B I R
nib the head. Modern writers ufually compare it to our hal- . bard, or partizan a ; from which it differed in that irhad no point, and that its fhaft or handle was much fhorter \ — [ a Fafth. p. 9;. b Heder. p. 554O See Haleard, Cycl. and Partizan, Suppl,
BIQUADRATIC Equation, in algebra, an equation raifed to the fourth power ; or where the unknown quantity of one of the terms has four dimenfions : thus x^-^ax'^bx^-^cx-^-dzzio is a biquadratic equation. See Equation, Cycl.
Biquadratic parabola, in geometry, a curve-line of the third order, having two infinite legs tending the fame way. See Parabola, Cycl.
Biquadratic power of any number, is the fourth power, or fquared fquare of that number: thus 16 is the biquadratic power of 2 ; for 2x2=4, and 4x4=16.
Biquadratic root of any number is the fquare root of the fquare root of that number : thus the biquadratic root of 8 r is 3 j for the fquare root of 81 is 9, and the fquare root of 9 is 3.
BIQUALAR, in the cuftoms of the Algerines, a cook' of the divan.
The janizaries, whom the Aigcrines call oldachis, after fenc- ing a certain term as common foldiers, are preferred to be bi- qualars y or cooks of the divan, which is the firfr. {rep towards arriving at higher preferment. Biqualars have the care of furnifhing the officers and commanders of the Algerine fol- diery with meat and drink in the camp, in garrifon, &c. From biqualars they are made odobachis, that is, corporals of companies, or commanders of parties, or fquadrons. Trev. Dicr.Univ. T. 1. p. 1047.
BIRABETANE, in the botanical writings of the antients, a name given to verbena, or vervain, and to other herbs ufed in facrifices. It is only the word hierobotane, as altered by the yEolic manner of writing and {peaking it. Hicrobotane is the common Greek name of vervain, and other facrificial herbs, and it is probable that the Latin name verbena came from the vEolic manner of fpeaking this word. All thofe herbs, which were laid upon the altars on folemn occahons, fuch as making of peace, and other folemn contracts, and were to be taken up "by the contracting parties as part of die ceremony, were called by the Greeks hterohoianee, that is, facred plants, and verbena:; but as the plant we now particularly know by the name ver- bena was more frequent in ufe than any other on this occahon, it was afterwards djflinguifhed by that name.
BIRAO, in botany, the name given by the inhabitants of the Philippine iilands to a plant more commonly known among botanical writers by the name tttgus, and fuppofed by Camelli, who carefully obferved it on the fpot, to be the true amomum of the ahfifent Greeks. See Tugus.
BIRCH, Betula, in botany, the name of a genus of trees ; the characters of which are thefe : the flower is of the amentaceous kind, being compofed of a number of little leaves affixed to an axis, or long capillamcnt, and abounding with a great number of apices: thefe aie the male flowers. The embryo fruits are placed on different parts of the tree, and are fquamofe protu- berances, which finally become cylindric fruits, containing a number of alated feeds, placed under the fcalcs, which are af- fixed to an axis. There is no known fpecics of this tree be- fides the common one. Town. Inft. p. 588. The birch is a beautiful tree, of quick growth, yielding very flender twigs, refembhng the coniferous kind in its Ceed ; the poplar in its leaves ; and differing chiefly from the alder in the whitenefs of its bark, the cuticle or outer skin of which falls off" yearly. Vid. Ray, Synopf. Stirp Britan p. 288. The feeds of birch are fo difpofed for germination, that they will even grow on the body of the mother-tree when falling, and being Uicaied on it, adhere fo ffrongly, as never to fepa- rate from it ; but increafmg yearly, form thofe crouded bufhes, like birds nefts, often ken on birch-tiecs. Bradl. Gard. Dici. T. 1 . in voc. betula.
The piercing and bleeding of birch is performed thus : about the beginning of March, when the buds begin to be proud and turgid, and ere they expand into leaves, with a chizel and a mallet cut a flit almoff as deep as the pith, under fome branch of a well-fpreading birch; cut it oblique, and not long-ways, as a furgeon does a vein ; and infert a final! {tone or chip, to keep the lips of the wound a little open ; laftly, to this orifice fatten a bottle, or other convenient veflel, appendant, into which will extil a limpid and clear water, retaining an obfeure fmackboth of the tafte and odour of the tree. The miracle is, that, in the fpace of twelve or fourteen days, as much juice will be gathered, as will outweigh the whole tree, body and roots. E-vei Silv. c. 16. §. 3. p. 70. Phil. Tranf. N° 43. p. 854. It. N°44. p. 880. It. N" 46. p. 917 & 963. The liquor or juice, thus procured, is ufed, in fome northern countries, as a preservative againft the Hone. Van Helmont extols a drink prepared with this juice, daucus-feeds,and brook- lime. Mr. Boyle tells us, he has feen extraordinary medicinal effects of the juice kfelf, even when other remedies failed ; fo that he ufually provided a quantity of it every fpring. He fays, it may eafily be preferved, by pouring a little oil on the top of it, or by diftillation ; but that the beft way is, to impregnate it with the fumes of fulphur. Boyle, Philof. Work, abridg. Vol. 1. p. 51. and Vol. 3. p. 338.
