m y c 
AI Y O 
245 
Lmriaeus made a remarkable discovery 
relating to the generation of pearls in this 
iisli. It is a fkh that will bear removal re- 
markably well ; and it is said, that in some 
places they form reservoirs for the purpose 
of keeping it, and taking out the pearl, 
which, in a certain period of time, will be 
again renewed. From observations on the 
growth of their shells, and the number of 
their annular lamina; or scales, it is supposed 
the fish will attain a very great age ; 50 or 
60 years are imagined to be a moderate com- 
putation. The discovery turned on a me- 
thod which Li nn as us found, of putting these 
shell-fish into a state of producing pearls at 
his pleasure ; though the final effect did not 
take place for several years : he says that in 
live or six years after the operation, the pearl 
vvoukHiave acquired the size of a vetch. We 
are unacquainted with the means by which 
he accomplished this extraordinary operation. 
MY AG RUM, Gold of Pleasure, a genus 
of the siliculosa order, in the tetradynamia 
class of plants; and in the natural method 
ranking under the 39th order, siliquosae. 
The silicula is terminated by an oblong style ; 
the cell generally monospermous. There 
are ten species ; but the most remarkable is 
the sativum, which grows naturally in corn- 
fields in the south of France and Italy, and 
also in some parts of Britain. It is an annual 
plant; and is cultivated in Germany for the 
sake of the expressed oil of the seeds, which 
the inhabitants use for medicinal, culinary, 
and economical purposes. r l he seeds are a 
favourite food with geese. Horses, goats, 
sheep, and cows, eat the plant. 
MYCTERIA, the Jabiru, a genus of 
birds belonging to the order ot grails. 1 he 
bill is long, bending upwards, and acute; 
the nostrils are small and linear ; there is 
no tongue ; and the feet have four toes. 
There are two species; 1. The Americana, 
©r American jabiru, is about the size of a 
turkey. See Plate Nat. Hist. fig. 28S. The 
bill is long, stout, and of a black colour ; the 
whole plumage is white, except the head, and 
about two-thirds of the neck, which are bare 
of feathers and of a blackish colour; the 
remainder is also bare, and of a fine red ; on 
the hind-head are a few greyish feathers ; the 
legs are strong, of a great length, and cover- 
ed with black scales; wings and tail even at 
the end. This bird is found «in all the sa- 
vannas of Cayenne, Guiana, and other parts 
of South America. It is migratory and gre- 
garious. It makes its nest in great trees, 
which grow on the borders; lays two eggs, 
M Y O 
MYGTNDA, a genus of the tetragynia’ 
order, in the tetrandria class of plants; and 
in the natural method ranking with those of 
which the order is doubtful. I he calyx is 
quadripartite; the petals four; the fruit a 
globose plum. There are three species, 
shrubs of the West Indies. 
MYOSOTIS, Scorpion-grass, a genus of 
the monogynia order, in the pentandria class 
of plants ; and in the natural method rank- 
ing under the 4 1st order, asperifoliae. The 
corolla is salver-shaped, quinquefid, and 
emarginated ; the throat shut up by small 
arches. There are seven species, of which 
the most remarkable is the scorpioides, or 
mouse-ear. This is a weed of Britain, grow- 
ing naturally in dry fields, and margins of 
springs and rills. The blossoms vary from a 
full blue to a very pale one, and sometimes 
a yellow ; and appear in a long spirally 
twisted spike. When it grows in the water, 
and its take and smell are thereby rendered 
less observable, sheep will sometimes eat it ; 
but it is generally fatal to them. Cows, 
horses, swine, and goats, refuse it. 
MYOSURUS, a genus of the polyginia 
spreading form, like that of a squirrel; the 
eves are large and black; the ears thin,- 
rounded, and very slightly haired. Some- 
times the upper parts ot the body have a 
slight dusk), and sometimes a ferruginous 
tinge. Its general manners resemble those 
of a squirrel, but it is not easily tamed. I he 
young are produced about the middle of 
summer, and are four or five in number. 
2. Myoxus nitella, garden dormouse. 1 he 
garden dormouse is a native of the temper- 
ate and warmer regions of Europe and Asia,- 
and is commonly found in gardens, feeding 
on various kinds of fruit, particularly peaches 
and aprico'.s. Jt makes its nest, like the 
rest of this genus, in the hollows of trees, 
and sometimes in those of walls, or even in 
the ground about the roots of trees, &e. col- 
lecting, for this purpose, diied leaves, grass,- 
mosses, &c. Jn autumn it collects a quan- 
tity of nuts, mast, &c. and deposits it in its 
hole; and during the greatest part of the 
winter remains in a state of torpidity, awak- 
ing only at distant intervals. Its general 
length is about four inches and a half, and 
. . _ the tail rather less. It is of an ^legant 
order, in the pentandria class of plants , and j lu f 0lls or ferruginous colour above, and yel- 
m the natural method ranking under the 
26th order, multisiliquae. The calyx is pen- 
taphyllous, the leaves cohering at the base ; 
there are five subulated nectaria resembling 
petals ; the seeds are numerous. There is 
one species, a weed. 
