N U N 
N U R 
aliquot part of unity ; and a rational mixed 
number, that consisting ot a whole number 
and a broken one. 
Even number, that which may be divided 
into two equal parts without any fraction, as 
6, 12, See. The sum, difference, and pro- 
duct, of any number of even numbers, is al- 
ways an even number. 
An evenly even number, is that which 
may be measured, or divided, without any 
remainder, by another even number, as 4 
by 2. 
An unevenly even number, when a num- 
ber may be equally divided by an uneven 
number, as 20 by 5. 
Uneven number, that which exceeds an 
even number, at least by unity, or which 
cannot be divided into two equal parts, as 
3, 5, occ. 
The sum or difference of two uneven num- 
bers makes an even number ; but the factum 
of two uneven ones makes an uneven num- 
ber. 
If an even number is. added to an. uneven 
one, or if tire one is substracted from (he 
other, in the former case the sum, in the 
latter the difference, is an uneven number; 
but the factum of an even and uneven num- 
ber is even. 
The sum of any even number of uneven 
numbers is an even number ; and the sum 
of any uneven number of uneven numbers is 
an uneven number. 
Primitive or prime numbers, are those 
only divisible by unity, as 5, 7, &c. And 
prime numbers among themselves, are those 
which have no common measure besides 
unity, as 12 and 19. 
Perfect number, that whose aliquot parts, 
added together, make the whole number, as 
6, 28 ; the aliquot parts of 6 being 3, 2, and 
1 = 6,; and those of 2.8, being 14, 7, 4, 2, ], 
=■ 28. 
Imperfect numbers, those whose aliquot 
parts, added together, make either more or 
Less than the whole. And these are distin- 
guished into abundant and defective ; an in- 
stance in the former case is 12, whose ali- 
quot parts 6, .4, 3, 2, 1 make sixteen; and in 
the latter case 1 6, whose aliquot parts 8, 4, 2, 
and 1, make but 15. 
Plain number, that arising from the multi- 
plication of two numbers, as 6, which is the 
product of 3 by 2 ; and these numbers are 
called the sides of the plane. 
Square number, is the product of any num- 
ber multiplied by itself; thus. 4, which is the 
factum of 2 by 2, is a square number. 
Every square number added to its root 
makes an even number. 
Polygonal, or polygonous numbers, the 
sums of arithmetical progressions beginning 
with unity ; these, where the common dif- 
ference is 1, are called triangular numbers ; 
where 2, square numbers ; where 3, penta- 
gonal numbers ; where 4, hexagonal num- 
bers; where 5, heptagonal numbers, &c. See 
Polygonal. 
Pyramidal numbers: the sums of polygo- 
nous numbers, collected after the same man- 
ner as the polygons themselves, and not 
gathered out ot arithmetical progressions, 
are called first pyramidal numbers ; the 
sums of the first pyramidals are called se- 
cond pyranfidals, &c. 
If they arise out of triangular numbers, 
they are called triangular pyramidal num 
4 
bers ; if out of pentagons, first pentagonal 
pyramidals. 
From the manner of summing up poly- 
gonal numbers, it is easy to conceive how 
the prime pyramidal numbers are found, viz. 
(a — 2) n l -j- 3 n l — ( a — 5 ) it 
_ — __ — — expresses all 
the prime pyramidals. 
Number, in grammar, a modification of 
nouns, verbs, &c. to accommodate them to 
the varieties in their objects, considered with 
regard to number. 
NUMERAL letters, those letters of 
the alphabet which are generally used for 
figures as I, V, X, L, C, D, M. See 
Arithmetic, Character, &c. 
NUMERALS, in grammar, those words 
which express numbers ; as six, eight, ten, &c. 
NT AIR RATI ON. See Arithmetic, 
Character, &c. 
NUMIDA, in ornithology, a genus be- 
longing to the order of gailinse. On each 
side of the head there is a kind of .coloured 
fleshy horn; and the beak is furnished with 
cere near the nostrils. The species called 
meleagris, or Guinea hen, is a native of 
Africa. See Plate Nat. Hist. fig. 298. It is 
larger than a common hen. Its body is 
sloped like that of a partridge ; and its colour 
is all over a dark grey, very beautifully 
spotted with small white specks ; there is a 
black ring round the neck ; its head is red- 
dish, and it is blue under the eyes. They 
naturally herd together in large numbers, 
and breed up their young in common ; the 
females taking care of the broods of others, 
as well as ot their own. Barbut informs us, 
that in Guinea they go in flocks of 200 or 
300, perch on trees, and feed on worms and 
grasshoppers ; that they are run down and 
taken by dogs ; and that their flesh is ten- 
der and sweet, generally white, though some- 
times black. They breed very 'well with us. 
