B 1 tl 
the help of a pole ; whilst the ivw’tftant, upon 
receiving the necessary signals, shifts the' 
rope from one part of the rocky precipice fo 
another. If the weight of the -fowler and of 
bis booty should, in these perilous circum- 
stances, overpower his associate above, or 
the craggy rock cut the rope, inevitable de- 
struction must await the adventurer ; for he 
will either be dashed against the projecting 
rock, or drowned in the subjacent sea. But 
the most singular mode of bird-catching is 
in the holm ot Noss ; which is a huge reck 
severed from the isle of Noss by some un- 
known convulsion, and distant from it about 
sixteen fathoms. The opposite cliffs are se- 
parated by the raging sea. The adventurer, 
having reached the rock in a boat, and as- 
cended to the top of it, fastens several stakes 
in the shallow soil that, is found on the sur- 
face of the rock ; and similar stakes are also 
attached to the edge of the corresponding 
I and opposite cliff. A rope is then fixed to 
the stakes on both sides, upon which a ma- 
I chine, called a cradle, is contrived to slide ; 
and bv Die help of a small parallel cord 
fastened in like manner, the daring adven- 
turer wafts himself over, ami returns with 
his booty. 
In the Feroe islands the method of bird- 
catching is more extraordinary and hazard- 
ous than any which lias already been re- 
cited. Tire cliffs to which the fowlers re- 
cur, are in many cases 200 fathoms high ; 
I and they are traversed both from above and 
below. In the first case, the fowlers provide 
themselves with a rope 80 or 100 fathoms 
j long; and the adventurer fastens one end 
about his waist and between his legs, and 
having recommended himself to the protec- 
tion of the Almighty, he is lowered down by 
six associates, who place a piece of wood 
, in the margin of the rock, that the rope may 
be preserved from being fretted and broken 
by its sharp edge. 'Fo Ids body is fastened 
a small line, which serves for enabling him 
to give the necessary signals, when he wishes 
to be raised or lowered, or shifted from one 
place to another. In changing his situation, 
he is exposed to the hazard of injury from 
loosened and falling stones ; which falling on 
the head, must inevitably destroy him, if he 
was not in some degree protected by a 
strong thick cap. The fowlers, by their as- 
tonishing dexterity, contrive to place their 
feet against the front of the precipice, and 
to dart themselves some fathoms from it, for 
the purpose of surveying the roosting-places 
of the birds, and projecting themselves into 
the deep recesses where they lodge. 'There 
the fowler aiights; and disengaging himself 
from the rope, which he tixes to a stone, 
collects tire booty at his leisure, attaches it 
" to his girdle, and when this is done, resumes 
his suspended posture. He will also, when 
occasions require it, spring from the rock ; 
and in this attitude, by means of a fowling- 
net fixed to the end of a staff, catch the old 
birds which are flying to and from their re- 
treats. When this hazardous operation is 
finished, he gives a signal to Iris companions 
above ; who pull him up, and divide the 
booty. The feathers are preserved for ex- 
portation ; the flesh is partly eaten fresh, 
and the greater part is dried for winter’s pro- 
vision. In fowling from below, the party 
have recourse to a boat ; .and when they 
have arrived at the base of the precipice. 
BIS 
one of thf most intrepid of them fastens a ] 
rope about his waist, and being iunu hed 1 
With a long pole, with an iron hook at one I 
end, either climbs, or is thrust up by Ins 
companions, who place a pole under h m,to 
the next footing-spot within bis reach. By 
means of the rope he hoists up one o' the 
boat's crew ; and the rest are drawn up in 
the same manner, each of them being fur- 
nished with his rope and fowling-staff. They 
licm pursue their journey upwards, till 
they arrive at the region of the birds ; and 
they wander about the cli'.t in search of 
them. 'They next act in pairs ; one fastens 
himself to the end of his associate’s rope, 
and, in places where birds have nestled be- 
neath his footing, he suffers himself to be 
lowered down, depending for safety on the 
strength of his companion, by whom he is 
again hauled up ; but it sometimes happens, 
that the person above is overpowered by the 
weight, and in this case both inevitably 
perish. The fowl is flung into the boat, 
which attends their operations for the pur- 
pose of receiving the booty. The fowlers 
often pass seven or eight days in this perilous 
occupation, and lodge in the crannies wiiich 
they find in various parts of the precipice. 
Bird-lime, a viscid substance, prepared 
in different ways. The most common bird- 
lime among us, is made from holly-bark, 
boiled ten or twelve hours ; when the green 
coat being separated from the other, it is 
covered up a fortnight in a moist place, then 
pounded into a tough paste so that no fibres 
of the wood are discernible, and washed in 
a running stream till no motes appear ; put 
up to ferment four or five days, skimmed 
as often as any thing arises, and laid up for 
use. To use it, a third part of nut-oil, or 
thin grease, must be incorporated with it over 
• the lire. It is also made from the gluten of 
wheat. 
