhound 

 in both the objects for which it was formerly 

 employed." 



BLUE-BIRD. (.Sialia.) This bird is as 

 well known in America as the Redbreast 

 is with us, and its habits of familiarity 

 with man in the summer are on a par with 

 those of our friendly visitor in the winter. 



It is about seven inches and a half long, 

 and the whole of the upper part of the 

 body is of a rich sky-blue shot with purple. 

 The bill and legs are black ; the wings of a. 



dusky black at the tips, and the shafts of 

 the wings and tail feathers are black ; the j 

 throat, neck, breast, and sides partially under 

 the wings, reddish chestnut ; the belly and ; 

 vent white. It arrives in the United States , 

 early in the spring, and takes its departure 

 in November. Its food consists of large 

 beetles, spiders, and other insects, besides . 

 berries, seeds, and fruits. The nest is gene- ! 

 rally built in holes of trees ; and the male is 

 most assiduous in attentions to his mate ; ' 

 the eggs are of a pale blue colour; and it often | 

 happens that two or three broods are pro- 

 duced in one season. 



BLUE [BUTTERFLY]. A name applied 

 to several species of Butterflies, of the genus 

 Polyommatus. 



BLUE -BREAST. (Cyanecu7a suecica.~) 

 This elegant little bird inhabits different 

 parts of Europe, and is mostly found on the 

 borders of forests. It is five inches and a 

 half in length, of which the tail occupies two 

 and a quarter. The head, back, and wing- 

 coverts are ashy -brown, mottled with a 

 darker tint ; .a reddish-white line passes 

 above the eyes ; a brilliant sky-blue covers 

 the throat and half-way down the breast ; 

 this is set off by a spot of the most dazzling 

 wliite, the size of a pea, placed precisely over 

 the larynx, which, enlarging and diminish- 

 ing successively by the movement of tliis 

 part when the bird sings, produces the most 

 beautiful effect. The blue passes into a black 

 band, and the latter into a fine orange ; the 

 belly is dusky wliite ; the thighs and sides 

 are reddish ; and the quill feathers dark 

 brown. Some males have two little wliite 

 spots on the throat, and some even three ; 

 but some have none. The food of the Blue- 

 breast consists of flies, the larvae of insects, 

 and worms. The nest is built in bushes and 

 in the_ holes of trees ; and the eggs are of a 

 greenish hue. The females, when young, 

 are of a celestial-blue tint on the sides of the 

 throat ; and when very old they have the 

 throat sometimes of a very bright blue. 



BOA CONSTRICTOR. Of all the reptiles 

 that exist, none equal in size and power the 

 genus Boa ; some of them being occasionally i 

 met with from thirty to thirty-five feet in j 

 length, and of a strength so prodigious as to | 

 be able to destroy deer, oxen, and other j 

 large and powerful animals, by enveloping . 



