CAN 
irrigation might be made the means of cul- 
tivating every inch of tliis island, except 
rocky ground and mountain tops, and these 
ought to be planted.” He states, that “ of 
two metliods of raising the money for mak- 
ing canals, the one which seems to deserve 
the preference is, the mode by which turn- 
pike roads are usually provided for, instead 
of entrusting it to the management of inte- 
rested companies. The latter method is 
exceptionable, from its creating a perpetual 
charge on all goods sent by that convey- 
ance, without regarding the money expend- 
ed, or the interest it may ultimately pro- 
duce, whicli is a very imprudent bargain 
for the public in this country, where popu- 
lation, trade, manufactures, and commerce 
are so much upon the increase.” 
CANARINA, in botany, a genus of the 
Hexandria Monogynia class and order. Na- 
tural order of Campanaceae. Campanula- 
cese, Jussieu. , Essential character ; calyx 
six- leaved; corolla six-cleft, bell-form ; 
stigmas six; capsule inferior, six-celled, 
many-seeded. Tliere are two species, of 
which C. campanula, Canary bellflower, has 
a perennial root ; stem three feet high ; co- 
rolla resembling that of a crown imperial, 
with a yellow eye ; style club-form. Native 
of the Canary Islands. 
CANARIUM, in botany, a genus of the 
Dioecia Pentandria class and order. Essen- 
tial character : male, calyx two-leaved ; co- 
rolla three-petalled : female, calyx two- 
leaved ; corolla three-petalled ; stigma sessile; 
drupe with a three-cornered nut. There is 
but one species; viz. C. commune. This 
tree is a native of the Molucca islands, 
Banda, and New Guinea. The nuts are 
eaten both raw and dressed by the inhabi- 
tants ; an oil is expressed from them, which 
is used at the table when fresh, and for 
lamps when stale ; bread is also made from 
them, cakes, biscuits, &c. for the table. 
CANARY bird. See Fringij.la. 
CAN CER, in astronomy, one of the twelve 
signs of the zodiac, represented on the globe 
in the form of a crab, and thus marked ($) 
in books. See Astronomy. 
Cancer, tropic of, in astronomy, a lesser 
circle of the sphere parallel to tire equator, 
and passing through the beginning of the 
sign Cancer. 
Cancer, the crab, in natural history, a 
genus of insects of the order Aptera. The 
generic character : eight legs in general, 
sometimes six or ten, besides two chelated 
arms; two eyes, distant, in general foot- 
stalked, elongated, and moveable ; tail un- 
CAN 
armed, and jointed. Animals of this genus 
at particular periods cast their shells, pre- 
viously to which the limbs shrink, to facili- 
tate their extrication. The loss of a limb, 
with other animals irreparable, is of little 
consequence to these, as a few weeks Suf- 
fice to reproduce one : and in cases of bruise 
or mutilation, a consciousness of this even- 
tual, and indeed speedy reproduction, in- 
duces them violentljf to rid themselves of 
the injured member, and to await in seclu- 
sion the formation of a complete substitute 
for it. Some species which are unprovided by 
nature witli any shelly covering, uniformly 
have recourse to such shells as they find best 
accommodated to their purpose, and in 
which their bodies are immersed, while 
their claws are protruded and unprotected. 
The correspondence of parts in both sides 
of almost all other animals is far from being 
universably observable in these. The clas- 
pers on one side are often of extraordinary 
size, and on the other slender and small ; 
and in some instances the large arm is 
obliged to be supported by the back of the 
animal, both while walking and at rest, from 
its unwieldy and extravagant size. The 
genus comprehends an immense variety of 
species ; but the chief division is into the 
Brachyouri and the Macrouri, or the short- 
tailed and the long-tailed : under the former 
of which the crab commonly used in this 
countiy for food is the principal. It is found 
chiefly on the rocky coasts. Among the 
Macrouri, the common lobster is the prin- 
cipal, and a well-known specimen. It in- 
habits in the clearest water, and at the base 
of rocks which project over the sea. It is 
extremely prolific, depositing about 12,000 
eggs each time of laying. The warmth of 
summer is required for maturing them. The 
C. Norwegicus, or Norwegian crab, is na- 
turally of a pale red colour, and variegated 
with yellow. It is longer, and more slender 
than the ordinary lobster. For a represen- 
tation of it see Entomology, Plate II. fig. i. 
C. grapsus, or the streaked crab, is an inha- 
bitant of the American and Indian seas. Its 
general pale yellow is finely interspersed' 
with red streaks and spots. For a specimen 
see Entomology, Plate II. fig. 2. 
CANCROMA, the boat-bill, in nahmal 
history, a genus of birds of the order Gral- 
las. Generic character : bill gibbous, 
shaped like an inverted boat ; nostrils placed 
in a furrow, and small ; tongue small; and 
toes divided. Of these there seems to be 
only one species, though Gmelin speaks, 
somewhat doubtfully indeed, of a second. 
