146] MAH raven, it steals shining obje6^s, such as buttons, knives, coins, and precious stones ; which it carefully conceals in its nest. — ISIagpies not only destroy young ducks and chickens, but suck and empty the rggs in a hen's nest. When rear- ed from nestlings, they become exceedingly familiar, and learn to talk manv sentences, as well as to imitate every noise within hear- ing. — For the best method of tak- ing them, we refer to the article Crow. MAHOGANY, or Sn-ietcrua^L. an exotic tree growingwild in South America, and likewise in the islands cf Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and in those of Bahama. It was for- inerly very common in Jamaica ; whence it was first imported to London in the year 1724; since «• which period it has been very ge- nerally employed forhousehold fur- niture. Lately, however, it has be- come more scarce and expensive ; jfcecause the low-lands in that island liavebeen gradually thinned of those •%'aluable trees which could be readi- ly carried to market, or transported «n ship-board. The mahogany tree grows very tall and straight, frequently among bare rocks, and attains a size of ibur feet in diameter : its wood is Jhard, admits of a fine polish, and .is excellently calculated for chairs, tables, desks, and similar articles. -It also affords strong and durable iimber, and is usefully employed in the West Indies for beams, joists, .j)lanks, boards, and shingles. Ships J)uilt of this wood are said to be .almost impermeable to cannon balls, which lodge in the wood, or, if they -pass through the planks, occasion -xio splinters. — The fresh bark of .4bi>.tree has oilca been med la ok- MAI diclne, as a substitute for the Per&« vian, and with equal success. Many attempts have been made for painting or staining inferior woods, so as to resemble in grain and colour that of mahogany, A3 our own experiments have not af- forded us complete satisfaAion, we shall communicate the following recipe, which is extracted from the Hanoverian Magazine (in German) for 1 786 : — ^Take the planed boards of the elm or mnple-tree ; moisten, them first with diluted aqna-fortis, and v;'hen dry, varnish them with a tinCture made of two drams of dra- gon's-blood, one dram of alkanet- root, and half a dram of aloes di- gested in eight ounces of proof- spirit : by applying this liquor two or three times, with a sponge, or soft painter's brush, it is said to produce the desired efte6t. MAIDEN-HAIH, theCoMMox, !MiLTWASTE, or Spleexwort, n^ Asplcn'ium Triclwmmies, L. an in- digenous perennial plant, growing on old walls, rocks, and shady, stony places ; flowering from May to Odober. — Its leaves have a muci- laginous, sweetish, sub-asti-ingent taste, without any peculiar odour; they are reputed to possess consi- derable etficacy, in disorders of the breast proceeding from viscid and acrid humours, when taktn in the form of an infusion or decoiftion : hence they have been recommend- ed for promoting the exijectoratioii of tough phlegm, and removing ob- struttions of tlie viscera. MAIDEN-HAIR, the Great Golden, or Goldilocks, Poly- trichuvi comminie, L. an indige- nous perennial plant, growing ia woods and moors, in wet, boggy places ; flowering in the months of |day 3ud June.-^The branchless stem.
