IBtcttonarp of ftntmattfr fixture. 101 



the nightingale, and, after running through 

 a variety of modulations, end like the tit- 

 lark i others, again, will begin like the sky- 

 lark, and, by soft melodious turns, fall into 

 the notes of the nightingale. Lessons may 

 be taught this bird in its domestic state ; but 

 its native note is loud, shrill, and piercing. 



Canary-birds sometimes breed all the year 

 round ; but they most usually begin to pair 

 in April, and to breed in June and August. 

 In Germany and the Tyrol, where the breed- 

 ing of these songsters forms the occupation 

 of numbers, and from whence the rest of 

 Europe is principally supplied, the appara- 

 tus for breeding Canaries is both large and 

 expensive. A large building is erected for 

 them, with a square space at each end, and 

 holes communicating with these spaces. In 

 these outlets are planted such trees as the 

 birds prefer. The bottom is strewed with 

 sand, on which is cast rape-seed, chickweed, 

 and such other food as they like. Through- 

 out the inner compartment, which is kept 

 dark, are placed brooms for the birds to 

 build in, care being taken that the breeding- 

 birds are guarded from the intrusions of the 

 rest. With us, however, the apparatus is 

 much less expensive ; a breeding-cage often 

 suffices ; and, at most, a small room, without 

 any particular preparation. 



CANCELLARIA. A genus of Molluscous 

 animals belonging to the Entumostomata of 

 De Blainville. There are many species, most 

 of which are found in the Indian and African 



CAKCELLARIA OBTUSA. 



seas, but many are from the warm latitudes 

 of the Pacific side of S. America. There is a 

 monograph of this genus by G. B. Sowerby, 

 Jun., F.Li.S., in the " Conchological Illustra- 

 tions," with figures and descriptions of all 

 the species then known. To tin's work we 

 refer our readers, as well as to Mr. Sowerby's 

 i " Thesaurus Conchyliorum." The periug 

 derives its name from cancellattts, crusg- 

 barred ; and the shell is characterized as oval 

 or turretted ; spire generally short, slightly 

 elevated, and pointed; mouth oval, having 

 either a very short canal or a notch only; the 

 outer lip marked within by transverse ridges ; 

 inner lip spread over part of the body whorl, 

 terminating in a straight, thick, obtuse co- 

 lumella, with several irregular plaits. The 

 shells are rare, but not remarkable ; and 

 are usually rough to the touch, and striped. 



CANCER. The name applied by Lin- 

 naeus to nearly all the species of the class 

 Crustacea. It is now restricted by naturalists 

 in this country to the genus of which the 



common black-clawed crab (C. pagurus} is 

 the type. Other species are found in North 

 America and South America ; and one from 

 New Zealand was sent to the British Museum 

 by Dr. Andrew Sinclair. [See CKAB.] 



CANIS. In the Linnaean system of zo- 

 ology, a distinct and very large genus of 

 animals of the class Mammalia, order Ferae, 

 including all the Dog kind. The characters 

 of this genus are, that the several species 

 (the common dog, the wolf, the jackal, the i 

 fox, &c.) have six upper fore-teeth, the lateral ; 

 ones being longest, and the intermediate 

 ones of a lobated figure ; that there are also 

 six fore-teeth in the lower jaw, of which the 

 lateral ones are lobated ; that the canine 

 teeth are single and incurvatcd ; and that 

 the grinders are six or seven in number. 

 [See Doo.] 



CANTHARID^E. A family of Coleop- j 

 terous insects, the species of which are nu- 

 merous and widely diffused. They differ 

 from each other in their size, shape, and : 

 colour : the largest are about an inch long. 

 Some are of a pure azure, others of a pure 

 gold, some of a mixture of gold and azure, 

 and others scarlet ; but all are brilliant, and 

 very beautiful. 



The CANTHARIS VESICATORIA, j 

 Spanish Fly, or Blister Beetle, so well known 

 for its medical uses, is the most noted. This ' 

 insect is about three quarters of an inch in 

 h- 1 iL't 1 1 , and of a beautiful metallic gold green 

 colour^ometimes changing into bluish green : \ 

 the head is smooth and polished, and in the 

 forehead are two eyes of a golden colour ; the 



(OANTHAR18 VESICATORIA.) 



wing-cases are membranous, convex above 

 and hollow beneath ; thin, but strong, and co- 

 vering the upper part of the body. The ab- 

 domen is composed of eight moveable rings, 

 furrowed from end to end ; the legs and an- 

 tennae are bluish-black. In Spain. Portugal, 

 and Italy these insects are abundant; in 

 France also they are sometimes found ; but 

 are rarely seen in this country. They fre- 

 quent ash trees, and feed upon its leaves ; 

 they are also to be met with on the poplar, 

 the rose, the honey-suckle, and some other 

 sweet-scented shrubs. Although, as we have 

 just said, theybut rarelyoccur in this country 5 

 yet at the meeting of the Linnaean Society, 

 Nov. 7. 1837, Mr. Newman exhibited a num- 

 ber of specimens, taken during the preceding 

 summer, near Colchester, where they had 

 appeared by millions, stripping the ash- I 

 trees of their leaves. When touched they 

 feign death, and emit a highly offensive | 

 odour ; which, however, is a guide to those ' 

 whose business it is to catch them. The 



K S 



