E R I 
e r i 
E R I 
rate herds, never associating with that spe- 
cies. See Plate Nat. Hist. tig. 187. 
(3. Equus bisculus, or cloven-footed horse. 
The very name of this species seems to imply 
a kind of equivocal and anomalous being ; 
one of the most prominent characters of the 
present genus being a simple or undivided 
hoof. Indeed if only a single specimen of 
this animal had been described, we might 
have hesitated as to admitting it otherwise 
than as an accidental variety. 
The cloven-footed horse is a native of 
South Ame.iea, and was first described by 
Molina, in his Natural History of Chili. In 
its general appearance, size, colour, and 
many other particulars, both external and 
internal, it resembles the ass, but has the 
voice and the ears of a horse, and has no cross 
or transverse band over the shoulders. It is 
very wild, strong, and swift, and is found in the 
rocky regions of the Andes or Cordilleras of 
Peru and Chili. The hoofs are divided like 
those of ruminant animals. 
It is singular that this curious species, 
which seems to form a kind of link between 
the cloven-hoofed and whole-hoofed tribes, 
should have so long remained unknown to 
the naturalists of Europe. 
ERANARCHA, a public officer among 
the antient Greeks, whose business was to 
preside over and direct the alms and provi- 
sions made for the poor. Cornelius Nepos, 
' in his life of Epaminondas, describes his of- 
, lice thus : when any person was reduced to 
poverty, taken captive, or had a daughter to 
I marry, which he could not effect for want of 
( money, S:c. the eranarcha called an assembly 
of triends and neighbours, and taxed each ac- 
cording to fiis means and estate, to contribute 
towards his relief. 
ERAN THEMUM, a genus of the mono- 
gyni’a order, in the diandria class of plants, 
and m the natural method ranking with those 
of which tlie order is doubtful. The corolla 
is quinquelid, with the tube, filiform ; the an- 
therae without the tube; the stigma simple. 
There are five species, herbs or under- 
shrubs of the Cape of Good Hope. Some 
' of them are very ornamental inhabitants of 
our stoves, and would probably thrive in a 
greenhouse. 
ERICA, heai/i, a genus of the monogynia 
order, in the octandria class of plants, and in 
the natural method ranking under the 18th 
order, bicornes. The calyx is tetraphyllous ; 
the corolla quadrifid ; the filaments inserted 
into the receptacle; the antherre bifid ; the 
capsule quadrilocular. There are upwards 
of 100 species, four of them natives of Britain, 
which are so well known, that no description 
need be given of them. In the Highlands 
of Scotland this plant is made subservient to 
a great variety of purposes. The poorer in- 
habitants make walls for their cottages with 
alternate layers of heath and a kind of mor- 
tar made of black earth and straw. The 
woody roots of the heath are placed in the 
centre; the tops externally anti internally. 
They make their beds of it, by placing the 
roots downwards ; arid the tops 'only being 
uppermost, they are sufficiently soft to sleep 
upon. Cabins are also thatched with it. 
In the island of Hay, ale is frequently made 
by brewing one part of malt and two of the 
tops of young heath, sometimes adding haps. 
Boethius relates, that this liquor was much 
used by the Piets. Woollen doth boiled in 
alum-water, and afterwards in a strong de- 
coction of heatli-tops, comes out of a fine 
orange-colour, The stalks and tops will tan 
leather. Besoms, and faggots to bum in 
ovens, are also made of this plant. It is also 
used for filling up drains that are to be cover- 
ed aver. Sheep and goats will sometimes 
eat the tender shoots, but they are not fond 
of them. Cattle not accustomed to feed on 
heath, give bloody milk, but they are soon 
relieved by drinking plentifully of water. 
Horses will eat the tops. Bees extract a 
great deal of honey from the- flowers; and 
where heath abounds, the honey has a red- 
dish cast. There are many exotic species 
with which our greenhouse collections are 
enriched and adorned, as the tritlora, tubi- 
fiora, australis, &c. 
ERIDANUS, in astrommy, a constella- 
tion of the southern hemisphere, containing, 
according to different authors, 19, 30, or 
even 84 stars. 
ERIGERON, flea-bane, a genus of the 
polygamia superfiua order, in the syngenesia 
class of plants, and in the natural method 
ranking under the 49th order, composite. 
The receptacle is naked; the pappus hairy ; 
the llorets of the radius are linear, and very 
narrow. There are 30 species, of which the 
most remarkable is the viscosum, or male 
flea-bane of Theophrastus, and greater flea- 
bane of Dioscorides. It is a native of the 
south of France and Italy; and has a per- 
ennial root, whence arise many upright 
stalks near three feet high. r l he leaves in 
warm weather sweat out a clammy juice; the 
flowers are produced single upon pretty long 
footstalks, are of a yellow colour, and have 
an agreeable odour. The plants are easily 
propagated by seeds, and thrive best in a 
dry sod and sunny aspect. 
