CAL 



CAL 



Jugulates. Generic character : eyes ver- 

 tical, approximated ; gill-covers shut, with 

 a small aperture on each side the neck : 

 gill-membrane six-rayed; body naked; 

 ventral fins very remote. There are 

 seven species, of which we shall notice 

 C. lyra, or gemmeous dragonet, so called 

 from the peculiar form of its first dorsal 

 fin, the shape of which bears a fancied 

 resemblance to that of an ancient lyre or 

 harp. It is a native of the Mediterrane- 

 an and Northern Seas, and measures 

 about 12 inches in length. Like most 

 other fishes, the dragonet varies slightly 

 in colour in different individuals, and at 

 different seasons of the year. Mr. Pen- 

 nant describes the pupils of the eyes to 

 be ox a rich sapphirine blue ; the irides 

 fine fiery carbuncle ; the pectoral fins 

 light brown ; the side-line straight ; the 

 colours of the fish yellow, blue, and white, 

 making a beautiful appearance when 

 fresh taken. The blue is of inexpressi- 

 ble splendor ; the richest caerulean, glow- 

 ing with a gemmeous brilliancy ; the 

 throat black. C. dracunculus, or sordid 

 drygonet/is nearly allied to the preceding; 

 a native of the Mediterranean and North- 

 ern Seas ; both are numbered with the 

 edible fishes, and are supposed to live 

 principally on worms and sea-insects. 



CALLISIA, in botany, a genus of the 

 Triandria Monogynia class and order. 

 Natural order of Ensatac. Junci, Jussieu. 

 Essential character : calyx three-leaved ; 

 petals three ; anthers double ; capsule 

 two-celled. There is but one species, viz. 

 C. repens, creeping callisia. It is a na- 

 tive of the West Indies, in low, moist, 

 shady places. Here it flowers in June 

 and July. 



CALL1TRICHE, in botany, a genus of 

 the Monandria Digynia. Natural order 

 of Holoraceje. Naiades, Jussieu. Essen- 

 tial character: calyx none ; petals two; 

 capsule two celled, four-seeded. There 

 are two species, viz. C. verna, vernal star- 

 wort, or star headed water-chickweed ; 

 and C. autumnalis, autumnal star-wort. 

 These are very common in ditches and 

 standing water, and are sometimes so thick- 

 ly matted together, that one may walk 

 upon them without sinking. 



CALLUS, or CALLOSITY, in a general 

 sense, any cutaneous, corneous, or osseous 

 hardness, whether natural or preternatu- 

 ral : but most frequently it means the cal- 

 lus generated about the edges of a frac- 

 ture, provided by nature to preserve the 

 fractured bones, or divided parts, in 

 the situation in which they are replaced 

 by the surgeon. 



CALM, in sea-language, is when there 

 is no wind stirring. 



That tract of sea to the northward of 

 the equator, between 4 and 10 of lati- 

 tude, lying between the meridians of Cape 

 Verd and of the easternmost island of 

 that name, seems to be a place condemned 

 to perpetual calms, the winds that do 

 exist being only some sudden uncertain 

 gusts, of very small continuance, and less 

 extent. The Atlantic Ocean, near the 

 equator, is very much subject, nay, al- 

 ways attended with these calms. 



A long calm is often more fatal to a ship 

 than the severest tempest, for, if tight and 

 in good condition, she may sustain the 

 latter without much injury, whereas, in a 

 long calm, the provision and water may 

 be entirely consumed, without any oppor- 

 tunity of obtaining a fresh supply. Calms 

 are never so great on the ocean as on the 

 Mediterranean, because the flowing and 

 ebbing of the former keep the water in 

 continual agitation, even where there is 

 no wind ; whereas, there being no tides in 

 the latter, the calm is sometimes so dead, 

 that the surface of the water is as clear as 

 a loooking-glass ; but such calms are 

 generally the presages of an approaching 

 storm. On the coast about Smyrna, a 

 long calm is said to be prognostic of an 

 earthquake. 



CALODENDRUM, in botany, a genus 

 of the Pentandria Monogynia class and or- 

 der. Essential character : corolla spread- 

 ing, five-petalled; nectary five-leaved; 

 capsule five-celled. There is but one 

 species, viz. C. capense, which is an ever- 

 green. Flowers in terminating panicles, 

 or opposite one flowered peduncles. Na- 

 tive of the Cape. 



CALOMEL, in the materia medica, a 

 name given to mercurius dulcis. See 

 MERCURY. 



CALOPHYLLUM, in botany, a genus 

 of the Polyandria Monogynia class and 

 order. Essential character : calyx four- 

 leaved, coloured; corolla four-petalled ; 

 drupe globular. There are two species ; 

 viz. C. inophyllum and C. calaba, both 

 natives of the East and West Indies. 

 They are both lofty trees, ninety feet in 

 height, and twelve in thickness : leaves 

 like those of the water lily. In Java they 

 plant these trees about their houses, for 

 the elegance of the shade and the sweet- 

 ness of the flowers. 



CALOPUS, in natural history, a genus 

 of insects of the order Coleoptera. Ge- 

 neric character : antennae filiform ; four 

 feelers, the fore ones clavate, the hind 

 ones filiform ; thorax gibbous ; shells li- 



