B I S 
WcIds of an oval figure; their fhafts are likewife 
black, and appear, when mhiutely inlpefted, to be 
ilightly bearded on one fide; at their infertions, 
they are very clofe to each other, but they foon 
diverge in ftraight lines pretty diftant at their extre- 
tmities. Sonnerat informs us that, having never 
fcen this bird alive, he is at a lofs to pronounce 
whether, in the aft of flying, it carries thefe extra- 
ordinary feathers along it's body, or in a tranfverfe 
direftion ; but as they are fituated near the auditory 
paflage, he feems inclined to believe that they an- 
fwtr the fame purpofe as the ear-drums in qua- 
drupeds. The feet and bill of this fpecies are a 
clear black ; and the irides are yellow. 
Bird of Paradise, Magnificent. This bird 
is about a third part larger than a common pigeon. 
The top of the head is of a fhining red colour; the 
throat is of a blackifh brown; the upper part of 
the neck is adorned with long yellow feathers, which 
have the fplendor and poliili of gold ; the back ap- 
pears as if gilt; the under part of the neck and 
belly are of a biueifh-green, with a filky glofs; the 
Ihort coverts of the v/ings are of a black ifh brown, 
mixed with vellow ; tlie large feathers of the wings 
are of a yellow or pine tinq-e, and thofe on the 
edges of the wings have blackifh brown extremi- 
ties ; the vent and tail are brownifli ; and the feet 
and bill are yellovvr. From the middle of the tail 
fpring two filaments, twice the length of the bird, 
furnifoed on their exterior fides with fmail, fine, 
and almoft imperceptible webs, of a greenilh co- 
lour and moR: beautiful polifh. 
Bird of Paradise, Green. The characters 
of this bird are the fame with the reft of the pe- 
nus, except that the appendages, or long crifped 
feathers, fpring from under the wings. It is fome- 
what longer and thicker than the com.mon dove, 
and is entirely of a beautiful green colour, uncom- 
monly brilliant and glofiy. The feathers on the 
head, neck, and body, are fhort, and arranged like 
fcalcs one over the other; the feet and bill are 
blackifli; and the irides are red. This creature 
appears of different fhades, according to the light 
in which It is viewed; fometimes green, and at 
others blue. 
BISCIA. A name fometimes given to the acus, 
or tobacco-pipe fifh ; or, as it is frequently called, 
the needle or trumpet-filh. 
BISHOP. The name of a very mufical bird 
of L^ouifiana; the fong of which, fome naturalifts 
tell us, continues for the fpace of a mijerere, or forty 
minutes, during all wliich time it does not appear 
to breathe : it is thenfilent twice as long before it re- 
news it's ftrain ; lb that the alternative of fong and 
reft, according to thefe writers, continues two hours. 
BISON. This animal, which is called fuber 
by the Lithuanians, and wifent by the Germans, 
is unqueftionably a variety of the cow-kind, dif- 
tinguiftied from the reft by a lump between it's 
fhoulclers. Some of tliefe creatures are very large, 
and o;:Iiers as diminutively fmall. In general, the 
fore-parts of this xjuadruped fomewhat refemble 
thofe of the lion, having a long fliaggy mane, and 
a beard under the chin ; the head is fmall ; the eyes 
are red and fiery ; the looks are furious and com- 
manding; the forehead is extenfive; and the horns 
are placed very far afunder. A bunch, almoft as 
high as that of a cam.el, grov/s on the middle of the 
back, which is efteemed a peculiar delicacy by the 
inhabitants of thofe countries where the animal is 
found in a v,'ild ftate. There is no purfuing the Bi- 
fon with fafety, except in forefts'where there are 
B I S 
trees large enough to conceal the hunters from it's 
view. It is generally taken by means of a pit-fall i 
in order to which, the inhabitants dig a hole in 
the ground, and cover it with grafs and boughs 
of trees; after which, provoking the animal to pur- 
fue them, they get on the oppofite fide of the pit^ 
fall; v/hile the enraged creature, running with great 
violence towards them, falls into the trap prepared 
for it, and is quickly overpowered and fiain. 
Biibns are found in all the fouthern parts of 
the world; throughout the vail continent of In- 
dia, and from Mount Atlas to die Cape of Good 
Hope in Africa. They have foft fmooth hair; are 
very fleet; and in fome meafure fupply the want 
of horfes. In a domeftic ftate, they are remarkably 
expert and docile, many of them fpontaneoufly 
bending their knees, in order to take up or depofit 
their burdens. They are treated by the natives of 
thofe countries with a degree of tendernefs propor- 
tioned to their utility ; and the refpeft for them in 
India has even degenerated into blind veneration. 
Thefe animals are alfo highly efteemed by the 
Hottentots : they are the companions of their plea- 
fures and fatigues ; and are confidered by them as 
their proteftors and fervants, as they afTift them in 
attending th 'ir flocks, and guard themagainft every 
invader. V/hile the ftieep are grazing, the faithful 
backeiy (as the Bifon is here called) ftands or grazes 
before them: ftill, however, attentive to his ma- 
fter's looks, he flies round die fields, obliges the 
flocks to keep within proper limits, and fliews no 
mercy either to robbers or ftrangers. 
But the Bifons are not only taught to combat 
the fpoilers of their mafters flocks, but even the 
enemies of their nation; and, accordingly, every 
Plottentot army is furnifhed with a proper herd oi^ 
them, vv'hich is let loofe agairut the enemy on con- 
venient occafions. Thefe creatures, v/hen libera- 
ted, overturn ?I1 before them; ftriking down their 
opponents with therr horns, and trampling on 
them with their feet : thus they frequendy procure 
their owners an eafy viftory before they themfelves 
have had an opportunity of ftriking a blow. Ani- 
mals fo ferviceable cannot be ftippoled to go unre- 
warded: the Bifons and their mafters occupy the 
fame cottage; and by degrees the creatures conceive 
an affeftion for them; v/liile, in proportion as the 
man approaches to the brute, the brute fcems to 
acquire almoft human fagacity. 
The Bifons, or hunched cows, differ greatly from 
each other in the feveral parts of the v/orid. The 
wild ones arrive at greater magnitudes than the 
tame: fomie have horns, and others are without 
any; in fome they are depreffed, while in others 
they are raifed in fuch a manner as to be adapted 
either for weapons of defence or annoyance. All 
of them, however, when tamed, are equally docile 
and gentle. Thofe of Malabar, AbylTmia, and 
Madagafcar, are extremely large; byt thofe of Ara- 
bia Petraea, and moft parts of Africa, are iinall. 
The American Biibn differs from that of the an- 
cient continent in feveral particulars : it is larger 
than the ox; has low, black, ftiort horns, with a 
large beard under it's chin; and the hair fj)ringing 
from between it's horns falls over it's eyes, and 
gives it a frightful appearance. It has a bunch 
on it's back, which begins at the haunches, and 
gradually increafes till it arrives at the flioulders : 
the firft" rib before is half a yard higher than thofe 
on the back, and is three inches broad. The whole 
bunch is covered with long reddiili hair; and the 
reft of the body with a fort of black wool which 
2 C is 
