LUC 
ITiese birds may be instructed to whistle a 
T’ariety of tunes, and to utter several words, 
and two bulfinches have been actually 
taught to sing in parts ; but the natural 
notes of tliese birds are monotonous and un- 
interesting. See Aves, Plate VIII. tig. 7. 
L. chloiis, or the greenfinch, is abundant 
also in this country, where, like the former, 
it continues throughout the year, but changes 
its habitation agreeably to the seasons. The 
female constructs a nest with considerable 
attention to the warmth and comfort of her 
young, which she provides for with the 
fondest assiduity and attachment. The 
male divides the labours of incubation with 
his partner. They are familiarised with 
extreme ease, and will imitate the notes of 
other birds with great success. 
LUCANUS, in natural history, a genus 
of insects of the order Coleoptera. Anten- 
jiac clavate, the club compressed and di- 
vided into pectinate leaves ; jaws project- 
ing beyond the head, so as to resemble 
horns, toothed ; two palpigerous tufts under 
the lip. There are about twenty-six spe- 
cies. The principal is the L. cervus, com- 
monly known by the name of stag-beetle, 
or stag-chaffer. See Plate III. Entomo- 
logy, fig. 3. This is the largest of alt the 
European coleopterous insects, being be- 
tween two or three inches long. It is ge- 
nerally of a deep chesnut colour, with some 
of its pgrts of a blacker cast. It is chiefly 
found in the neighbourhood of oak trees, 
delighting in the honey-dew, so frequently 
observed on the leaves. Its larva is found 
in the hollows of oak-trees, residing in the 
fine vegetable mould usually seen in such 
cavities, and feeding on the softer parts of 
the decayed wood. It is large, and of a 
whitish colour, and when stretched at its 
length, measures nearly four inches. When 
arrived at its full size, which is about the 
fifth or sixth year, it forms a hollow in tlie 
earth in which it lies, and afterwards re- 
maining perfectly still for the space of a 
month, divests itself of its skin, and com- 
mences pupa. It is now shorter than be- 
fore, of a deeper colour, and exhibits in a 
striking manner the rudiments of the large 
extended jaws and broad head, so conspi- 
ctious in the perfect insect. The chrysalis 
lies about three months before it gives birth 
to the complete insect, which usually 
emerges in the months of July and August. 
The exotic species of this genus are mostly 
natives of America ; but a very elegant spe- 
cies has been discovered in New Holland, 
which differs from the rest in being entirely 
of a beautiful golden-green colour, with 
LUM 
short, sharp-pointed, denticulated jaws, of 
a brilliant copper-colour. 
LUCERNALIA, in natural history, a 
genus of the Vermes Mollusca class and or- 
der; body gelatinous, wrinkled, branched; 
mouth placed beneath. There are three 
species, viz. L. quadricornus ; body long- 
coiled, with four forked arms tentaculate at 
the tip. It inhabits the Northern seas, on 
fuci ; feeds on polypi. L. phrygia ; body 
long, papillous, with numerous globiferous 
arms deflected into an hemisphere; fixed 
at the base by a byssus or mass of fila- 
ments. It inhabits deeps in the Greenland 
seas, and seldom changes its abode. L. au- 
ricula resembles flask ; neck round, the 
lower extremities dilated and surrounded 
with eight fasciculi of tentaculi. Found in 
the Greenland seas, adhering very fiimly to 
the largest ulvae, from which it rarely 
moves ; feeds on onisci, and is about one 
inch aod a half long. 
LUCERNE is a plant frequently culti- 
vated in the manner of clover. Its leaves, 
like the latter, grow three at a joint, its 
stalks are erect, and after mowing, imme- 
diately spring up again from the stubble. It 
is made into hay, in the same manner as 
saintfoin, but should be mowed before it 
flowei's. It makes the sweetest and most 
fattening food in the world for cattle. 
LUDWIGIA, in botany, so named in 
honour of Christian Gottlieb Ludwig, Pro- 
fessor of Medicine at Leipsic ; a genus of 
the Tetrandria Monpgynia class and order. 
Natural order of Calycanthemoe. Onagree, 
Jussieu. Essential character : calyx four- 
parted, superior ; corolla four-petalled ; cap- 
sule inferior, four-cornered, four- celled ; re- 
ceptacle distinct from the axis of the fruit, 
bearing the seeds on each side. There are four 
species, natives of the East and West Indies. 
LUES, among physicians, is, in general, 
used for a disease of any kind ; but, in a more 
particular sense, is restrained to contagious 
and pestilential diseases, as the lues venerea. 
LUMBAGO, in medicine, a rheumatic 
affection of the muscles about the loins. 
LUMBRICUS, in natural history, the 
earth-worm, a genus of the Vermes Intesti- 
na : body round, annulate, with generally 
an elevated fleshy belt near the head, 
mostly rough, with minute concealed 
prickles, placed longitudinally, and fur- 
nished with a lateral aperture. Gmelin has 
enumerated sixteen species, of which we 
shall notice the following : L. terristris, dew- 
worm; body red, with eight rows of 
prickles ; there are two varieties, one be- 
ing as long again as the otlier. It inhabits 