MYOXUS, dormouse, a genus of qua- 
rupeds of the order gl ires : The generic cha- 
racter is, front-teeth two, the upper cuneat- 
ed, the lower compressed ; grinders four in 
each jaw ; vibrissa; long ; tail cylindric, vil- 
lose, thicker towards the end; legs of equal 
length,, fore-feet tetradactylous. 
1. Myoxus glis, fat dormouse; this spe- : 
cies, the glis of Pliny and the old naturalists, j 
is a native of France and the South ot Eu- i 
rope. It also occurs in Russia, Austria, &c.. i 
residing on trees, and leaping from bough to ; 
bough in the manner of a squirrel, though 
with a less degree of agility. It feeds on l 
nuts, acorns, fruit, &rc. and during great part ! 
of the winter remains torpid in its nest, which 
is prepared in the hollows of trees, with j 
dried leaves, moss, &c. During its state of j 
torpidity, it is said to grow very fat, con- 
trary to the nature of most of the hybernat- 
I mg or sleeping animals ; which are observed, 
on their first emerging from that state, to 
be far leaner than before its commencement. 
It is probable, however, that this animal 
awakes at intervals, and indulges in the use 
and brings up the young in the nest till they ' of its collected stores of provision, 
can descend to the ground. The colour of | It is but just to observe, that the count de 
the young birds is grey ; the second year it j Buffon has very properly exposed the ab- 
changes to rose-colour, and the third to pure j surdity of the ancient notion ; and has ob- 
white. They are very wild and voracious, j served that the animal occasionally wakess 
and their food is fish, which they devour in ; and makes use of its stock of provision. 1 he 
great quantities. i he flesh of the young | truth is, tuat it is at all times fat, and appear, 
birds is said to be good eating, but that of | as much so in spring as in autumn. By the 
the old is hard and oily. 2. The Asiutica, j ancient Romans it was numbered among the 
or Indian jabiru, is of a large size. The bill ; articles of luxury, and was fattened in pro- 
is dusky, almost straight above, and gibbous per receptacles, called ghrana. 
near the forehead; the under mandible The size'of this elegant species is not very 
‘ ' far short of that of a squirrel, measuring 
swelled beneath ; and from the base of the 
bill there passes through and beyond the eye 
a black streak. The general colour of the 
plumage is white ; the lower half of the back, 
the pi ime quills, and tail, are black ; the legs 
a pale red. This species inhabits the East 
Indies, and feeds on snails. 
from nose to tail near six inches, and the tail 
four and a half. It is an animal of a much 
lowish white beneath; the eyes are imbed- 
ded in a large black patch or spot, which ex- 
tends to some distance beyond each ear; 
the tail is somewhat wider towards the end, 
and sharpens at the extremity, and is mark- 
ed-on that part by a longitudinal black stripe, 
having the edges white. These animals 
produce their young about the middle of 
summer, v, hich are about five or six in 
number, and are said to be of a very quick 
growth. 
3. Myoxus muscardinus, common dor- 
mouse. 'The size ot this animal is nearly equal 
to that of a mouse, but it is of a more plump 
or rounded form, and the nose is move ob- 
tuse in proportion ; the eyes are large, black, 
and prominent ; the ears broad, thin, and 
semitransparent; the fore-feet have four 
toes, and the hind-feet live, but the interior 
ot these latter are destitute of nails ; the tail 
is about two inches and a half long, and 
is closely covered on all sides with hair, 
which is rather longer towards the tip than 
on the other parts ; the head, back, sides, 
belly, and tail, are of a tawny-red colour ; . 
the throat white ; the fur is remarkably soft, 
and the whole animal has a considerable de- - 
gree of elegance in its appearance. It some- 
times happens that the colour is rather 
brown than reddish. 
Dormice, says Mr. Pennant, inhabit woods 
or very thick* hedges ; forming their nests- 
in the hollows of some low tree, or near the 
bottom of a close shrub. As they want 
much of the sprightliness of the squirrel, they, 
never aspire to the tops of trees, or attempt 
to bound from spray to spray. Like the 
squirrel, they form little magazines of nuts, 
&c. for their winter provision, and take their 
food in the same upright posture. The con- 
sumption of their hoard during the rigour of 
winter is but small, for they sleep,. most part 
of the time, retiring into their holds on the 
approach of winter, and rolling themselves 
up, lie torpid during the greatest part of the 
thicker form, in proportion, than a squirrel, ; gloomy season. Sometimes they experience 
and is'cf an elegant ash-colour, white on the a short revival in a warm sunny day ; when 
under parts and insides of the limbs; the they take a little food, and then relapse into 
tail is very villose or furry, and of a slightly [ their former state. - 