The Italians make bird-lime of the berries 
of the misleto-tree. That which comes from 
Damascus is supposed to be made of sebas- 
tens : and it is said that the bark of any of 
our wayfaring shrubs will make very good 
bird-lime. 
BIRRUS, in Roman antiquity, a cloak 
made of woollen cloth, worn by the soldiers : 
also a robe worn by the priests or bishops. 
BIRTH. See Midwifery. 
Birth, or Birthing, in the sea-language, 
a convenient place to moor a ship in ; also 
a due distance observed by ships lying at 
anchor, or under sail ; and a proper place 
aboard for a mess to put their chests, Ac. is 
called the birth of that mess. 
BIRTH WORT. See Aristolochia. 
BISA, or biza, a coin of Pegu, which is 
current there for half a ducat. It is also a 
weight used in that kingdom. 
B1SCUTELLA, buckler-mustard, or 
bastard Mithridate mustard : a genus of the 
tetradynamia siliculosa class and order of 
plants ; and in the natural method ranking 
under the 39th order, siliquosae. The silicula 
is flat-compressed, rounded above, and below 
two-lobed, and the leaves of the calyx are 
gibbous at the base. There are six species, 
all natives of France, Italy, Spain, and Ger- 
many ; of which the most remarkable are : 
1 ,'Biscutella apula, with flowers growing 
in spikes, and a shorter style. 
2. Biscutella auriculata, with small pods 
joined to the style. 
BIS 221 
3. Riirutrild didyniu, with a double <-'i;i- 
cular ped diverging bom the style. 
BISECT, U> divide into two parts. The. 
rational horizon bisects the globe into two 
equal parts. 
BISELLIA1U, or Biselliarji, in anti- 
quity, those who enj- \ed the honour or pri- 
vilege of the hiseiliinn. 
BldELLIl M, in antiquity, a kind of seat 
or chair, larger and richer than oiv.ma.ry, big 
enough to hold two persons, wherein to sit 
in courts, theatres, and other public assem- 
blies. 
BISERRULA, a genus of the decandria 
order, and diadeiphia class oi pi ; and 
in the natural method ranking under tire 3 rd 
order, papilionacea*: thelegmncn is bilocular 
and flat ; and the partition contrary. Oi this 
’genus there is only one species known, viz. 
Biserrula pelecina, an annual plant, with 
purple flowers; a native of tfie south of 
Europe. 
BISHOP, signifies an over rer or super- 
intendant. An archbishop, is the chief of 
the clergy in his own province, who next 
and immediately under the king has 
supreme power, &c. in all causes and 
things ecclesiastical; and has the inspection 
of ail the bishops of that province, lie 1ms 
also his own diocese, where he exercises 
episcopal jurisdiction, as in his province he 
exercises arehiepiscopal. As archbishop, 
upon receipt of tiie king’s writ, he calls the 
bishops and clergy of his province to meet 
in convocation : to him all appeals are made 
from inferior jurisdictions within his province. 
During the vacancy of any see in his pro- 
vince, he is guardian of the spiritualities 
thereof. If the arehiepiscopal see .is vacant, 
the clean and chapter are the spiritual guar- 
dians. The archbishop is entitled to present 
by lapse, to all the ecclesiastical livings in 
the disposal of the diocesan bishops, if not 
filled within six months. And he has a cus- 
tomary prerogative, when a bishop is conse- 
crated by him, to have the next presentation 
to such dignity or benefice in the bishop’s 
disposal, as the archbishop shall clutse; 
which is therefore called his option. 1 Black. 
380. The archbishops may retain and quali- 
fy eight chaplains, whereas a bishop can only 
qualify six. 
Bishops are elected by the dean and chap- 
ter ; in order whercunto, when a bishop 
dies or is translated, the dean and chapter 
certify the king thereof in chancery ; upon- 
which the king issues a licence to them to 
proceed to an election, called aconge-d’elire ; 
and wfith it sends a letter missive, containing 
the name of the person whom they shall 
elect ; which if they shall refuse to do, they 
incur the penalty of a praemunire. 
A bishop must be full thirty years of age 
when consecrated. 
A bishop has his consistory court, to hear 
ecclesiastical causes ; and is to visit the clergy, 
&c. Fie consecrates churches; ordains, ad- 
mits, and institutes priests ; confirms, sus- 
pends, excommunicates, grants licences for 
marriage, makes probates of wills, &c. Co. 
Lit. 96. Rol. Abr. 230. 
In England there are twenty-four bishop- 
rics, and two archbishoprics,; in Scotland, 
none ; in Ireland eighteen bishoprics, and, 
four archbishoprics: and in the pjpish coun- 
tries abroad they are still more numerous. 
AU bishops of England are lord; of parlia- 
