COL 
triucii efteemed for it's delicate flavour. It bears 
a ftrong refemblance to the common perch, ex- 
cept that it is inferior in magnitude, has a larger 
head, and a greater variety of colours. 
COLEOPTERA. An order of infers com- 
prehending all thofe which have four wings ; the 
external pair of which is hard^ rigid, and opaque, 
and forms a kind of cafe for the interior pair; and 
whofe mouths confift of two tranfverfe jaws. 
Thefe animals are diftinguifhed in Englifli un- 
der the general appellation of beetles ; of which na- 
turaliflrs have efiabliflicd a great number of ge- 
nera, from the different conformations of their an- 
tennre or horns, and other general marks, fuch as 
the fcarabffius or beetle properly fo called, the der- 
meftes, caffida, coccinella, chryfomela, dytifcus, 
and tenebrio. 
COLIBRI. A bird very rem.arkable for it's 
beauty, it's figure, it's manner of living, and the mi- 
nutenefs of it's fize. It fubfifts on flowers, on which 
it leldom alights, but extra6ts honey from their 
neftaria by means of it's long, fine, and delicate 
tongue. There are fome Ipecies ot this bird which 
poiTefs all the colours of precious ftones, as well 
as the fineft and moil beautiful plumage that can 
be imagined. They fly with great rapidity; and 
are heard before they can be diftinguifhed by the 
eye, making a kind of humming noife, from v/hence 
they are called humming-birds. Sec Humming- 
BlRD. 
- COLIC SHELL,. A name given by fome au- 
thors to the porcellana, or concha venerea, from it's 
fuppofed efficacy in curing the venereal difeafc. 
COLIN. An Am.erican bird, called by the 
generality of writers the quail ; but luppofed by 
Nieremberg to be rather a kind of partridge. 
There are feveral diftinift fpecies of this bird, all 
very comm.on in the Spanifli Weft Indies, and 
much efteemed for the delicacy of their flefli. 
COLIOU. An oriental bird defcribed by Son- 
■nerat, about the fize of the European grofsbeak. 
The head, neck, back, wings, and tail, are cine- 
reous, with a tinge of yellow; the breaft is of the 
fame colour, and barred with black ; the lower part 
of tlie belly and the top of the tail are reddifli ; 
the vrings extend only a little beyond the origin 
of the tail, which is extremely long, and com- 
pofed of twelve feathers of unequal lengths; the 
bill is black; the feet are of a pale flefh-colour; and 
the feathers which cover the head are narrow and 
long, and compofe a creft which the bird can ele- 
vate or deprefs at pleafure. 
COLLURIO, The name by which fome au- 
thors have called the lanius or butcher-bird ; the 
fm.alieft, as well as one of the mofl: deftrudtive, of 
ail the rapacious tribe. 
COLMESTRE. A bird of the lagopus kind, 
more ufuaily called otomo; and fuppofed to differ 
very little from the lagopus, except in changing 
it's colour during the fummer feafon. 
COLOCOLO. Tlie Philippine name for a 
fpecies of bird called alfo caffili, and corvus fluvia- 
tilis or the water-raven. It's figure very much 
refembles that of the common raven ; but it is truly 
an amphibious bird, living principally under wa- 
ter. It's colour is black; it's neck is remarkably 
long; and it feeds on various kinds of fifli, frogs, 
and fcrpents. The Colocolo is fometimes feen under 
water in tranfparent ftreams, where it appears to be 
perfeftly at eafe, and running about v/ith great 
fwiftnefs; and, at other times, it afcends to the fur- 
face, and dries it's wings in the air and funOiine. 
COLPISCIS. An appellation given by fome 
authors to the falx Venetorum, or fickle-fifh^ 
commonly called by die Venetians the marmot- 
filli. 
COLUBER. The name of a very numerous 
genus of ferpents; the abdomen of which is co- 
vered with fcuta, and the under part of the tail with. 
fquamce or fcales. See VipjiR. 
COLUM. A bi rd very comm.on at Surat in 
the Eaft Indies, and fuppofed to be a fpecies of the 
crane. It has a remarkable flexion in the afpera 
arteria; which the ingenious Dr. Parfons obfei-ves 
mayferve for the retention of infpired air, while it 
plunges deep into the water in queft of food, or tra-i 
verfes different climates through various degrees 
of ratified and condenfed air. 
COLUM-BA GREENLANDICA. An ap- 
pellation given by fome authors to a fmall, well- 
taflied aquatic fowl, called in Englifli the fea tur- 
tle-dove. 
COLUMBA MARINA, or SEA-DOVE. An 
Eaft Indian fea-fifh, apparently a fpecies of the 
orbis or moon-filh. It receives it's name from the 
refemblance which it's head and prominent chefi: 
bear to thofe of the dove. It has no fcales, but is* 
variegated with feveral marks placed in a very An- 
gular manner on the back and fides. It is a fcarce 
fifli, and but little efteemed, beir.g coarfe and ill- 
tailed. 
COLYMBIS. An appellat ion given by Bel- 
lonius to a fpecies of duck remarkable for a largb 
tuft of feathers behind it's head, on wliich account 
it is called in Englifh the tufted-duck ; but, by the 
generality of authors, capo negro, it's Venetian 
name. 
COLYMBUS . The name of a diftinft genus 
of birds in the Linnjean fyftem, of the order of an- 
feres. See Diver. 
COMB-BIRD. A gallinaceous bird, cf the 
fize of the turkey-cock, found near the Rivers Se- 
negal and Gambia in Africa ; the plumage of which 
is grey, ftreaked with black and white; and the 
wings are very large, but feldom uled in flight. 
This bird has a very folemn and ftately walk, 
holding it's head ered, wliich is covered with a 
kind of foft hair about four inches long, depending 
on each fide, and curled at the points with the 
greateft regularity and beauty. It's tail, however, 
is it's principal ornament ; the upper part of it be- 
ing as black as jet and veiy brilliant, and the un- 
der as white as ivory. Of the feathers of the Comb- 
Bird the negroes make elegant fans. 
COMBER. A Cornifli fifli of a very flender 
fliape. The dorfal fin has twenty fpiny and eleven 
foft rays, the perioral fourteen, the ventral five, 
and the anal three fpiny and feven foft; and the tail 
is rounded. The back, fins, and tail, are red; the 
belly is yellow ; and beneath the lateral line there 
runs a parallel, fmooth, even ftripe, from the gills 
to the tail, of a filvery hue. 
COMEDONES. An appellation given to a 
fpecies of worms with which children in Milhia^ 
and foine other countries, are dreadfully affli6led ; 
and of which FIoffiTian, in his treatife of endemial 
difeafes, gives the following account. ' Children 
in tlie country are frequently feized with a fort of 
tabes, which fo waftes their flelh that they appear 
mere flvcletons. The common people generally 
believe thefe children to be under the influence of 
witchcraft; but fuch as have accurately examined 
into the nature of the rnalady, have difcovered that 
it originates from certain worms, refembling black 
hairs 
