BIRD SEED allied to the coi-vidx (crows), with which, indeed, they are united by some writers. They have magnificent plum- age, especially the males, who can, morevover, elevate quite a canopy of plumes behind their necks. The fable of the phoenix is believed to have been framed from myths current about the birds of paradise. BIRD SEED, seed for feeding cage birds, especially the seed of -plialdHs canariensis, or canary grass. BIRD'S EYE, the eye or eyes of a bird. In botany, the name of several plants with small, bright, usually blue, flowers. (1) A widely diffused name for veronica chamasdrys. (2) A name for a plant, called more fully the birds'-eye primrose. It is the primula farinosa. It nas pale lilac flowers with a yellow eye. The whole plant is powdered with a sub- stance smelling like musk. It grows in the milder temperate climates of Europe. The American flower bearing the same common name is of a different species, being called by botanists primula piisilla. (3) A name sometimes given to the adonis autumnalis, and, indeed, to the whole genus adonis, more commonly des- ignated "pheasant's eye." BIRD'S-EYE LIMESTONE, a division of the lower Silurian rocks of North Am- erica, apparently equivalent to the Llandeilo Beds, so called from the dark circular markings which stud many por- tions of its mass, and which have been referred to the impressions of a fucoid (phytopsis cellulosus), others regarding them as the fiUed-up burrows of marine worms. BIRD'S-EYE MAPLE, curled maple, the wood of the sugar maple when full of little knotty spots, somewhat resem- bling birds' eyes, much used in cabinet work. BIRD'S-EYE VIEW, the representa- tion of any scene as it would appear if seen from a considerable elevation right above. BIRD'S-FOOT, a common name for several plants, especially papilionaceous plants of the genus omithopus, their legumes being articulated, cylindrical, and bent in like a claw. BIRD'S-FOOT TREFOIL, the popular name of lotus corniculdtus, and one or two other creeping leguminous plants common in Great Britain. The common bird's-foot trefoil is a common British plant, and is found in most parts of Eu- rope as well as in Asia, north Africa and Australia, and is a useful pasture plant. 38 BIRliCINGHAM BIRD'S-NEST ORCHIS, one of the orchidese, neottia or listera nidus-avis of Linnaeus. The English designation is a translation of the Latin nidus-avis. The plant is so called from having its root composed of numerous fleshy fibers ag- gregated in a bird's-nest fashion. BIRDWOOD, GENERAL SIR WIL- LIAM RIDDELL, a British soldier; bom in 1865. He was educated at Clifton College and at Sandhurst. He entered the military service as Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1883 and quickly rose through the various grades until he was made Major-General in 1911. He served with distinction in the Boer War, and saw service in India. In the World War he commanded the Anzacs at Gaba Tepe, and in the last year of the war was in command of one of the army corps on the western front. BIRMINGHAM, city and county-seat of Jefferson co., Ala.; at the junction of several trunk railroads; 96 miles N. W. of Montgomery, the State capital. It is at the foot of Red Mountain, which, be- sides its vast limestone deposits, contains a remarkably large and accessible vein of hematite iron ore; and is also in close proximity to the Warrior, Cahaba and Coosa coal fields. These natural re- sources have made Birmingham the most important manufacturing city in the South since the close of the Civil War. The city has an extensive waterworks system with a reservoir on Shade's Mountain, 225 feet above the city; is provided with the Waring system of sewerage; and has an exceptional equip- ment of street railroads connecting it with all important suburban points. Bir- mingham is served by nine railroad sys- tems, the Alabama Great Southern, Sea- board Air Line, Central of Georgia, Illi- nois Central, Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic, Southern, Frisco, Louisville and Nashville, and Mobile and Ohio. It is in the heart of great coal fields which have an estimated available supply of 68,572,000,000 tons. Following the 1904 census, the corpo- rate limits of the city were extended to seven times the former area, or from 4,270 acres to 30,881 acres. There are 60 elementary schools, five high schools, beside commercial, technical, and collegi- ate institutions. The city is under the commission form of government. The net funded debt in 1919 was $6,035,000. The total assessed value of realty was $75,000,000; of personalty, $29,000,000. The ratio of assessment to market value was 50 per cent. The tax rate was 1 per cent. Budget for the year, $1,445,000. Charitable institutions include St. Viiv