EIUNUS, a genus of the angiospermia or- 
der, in the didynamia class of plants, and in 
the natural method ranking under the 40th 
order, personate. The calyx is pentaphyl- 
lous ; the limb of the corolla quinquefid and 
equal, with its lobes emarginated, and the 
upper lip very short and reflexed ; the cap- 
sule bilocular. There are 13 species, none 
of them natives of Britain. They grow from 
two inches to four feet in height, and are 
adorned with flowers of a white or purple 
colour. They are propagated by seeds, but 
in this country generally require to be kept 
in shelter. 
ERIOCAULON, a genus of the trigynia 
order, in the triandria class of plants, and in 
the natural method ranking with the sixth 
order, ensate. The common calyx is an im- 
bricated capitulum or knob; there are three 
equal petals, and the stamina are on the 
germen. There are six species, exotics of 
no note. 
ERIOCEPHALUS, a genus of the poly- 
gamia necessaria order, in the syngenesia 
class of plants, and in the natural method 
ranking under the 49th order, composite. 
The receptacle is somewhat villous ; there is 
no pappus; the calyx is decaphyllous and 
equal; the radius has five florets. There are 
two species, herbaceous plants of the Cape. 
EIUO RHO RUM, a genus of the monogy- 
nia order, in the triandria class of plan s, and 
in the natural method ranking under the third 
order, calamurire. The glumes are paleaceous, 
and imbricated allround; there is no corolla; 
047 
and only one seed furnished with a very long 
down. There are six species, nearly allied to 
the grasses, only two natives of Britain. - 
ElH I HALTS, a genus of the monogynia 
order, in the pentrndria class of plants, find 
in the natural method ranking with those of 
which the order is doubtful. The corolla is 
qiynquepartite ; the calyx urceolated or blad- 
der-like; the berry decemlocular, inferior. 
There are two species, trees of Jamaica and 
the Society Isles. 
ERINACEUS, hedgehog, a genus of qua- 
drupeds of the order of fene. The generic 
character is; front teeth two both above and 
below, those of the upper jaw distant, of the 
lower approximated; canine teeth on eacii 
side, in the upper jaw live, in the lower three; 
grinders on each side, both above and below, 
four; body covered ou the upper parts with 
spines. 
1. Erinaceifi Europams. Common or Euro* 
pean hedgehog. The hedgehog is found in 
most of the temperate parts of Europe and 
Asia, and, according to Mr. Pennant, is also 
seen in M adagascar. It commonly mea- 
sures about 1 1 inches from the nose" to the 
tip of the tail, which is about an inch loner. 
Its colour is generally grey-brown, but It 
sometimes is found totally white, or of a yel- 
lowish white. It feeds principally on the 
roots of vegetables; but it also eals’worms, a$ 
well as beetles and other insects. It wanders 
about chiefly by night, and during the day 
conceals itself in its hole, under the roots of 
some tree, or mossy bank. It produces four 
or five young at a birth, which are soon co- 
vered with prickles like those of the parent 
animal, but shorter and weaker. The nest is 
large, and is composed of moss. 
The hedgehog, when disturbed, rolls itself 
rip into a globular form, and thus presents to 
its adversary an invulnerable ball of prickles^ 
From this state of security, it is not easily 
forced ; scarcely any thing but cold water 
obliging it to unfold itself. It swims per- 
fectly well when thrown into water,. 
The hedgehog is one of those animals 
which, during the winter, are supposed to 
continue in a state of torpidity. In that sea- 
son it lies concealed in its hole, surrounded 
with a bed of moss, secure from the rigours 
of the most piercing frost, and at the return 
of spring recommences its wanderings. 
The hedgehog may be rendered in a con- 
siderable degree domestic ; and has fre- 
quently been introduced into houses for the 
purpose of expelling those troublesome in- 
sects the blattae, or cockroaches, which it 
pursues with avidity, and is fond of feeding 
on. It is itself an occasional article of food 
in some places, and is said to be best in the 
month ot August. 
The hedgehog is generally considered as a 
harmless inoffensive animal, but has been 
freequently supposed (and to this day the 
absurd notion prevails in many places) to 
suck the teats of cows by night, and thus 
cause by its prickles those ex ulcerations 
which are sometimes seen on cattle. From 
this accusation, however, it is completely 
absolved by Mr. Pennant, who observes 
that its mouth is by far too small to admit of 
this practice. 
2. Erinaceus inauris. Earless hedgehog 
This, on a general view, seems to be nothing 
more than a variety of the common hedge- 
