N I N 
caft out between them, and which ought rather to 
have been fuppreffed and kept a fecret. But the 
birds not knowing the difference between mo- 
deft, immodeft, filthy and honeft: words, did out 
with them. The other ftory was concerning the 
war, which the Emperor was then threatening 
againft the Proteftants ; which the birds proba- 
bly heard from fome of the generals that had held 
conferences in the houfe. Thefe things did they 
repeat in the night after twelve o'clock, when 
there was a deep filence. But in the day-time, 
for the moft part, they were ftill ; and feemed to 
do nothing but meditate and revolve with them- 
felves upon what the guefts conferred together as 
they fat at table, or in their walks. 
* I verily had never believed our Pliny v/riting 
fo many wonderful things concerning thele little 
creatures, had I not myfelf feen with my eyes, 
and heard them with my ears, uttering fuch things 
as I have related. Neither yet can I of a fudden 
write all, or call to remembrance every particular 
I have heard.' 
The Nightingale feldom fings when near it's 
neft, left it ftiould by that means be difcovered; 
frequents cool and fluady places, among linall 
groves and bulhes; and delights to fit on no lofty 
tree, except the oak. 
Young Nightingales, intended for the cage, 
ftould not be taken from the neft till they are al- 
moft as well fledged as the old ones: for though, 
when pretty old, they are apt to be fulien, and to 
refufe their food, yet their mouths are eafily 
opened ; and, after being forcibly fed for a few 
days, they begin to be reconciled to their fitua- 
tion, and voluntarily to eat. 
Nightingale, Amer.ican. This bird, which 
is a native of the Weft Indies, v^^as firft defcribed 
by Edwards, The upper mandible is of a dufky 
or blackifh colour, the under one beino; fiefli- 
coloured; the top of the head, the upper ftde of 
the neck, the back, and the upper fides of the 
wings and tail, are of a dark greenifh brown co- 
lour; the under fide, from the bill to the tail, is 
of a dirty orange-colour; and the inner coverts of 
the wings, as well as the inner webs of the quill 
and tail-feathers, are likewife orange. From 
above the angles of the mouth, a duftxy linepaftcs 
through each eye ; from beneath the angles of the 
mouth, another duflcy line pafTes under each eye; 
fome orange-coloured lines extend from the nof- 
trils above the eyes ; and the feet, legs, and claws, 
are of a dirty brown or blackifn colour. 
Nightingale, Mock. An appellation fome- 
times given to the black-cap. See Black-Cap. 
Nightingale, Virginian. The common, 
but improper appellation, of a bird of the grofs 
beaked kind, the coccothrauftes Indica criftataof 
2<uthors. This bird is fomewhat lefs than the 
blackbird; the beak is very large and thick; a 
black line furrounds the eyes and noftrils; the 
head is ornamented with a very high and beauti- 
ful crefc; and the whole plumage is of a very fine 
lively red colour, fomewhat paler on the head and 
tail. 
This elegant bird, vv^hich is a native of Virgi- 
nia, is frequently imported into England, where it 
is much valued both for it's beauty and fong. 
NINTIPOLONG. a Ceylonefe name for a 
fpecies of ferpent, called alfo ferpens hypnoticus. 
It's bite is highly deleterious, bringing on a deep 
lleep, which generally terminates in death. It is 
of a deep blackifh brown colour, variegated with 
fmall white fpecks. 
NO S 
NIQUI. An American appellation for a fifb 
of the cucullus kind, approaching to the figure of 
that fpecies commonly called draco, and areneus 
marinus; in Englifh, the weever. It is commonly 
caught on the American fhores; and, except the 
liver and gall, which are efteemed poifonous, the 
flefh is both wholefome and agreeable. 
NISUS. A name by which fome ornitholo- 
gifts exprefs the accipiter fringillarius, orfparrow- 
hawk, 
Nisus is alfo ufed by fome ancient naturalifts 
to fignify the haliaetus, or aquila marina; in Eng- 
lifh, the fea-eagle, or ofprey. 
NITEDULA. A clafTical appellation for the 
field-moufe. 
NOAH'S ARK SHELL. A fpecies of fea- 
fhell of the cordiform kind. The cabinets of the 
curious afford three varieties of this fhell: the 
common kind; the yellow and white kind, with 
broad irregular lines; and a variegated kind. To 
thefe varieties may be referred the oblong bucar- 
dium, or ox-heart fhell; called alfo the baftard 
Noah's Ark. 
NOCTIBO. An appellation given by the 
Portuguefe to a finall Brazilian bird, a fpecies of 
the goat-fucker or churn-owl; more commonly 
known aniong naturalifts by it's Brazilian name, 
ibijau. 
NOCTUA AURITA. A term by which 
fome naturalifts exprefs the horn-owl, more ufually 
diftinguifhed by the name of otus. 
NocTUA Canora. a name given by Nic- 
remberg to a bird common in the Spanifh Wefl 
Indies; called by the natives chicuatli, and fome- 
times kept in a cage for the fake of it's melody, 
Noctua Minor. An appellation given by 
Ray to the keutzlin; or, as fome call it, the 
fchaffik; a very beautiful little bird of the owl 
kind, about the fize of the common thrufb. 
NODDY. A bird of the gull kind, which 
builds it's neft among fuch cliffs as overhang the 
fea. It is reckoned an extremely fimple animal, 
and hence receives it's trivial name. It is about 
eleven inches long from the tip of the bill to the 
extremity of the tail; and the expanfion of the 
wings is about twenty- fix inches. The bill is 
one inch and a half long, fti-aight, black, and 
roundifh; it has two large apertures infcead of 
noftrils ; the top of the head is white; but the reft 
of the body is of a dirty brovv'n or reddifh colour. 
The legs and feet are about two inches long; and 
the toes are connected v/ith membranes of a dark 
brown colour. 
Thefe birds take long flights from the fhorc; 
and, when a fliip happens to be near them, they 
immediately alight on fome part of her, and are 
eafily taken, 
NOPE. A provincial appellation for the bull- 
finch. See Bull-Finch, 
NORWAY RAT. See Mouse, Sable; and 
Rat. 
, NOSE-FISH, OR BROAD SNOUT. A 
fifh of the coriaceous or leather-mouthed kind, 
about one foot long, and of the fliape and colour 
of a dace. The belly and fides are filvery ; but 
the fins on the lower part of the body, and the part 
below near the tail, are fometimes a little reddifh. 
There is a frnall blackifh fpot on the hinder part of 
the head ; the lateral lines are nearer to the belly 
than the back; and the fnout, which is flat and 
blunt, is a little more prominent than the mouth, 
by which it is diftinguifhed from all other lifh of 
this kind, and hence obtains the name of the 
Nof?-Fifh, 
