B I R 



522 



B I It 



Bird-Lime, cleanse it by washing, when it has obtained a proper 

 ^ degree of fermentation. 



Bird-lime may be procured from the young shoots 

 of the common elder tree, and from the second bark 

 of the viburnum, or wild vine ; from the roots of hy- 

 acinth, narcissus, asphodel, and black bryony ; from 

 slugs, snails, and the pods of certain caterpillars ; 

 but the best is that which is made from the prickly 

 holly, and which is of a greenish colour. That 

 which comes from Italy is made from the misletoe ; 

 and that from Damascus is supposed to be procured 

 from sebestins, as their kernels are frequently found 

 amongst it. The bird-lime of commerce, in general, 

 is seldom in a pure state, and is frequently a mixture 

 of vegetable and animal substances. 



The common kind of bird-lime readily loses its te- 

 nacious quality, when long exposed to the air, and 

 particularly when subjected to moisture ; but it may 

 be rendered capable of sustaining the action of wa- 

 ter, by the following process : Take a pound t>f 

 common bird-lime, and wash it thoroughly with 

 spring water, till its hardness be destroyed. Then 

 pound it completely, that its water may be entirely 

 separated ; and, when it is well dried, put it into an 

 earthen pot, with as much goose or capon's grease 

 as will make it run. Add two spoonfuls of strong 

 vinegar, one of oil, and a small quantity of Venice 

 turpentine ; and let the whole boil for a few minutes 

 over a moderate fire, stirring it all tlve time. It is 

 then ready for use ; and is the only kind, that can be 

 successfully used for snipes and other birds, which 

 frequent wet situations. 



When bird-lime is about to be applied to use, it 

 should be made hot ; and the rods or twigs should 

 be warmed a little before they be dipped in it. 

 When straws and cords are to be limed, it should be 

 very hot ; and, after they are prepared, they should 

 be kept in a leather bag till used. In order to pre- 

 vent bird-lime from being congealed by cold, it 

 should be mixed with a little oil of petroleum ; and, 

 indeed, before the common kind can be used at all, 

 it must be melted over the fire with a third part of 



nut oil, or any thin grease, if that has not been 

 added in the preparation. 



Bird-lime has generally been classed among the 

 immediate productions of vegetables ; and Fourcroy 

 was the first person who considered it as of a gluti- 

 nous nature. It has been carefully analysed by M. 

 Bouillon Lagrange, and has been found to resemble 

 gluten in many particulars ; but differs from it essen- 

 tially in the acetous acid which it contains ; in being 

 very slightly animalized ; in the mucilage and extrac- 

 tive matter which may be obtained from it ; in the 

 great quantity of resin which it yields by means of 

 nitric acid ; and in its solubility in ether. See An- 

 nates des C/iimic, torn. lvi. Analyse dc Glu, par 

 M. Bouillon Lagrange. Fontenelle Hist. Acad. Scien. 

 1720, p. 12. Collection Acad. torn. v. p. 170. 

 Philosophical Magazine, vol. xxiv. Diclionaire dc 

 I' Industrie, art. Glu. (y) 



BIRD-Island, the name of an immense rock in the 

 Southern Pacific Ocean, disr-overed in 1788 by the 

 commander of the Prince of Wales, who gave it this 

 name from the vast flocks of birds by which it was fre- 

 quented. It was visited by Vancouver in March 179*. 

 Towards the north-east and west, it opposes an inac- 

 cessible and rugged front to the violence of the waves, 

 which beat upon it with tremendous effect. To the 

 south the height of the rock diminishes ; and towards 

 its western side there is a sandy beach, where it might 

 not be difficult to effect a landing, under favourable 

 circumstances. A' little verdure enlivened this part 

 of the island ; but in every other quarter it is desti- 

 tute of soil and vegetation. It is called Modoo Man* 

 noo, or the Isle of Birds, by the Sandwich islanders. 

 It is only about three miles in circumference, and is 

 situated about 1 17 miles from Onehow, one of the 

 Sandwich isles. " From its great distance from all 

 other islands," says Vancouver, " and its proxi- 

 mity to their islands, it seems to claim some distant 

 pretensions to be ranked in the group of the Sand- 

 wich Isles." E. Long. 198 8', N. Lat. 23 6'. 

 See Vancouver's Voyages, vol. v. book v. chap. v. 

 p. 136 140. (J) 



Bird- 

 Island. 



BIRMAN EMPIRE. 



Birman Jt his new empire is one of the most powerful states 

 Empire. j n A s ia, and includes the ancient kingdoms of Ava, 

 " Pegu, and Arracan, with some other countries of infe- 

 Situation rior note. It is difficult to ascertain with precision the 

 <nd exunt. ]i m its of this empire ; but, according to the most ac- 

 curate accounts, it appears to extend from 92 to 

 102 east longitude, and between 9 and 26 north 

 latitude, and is about 1200 miles in length, and 700 

 in breadth. On the north it is bounded by Assam, 

 Tibet, and China ; on the west it is separated from 

 the British dominions in India by a range of moun- 

 tains, the small river Naaf, and the bay of Bengal ; 

 the southern and eastern boundaries have not yet been 

 accurately ascertained. 

 Rise and The kingdom of Ava, the original seat of the 



gru^iiM. Daman government, was formerly subject to the king 



of Pegu; but about the middle of the 16th century, 

 the Birmans excited.a revolution in the latter kingdom, 

 and they maintained their supremacy over it until 

 about 1740, when several of the provinces revolted, 

 and kindled the flames of a civil war, which was prose-, 

 cuted on both sides with savage ferocity. Success 

 was long doubtful ; but at length the Peguers obtain- 

 ed several victories over the Simians, and they pur- 

 sued these advantages with so much vigour, that in 

 1752 they invested Ava, the capital. Disheartened 

 by repeated defeats, the Birmans, after a short siege, 

 surrendered at discretion ; and the sovereign, the last 

 of a long line of native princes, was made prisoner 

 with all his family, except two of his sons, who ef- 

 fected their escape to Siam, where they met with a 

 friendly reception, and were flattered with assurances. 



Birman 

 Empire. 



