CAP 
C. Caiicasica, the Caucasan goat, inha- 
bits the most rugged rocks of mount Cau- 
casus, and is, perhaps, superior in vigour 
and agility to all that have been mentioned. 
A bezoar is sometimes found in the sto- 
mach of this animal as well as in that of 
several other quadrupeds. Monardes states 
that he saw one of these creatures leap 
from a high tower, and having reached the 
ground upon his horns, immediately, with- 
out any wound, dislocation, or contusion, 
rise on his feet. 
CAPRARIA, in botany, goat-weed, a 
genus of the Didynamia Angiospermia class 
and order. Natural order of Personata;. 
Scrophulariae, Jussieu : Essential character, 
calyx five-parted; corol bell-form, five- 
cleft, acute ; capsules bivalve, bilocular, 
many seeded. There are seven species, of 
which C. biflora, shnibby goat-weed, or 
sweet weed, is a shrub seldom exceed- 
ing four feet in height ; branches long and 
woody ; leaves oblong accuminate at both 
ends, an inch and half long ; peduncles one- 
flowered, slender ; flowers without scent ; 
calyx smooth; corolla white; capsule fur- 
rowed on both sides the length of the ca- 
lyx : seeds small. It is common in Ja- 
maica, in all the Caribbees, and the neigh- 
bouring continent. 
CAPRICORN, in astronomy, one of the 
twelve signs of the zodiac, represented on 
globes in the form of a goat, and charac- 
terized in books by this mark V^. See As- 
tronomy. 
Capricorn, tro\nc of, a lesser circle of 
the sphere, which is parallel to the equi- 
noctial, and at 23° 30' distance from it 
southwards. 
CAPRIFOLIA, the third order of the 
eleventh class of Jussieu’s natural system. 
It has the following characters : calyx one- 
leafed, superior, often calycled or bracteated 
at its base ; corolla generally monopetalous, 
either regular or irregular, in a few instances 
polypetalous ; petals united by a broad base ; 
stamens of a definite number, often five, 
in the monopetalous genera always inserted 
into the corolla, and alternating with its 
segments ; in the polypetalous ones some- 
times placed upon the pistil, alternating 
with the petals, and sometimes fixed to the 
middle of each petal ; germ inferior ; style 
generally single, sometimes none; stigma 
single, or rarely three ; tfuit inferior, either 
a berry or a one or many-celled capsule ; 
each cell with one or many seeds ; corcu- 
lum of the seed in a large upper cavity of 
the large solid perisperm; stem either a 
VOL. II. 
CAP 
shrub or a tree, rarely herbaceous ; leaves 
in most opposite, in a few alternate ; sti- 
pules none. 
CAPRIMULGUS, the goatsucker, in 
natural history, a genus of birds of the or- 
der Passeres. Generic character : bill short 
and hooked at the end ; mouth extremely 
wide, with seven or more stiff" bristles on 
the upper mandible ; tongue entire at the 
end and small ; tail of ten feathers, and not 
forked ; legs short ; toes united as far as 
the first joint by a membrane; middle claw 
with a broad serrate edge. 
The birds of this genus, unless disturbed, 
or ill cloudy and gloomy weather, seldom 
make their appearance by day, but by night 
are active and alert in the pursuit of in- 
sects, which constitute their food. The 
female deposits only two eggs, and on the 
bare ground. There are according to 
Gmelin 19 species, though Latham enume- 
rates only 15. The most curious and inte- 
resting are — 
- C. Europasus, or the European goat- 
sucker. This is the only species met with 
in Europe, in every part of which it may be 
found, though no where abimdanfly, and 
it is never observed to unite in companies. 
Being migratory, it arrives in England in 
May, and quits it in September. It is a 
mortal enemy to various insects, and par- 
ticularly to cockchafers, six of which, be- 
sides four very large moths, have been 
found in its stomach. The glare of day is 
overpowering to its sight, which is clearest 
by twilight. During this, therefore, it is 
m quest of food, and in full activity. It is 
singular for perching, not across a branch, 
as other birds do, but length-wise : the fe- 
male lays her eggs on the ground instead 
of a nest, appai-ently little anxious for their 
maturity ; though when disturbed she will 
move them, it is said, to a place imagined 
by her to be more secure. 
C. Virginianus, or the Virginian goat- 
sucker. This bird arrives in Virginia in 
April, and inhabits principally the moun- 
tainous parts of that countiy. As the even- 
ing advances, it approaches the habitations 
of man, and fixing on a post or rail utters 
many times one plaintive cry ; and from the 
evening till the morning this movement 
and cry are with short intervals repeated. 
Instead of pursuing insects always on the 
wing, it often leaps up for them as they 
pass with the most successful dexterity, 
falling back again upon its perching place. 
Its flesh is valued for food. 
CAPSICUM, in botany, English Guinea- 
G 
