* 
E L A 
Egg, poached, a curious fpecies of fhell 
of the femiporcellanae genus, or jQiells refembling 
cyprJB or cowries. 
EGG, SEA. An appellation frequently given 
to the echinus marinilSj or fea-urcliin. See Echi- 
nus Marinus. 
EGRET; the Ardea Garretta of LinnjEus. This 
very beautiful bird, to which fome naturaliRs give 
the name of the lefler white heron, is now but 
rarely feen in England : though it appears from 
unqueftionable evidence, that Egrets were formerly 
very numerous ; for, in a bill of fare at the famous 
feaft of Archbifhop Nevill, mention is made of no 
lefs than one thoufand of them. Perhaps the great 
efteem in which they were held at that period, may 
have occafioned their extirpation in this ifland; 
but they are ftill very common in the fouthern 
parts of Europe, where they frequently appear in 
numerous flocks. 
The Egret meafures about twenty-four inches 
in length, and weighs about a pound. The bill is 
black and flender; the fpace about the eyes is 
naked, and green ; the Irides are of a pale yellow 
colour; and the head is adorned with a beautiful' 
creft, compofed of fome fhort feathers, and two 
long ones hanging backwards, which arc upwards 
of four inches in length. The whole plumage is 
of a refplendent whitenefs; the feathers on the 
breaft: and the fcapulars, which are extremely de- 
licate, long, flender, and unwebbed, hang in the 
lighteft and loofeft manner imaginable; and the 
legs are a dark green almoft approaching to black. 
The fcapulars and the creft were formerly much 
efteemed as ornaments for caps and head-pieces : 
hence the Aigrette and Egret came to fignify an 
Ornament for a Cap; though, according to the ety- 
mology of Belonius, the word was originally de- 
rived from Aigre de 1' Aigreur de fa Voix. 
EINBLINDER. The name of a fpecies of 
blind lamprey, called by naturalifts lampetra cseca. 
It is very fmall, not exceeding the common dew- 
worm either in length or thicknefs. It is alfo de- 
ftitute of fcales; but the body is divided by annular 
lines into no fewer than eighty-four-rings. The 
mouth, which is fituated in the under-part of the 
head, is round, and always open; in the middle of 
the head there is a cavity, as ufual in the lamprey 
kind, for the admiffion of water; and on each fide 
there are feven gill-holes. This animal has only 
one long fin, which runs along the ridge of it's 
back. 
ELAPHOC AMELUS. A term by which fe- 
veral authors exprefs the Peruvian camel, ufually 
called the llama, and employed in that country as 
a beaft of burden. 
ELAPS. A name fometimes given to the 
elops, a remarkable kind of ferpent found in the 
IfleofLemnos. See Elops. 
ETATER. A genus of infecls of the order 
of coleoptera, having fetaceous antenna ; which, 
when laid on their backs, enable them to leap with 
great force and agility ; and from this circumftance 
they receive their name. There are various fpecies 
of thefe four-winged flies, diftinguiflied by their 
difirrent colours. 
Elater, Mixed Brown, Green, and Brassy. 
This fpecies is fmall, and of an oblong fliape; 
the breaft and cafes of the wings of the male are 
very bright, ftrongly tinged with green; and the 
antenna; are a little peftinated on their edges. 
The colour of the female is more yellow; the breaft 
is broader and {nore gloflV; asd die feelers are 
without any peftination. This-infe6l ufually makes 
it's appearance in the month of June. 
Elater, Black, Red-Breasted. This very 
minute infeft is entirely of a black colour, except 
fome part of the breaft, which is red, and defcribes 
the figure of a crefcent, the horns of which are 
turned towards the head ; and alfo [he cafes of the 
wings, which have a blueifli caft. It is very com- 
mon in pafture-grounds, and under hedges, neaf 
London. 
Elater, Brownish Black. This fpecies, 
which is pretty large, has an oblong body; the co- 
lour is a brownifli black throughout; the head is 
fmall ; and the cafes of the wings, which are fmooth, 
exhibit Ibmewhat of a glofly appearance. 
Linnaeus gives this infeft the name of the brown 
notopeda; and likewife makes mention of the 
Black Elater with a hairy breaft; the Black Elater 
with a red breaft, already defcribed; and the Black 
Elater with red cafes to the wings. 
Other zoologifts enumerate the Greenifh Brafs- 
coloured Elater with yellow wings; the Black Ela- 
ter with blue cafes to the win2;s; the Black Elater 
with red v/ings on the back part; the Black Elater 
having the cafes of the wings livid on their exterior 
edges; the Red-breafted Elater with red cafes to 
the wings; and the Black Elater with brown cafes 
to the wings, and the feelers and legs of a reddifh 
brov/n colour. 
ELAWANDUM. A remarkable foecies of 
monkey very common in thelfleof Ceylon. It's 
hair is either v/hitifli or of a pale grey colour; and 
it has a long beautiful black Ijeard depending from 
it's chin. 
ELDRIENE. An appellation given by fome 
authors to the fmall fifli called in- Enoland the 
minnow; and by others varius, from the airemblage 
of different colours on it's fides and belly. 
ELECTRIC EEL. See Gymnotus. 
ELECTRIC FISH. See Torpedo. 
ELEPHANT. In the Linnsean fyftem of 
zoology, a diftinil genus of the brutie, in the clafs 
of mammalia; the diftinguifning charafters of 
which are, that it has no cutting-teeth; that the ca- 
nine or dog-teeth of the upper jaw are exceedingly 
long; and that it has a very long flexible probofcis, 
and a body almoft naked. 
The Elephant, which is the largeft of all land 
animals, is no lefs remarkable for it's docility and 
underftanding than for it's fize. All hiftorians are 
agreed that, next to man, the Elephant is the moft 
fao-acious of all creatures; notwithftandins; which, 
were we to form our ideas of it's capacity from it's 
external appearance, v;e fliould be induced to con- 
ceive a very mean opinion of it's abilities. It's huge 
body, covered with a callous hide, without hair; 
it's large miftiapen legs, which feem fcarcely 
formed for motion; together with it's little eyes, 
large ears, and long trunk; all unite in giving it 
an air of extreme ftupidity: but when we examine 
it's hiftory, our prejudices banifti; and, when we 
confider the various advantages it derives from it's 
clumfy conformation, our furprize increafes. 
Though it is altogether impoffible, by any de- 
fcription, however elaborate, to convey an adequate 
idea to the reader of this vaft animal, which is faid 
to grow froni feven to fifteen feet high; it may in 
general be obferved, that it has a long trunk, com- 
pofed of multitudes of rings, pliant in every di- 
reftion, and terminated by a fingle moveable hook, 
which anfwers the purpofe of a hand in conveying 
any fubftance to it's mouth. The forehead is very 
elevated.; 
