bver the fea ; where they form a very grotefque ap- 
pearance, from the fingular order of 'the rows in 
which they fit one above another. The eggs af- 
ford a confiderable fhare of fubfiftence to the natives 
of the coafts which thefe fowls frequent, though 
they are taken with the moft imminent danger. 
The refolution and aflivity thefe people Ihew in 
acquiring this part of their food, almoft exceed 
the bounds of credibility. The eggs are generally 
depofited in fuch fituations, that there is no pofli- 
bility of procuring them without being lowered by 
ropes, the adventurer trufting to the ftrength of 
his companions for his prefervation from deftruc- 
tion : and, indeed, the unftable nature of the foot- 
ing is fuch, that the moft horrid cataftrophes have 
frequently occurred, the prote£tors and prote6led 
being at once hurried down the fteep, dafhed to 
pieces againft the rocks, and precipitated into the 
ocean. 
The Razor-bill lays but a fingle egg, which is of 
an extraordinaiy fize in proportion to the bulk of 
the bird, and generally white, though fometimes 
of a pale fea-green, irregularly fpotted v/ith black. 
However, when this egg is taken or deftroyed, it 
produces another to fupply it's place j and, on lof- 
ing that, it even lays a third. It builds no neft, 
but depofits it's egg on the edge of a rock with 
fuch nice equilibrium as to fecure it from rolling 
off; and this is done with fo much art, that if an 
egg is removed, and attempted to be replaced by 
the human hand, it is always extremely difficult, 
and fometimes abfolutely impoflible, to place it ex- 
actly in the fame fituation. 
Auk, Black-Billed. This bird, which is only 
fifteen or fixteen inches long, is full twenty-five in 
breadth. The cheeks and throat are white ; and 
the bill is black : but in almoft every other refpeft 
it coincides v/ith the former fpecies, to which fome 
naturalifts think it ought to be referred, notwith- 
ftanding thefe variations. 
Auk, Little. This extraordinary fowl is about 
the fize of a common blackbird. The bill, which 
is convex, fliort, and thick, is of a black colour; 
and the legs and feet are covered with dirty greenifh 
white fcales, the webs being black. The crown 
of the head, hind part of the neck, entire back, and 
tail, are quite black; the wings are likewife black, 
except the tips of the leiTer quill-feathers and the 
inner coverts of the wings, the former of which 
are white and the btter grey; the cheeks, throat, 
and under parts of the body, are all white; and the 
fcapular feathers are white and black. 
This bird is defcribed by Willughby under the 
appellation of the ilnall black and white diver with 
a fiiort fharp-pointed bill ; who adds to the above 
account, that the tail is fliort and a little white on 
each fide, and that the bird is not very common. 
Edwards has likewife noticed a bird that varies 
in a very flight degree from the Little Auk ; and 
one, which he imagines differs only in fex : the 
head and neck of the latter being wholly black, and 
the inner coverts of the wings barred with a dirty 
white. 
AULOS. A name by which feveral of the an- 
cient writers have called the folen or razor-fifh. 
AURA. A fpecies of vulture. 
AURANTIUS PISCIS. A name which 
Nieremberg applies to the dorado, or dolphin; 
a fpecies of the coryphsena, diftinguilhed from the 
others by it's forked tail. 
A Z 0 
AURATA. A name fometimes given to th^ 
gilt-head. 
AURICULA. See Earwig. 
AURIS ASINI, or ASS'S EAR. A name 
given to a fpecies of fhell-fifn, of the order of 
murex, fuppofed to bear Ibme refemblance to the- 
Ear of the common Afs. 
AURIS MARINA. The ear-fliell, or fea-ean 
AURIS PORCI. A name given by fome na- 
turalifts to a fea-fliell of the family of murex, from 
it's refemblance to the ear of a hog. 
AUSTURCUS,orOSTERCUS. The claf- 
fical name fometimes applied to denote the gof- 
hawk : from whence falconers, who keep that ipe- 
cies of hawk, are denominated Oftringers- 
AXIS. A very beautiful animal of the deer 
kind, found in Africa and the Eaft Indies, and of 
which naturalifts obferve two or three varieties. 
Axis, Common. This fpecies is about the fize 
of a fallow-deer, and of a light red colour. The 
body is beautifully variegated with white fpots, and 
the lower part of the fides next the belly is marked 
with a line of white. The tail, v/hich is about the 
length of that of the fallow-deer, is red above and 
white beneath. The horns are flender, and triple- 
forked; the firft ramification being near the bafCj 
and the fecond near the top, each pointing up- 
wards. It inhabits the banks of the Ganges, and ' 
the Ifle of Ceylon : though it feems to bear the Eu- 
ropean climates without injury; and has even been 
bred in the menagerie of the Prince of Orange, near 
the Hague. It is extremely docile, and poffeffes 
the fenfe of linelling to a very exquifitc degree. It 
eats bread with avidity; but, from the quality jull 
mentioned, will refufe a piece which has been 
breathed on. 
Axis, Great. This animal, which is a native 
of Borneo and Ceylon, is about the height of a 
horfe, and of a reddifli brown colour. The horns> 
which are trifurcated, thick, fi:rong, and rugged, 
are about two feet nine inches long, and two feet 
four inches between tip and tip. 
This Ipecies frequents the low marfhy places in , 
Borneo ; for which reafon it is called, in the Javan 
and Malayan languages, mejangan banjoe, or the 
water ftag. 
Axis, Lesser. The Leffer Axis is generally of 
the fame colour with the former, but fometimes va- 
ries to white. 
This is a gregarious animal, and inhabits Java^ 
Ceylonj Borneo, and fome other oriental iflands. In 
Java and Celebes it is hunted with ardour, and af- 
fords the highefl diverfion. The flefh, which is 
efteemed excellent food, is ufually cut into pieces, 
dried in the fun, and preferved in fait. 
AXOLOTI. A fingular fpecies of fiih found 
in the lakes of Mexico ; which is furnifhed with 
four feet like a lizard ; has a matrix like a woman, 
as well as the menftrual flux; and is deftitute of 
fcales. It's flefli taftes like that of the eel; and, 
notwithfianding it's very peculiar conformation, it 
does not feem to poffefs any noxious qualities. 
- AYGULA. A fpecies of ape. 
AZOOPHAGUS. A term ufed by fome na- 
turalifts to exprefs fuch animals or infefts as feed 
entirely on herbs, and never tafte the flefh of any 
living creature. This term is therefore perfe£lly 
fynonimous with herbivorous ; and is applied in 
oppofition to fuch animals as are naturally carnivo- 
rous. 
B.- 