The white-breasted one is a mere variety, 
of which there are many ; it is mostly found 
in Jamaica. The mitred, or numida mitrata, 
is a different and not a common species ; it 
inhabits Madagascar and Guinea. The third 
species which Mr. Latham mentions is the 
crested, or numida cristata. This species 
likewise inhabits Africa. Butfon, who de- 
scribes it at great length, calls it la peintade. 
Linnaeus and Ginelin call it Numida melea- 
g is, Sec. Ray and YVillughby call itgallusand 
galiina Guineensis, &t». Mr. Pennant con- 
tends, and seems to prove, that the pintados 
had been egrly introduced into Britain, at 
least prior to the year 1277. But they seem 
to have been much neglected on account of 
the difficulty of rearing them ; for they 
occur not in our antient bills of fare. They 
have a double caruncle at the chaps, and no 
fold at the throat. 
NUNCIO, or Nuntio, an ambassador 
from the pope to some catholic prince or 
state ; or a person who attends on the pope’s 
behalf at a congress, or an assembly of se- 
veral ambassadors. The nuncio has a juris- 
diction and may delegate judges in all the 
states where he resides, except in France, 
where he has no authority but that of a 
simp e ambassador. See Ambassador. 
NUNCUPATIVE will, denotes a last 
will or testament, only made verbally, and 
not put in writing. See Will and Testa- 
ment. 
279 
NURSERY, in gardening, is a piece of 
land set apart for raising and propagating fcll 
sorts of trees and plants, to supply the gar- 
den and other plantations. 
In a nursery for fru t trees, the following 
rules are to be observ'd: 1. That the soil 
should not be better than that in which the 
trees are to be planted out for good. 2. 
That it ought to be fresh, and not such as 
has been already worn out by trees, or other 
large growing plants. 3. it ought neither 
to be too wet, nor too dry, but rather of a 
middling nature; though, of the two ex- 
tremes, d v is to be preferred; because, 
though trees in such a soil do not make so 
great a progress, yet they are generally 
sounder, and more dispo ed to fruitfulness. 
4. It must be inclosed in such a manner that 
neither cattle nor vermin may come in ; and 
so as particularly to exclude hares and rab- 
bits, which, when the ground is covered with 
snow, are great destroyers of young trees. 
5. The ground being inclosed should be care- 
fully trenched about two feet deep ; this 
this should be done in August, that it nffiv 
be ready for receiving young stocks at the 
season for planting, which is commonly about 
the beginning of October : in trenching the 
ground, you must be careful to cleanse it 
from the roots of all noxious weeds. 6. The 
season being come for planting, level down 
the trenches as equal as possible ; and then 
lay out the ground into quarters, which may 
be laid out in beds for a seminary, in which 
you may sow the seeds or stones of fruit. 
7. And having provided yourself with stocks, 
the next year proceed to transplant them, 
in the following manner : draw a line across 
the ground intended to be planted, and open 
a number of trenches exactly straight ; tiiien 
take the stocks out of the seed-beds; in 
doing which, you should raise the ground 
with a spade, in order to preserve the roots 
as entire as possible ; prune off the very 
small fibres, and if there are any that have 
a tendency to root directly downwards, such 
roots should be shortened. Then plant them 
in the trenches, if they are designed for 
standards, in rows three feet and a half, or 
four, feet, from each other, and a foot and a 
half distant in the rows; but if for dwarfs, 
three feet row from row, and one foot in the 
row, will be a- sufficient distance. These 
plants should by no means be headed, or 
pruned at top, which will weaken them, and 
cause them to produce lateral branches. If 
the winter should prove very cold, lay some 
mulch on the surface of the ground near 
their roots taking care not to let it lie too 
thick near the stems of the plants, and to 
remove it as soon as the frost is over. In efte 
summer season destroy the weeds, and dffi 
up the ground every spring between the 
rows. Tiie second year after planting, such 
of the stocks as are designed for dwarfs will 
be fit to bud ; but those that are designed 
for standards should be suffered to grow live 
or six feet high before they are budded or 
grafted ; for the manner of doing which, see 
Grafting. 
As to timber trees, Mr. Miller advises 
those gentlemen who would have plantations 
in parks, woods, Sec. to make nurseries upon 
the ground intended for planting, where a 
sufficient number of the trees may be left 
standing, after the others have been drawn 
out to plant in other places. 