This juice is ufed both to make wine of, and to brew withal, Suppl. Vol. I a
B I R
being here employed in lieu of water, a barrel of malt wil afford as much, and as good ale, as four with common water* Phil. Tranf. N° 46. p. 917 & 963. Eve!. Sylv. e. 16. §. 4. p. 72.
A great difference is found between the efficacy of that liquor which diftils from the bold, or parts of the tree nearer to the root, and that which weeps out from the more fublime branches; the former being more crude and watery, the latter purer, and more refined. Evil. Sylv. c. i&. §. 3. p. 71.
Bl&CH-bark being bituminous, and c'onfequently warm and emo- lient, is ufed in fumigations to correct a diftempered air. The inner filken baric was antiently ufed for writing-tables, before the invention of paper ; though Ray rathe? alliens the office of paper to the cuticle, or outer skin, which peels off yearly. And with the outward, thicker, and coarfer part are houfes in Ruftia, Poland, and other northern trails, cover- ed, inffeadof Hates and tyle. Ray, Hift. Plant, p. 14! o. The Indians make pinnaces with white cedar; which they cover 1 with large flakes of feWj-bark, fewing them with thread of fprufe-roots, and pitching them ; as the antient Britons did with the willow. Pliny fpeaks of a bitumen actually procured from the birch tree. Plin. Hift. Nat. 1. 16. c. 18.
Fungus <j/"Birch, an exefefcence growing on its trunk : it is aftringent, and good againft hemorrhages »; when boiled, beat- en, and dried in an oven, it makes excellent fpunk, or touch- wood b — [ « Ray, loc. cit. k Eld. Sylv. loc. cit.J
BiRCH-leaves are of ufe in the dropfy, itch, &c. either internally or externally applied.
Birch-iWjj- ferve to make rods and brooms ; fmeefed with bird- lime, they are ufed by fowlers, to fay nothing of the antient fafces carried by lictors.
Birch-kotm? is made by fermenting the vernal juice : formerly it was in great repute againft all nephritic diforders ; but is left out in the modern London practice. tgiuM. Pharmac. P. 2. feci. 4. §. 212. p. 1 14.
The preparation of birch-wine is well and amply defcribed in a book, intituled, Vinttum Britarmiaan. Vid. Phil. Tranf. N° 123. p. 574.
BIRD, (Cycl.) avis, in natural hiftory. The characters of this clafs of animals are, that they have a body covered with feathers, two legs, two wings, and a hard or bony bill ; and that the females are oviparous. Limucus, SyH. Natur. p. 33. The hiftory and defcription of birds makes a particular branch of fcience called ornithology.
Birds are varioufly divided and denominated by naturalifts from the places of their abode, their food and manner of living, make of their bills, wings, feet, tic.
From the diverfity of their bills, birds are divided into thofa with bard bills, as the fparrow ; long bills, as the heron ; Jlen- dir andfoft bills, as the fwallow ; thick andjlrong bills, as the pica, or woodpecker; Jliorter and leffer bills, as the hen and pidgeon kind ; crooked bills, as the eagle and vulture. Dale, in Philof. Tranf. N° 204. p. 930.
Small birds are fubdivided into thofe vrhhjlcnder bills, as the lark, fwallow, martin, tie. thick andjhort bills, as the bull- finch, houfe-fparrow, linnet, tic. thofe with a hard protube- rance on the upper chap or bill, as the bunting, yellow-ham- mer, reed -fparrow, tic. Ray, Loc. Words, p. 86, feq. Of aquatic birds, fome have Jlendei- bills, fharp-pointed, as the greateft diver, gull, grey gull, is'c. others toothed bills, as the gaffander, tic. others bread bills, as the fwan, hooper, roofe, duck, esc. Id. ib. p. 93, feq.
In flat-billed birds, as ducks, there are three pair of nerves, which come down between the eyes into the upper bill, where- by they are enabled to fmell, and find out their food in the mire, water, and the like. The like has alfo been difco- vered in feveral round-billed birds; but much fmaller, and fcarce difcernible, except in the rook, where they are confpi- cuous enough; and it is remarkable that thefe, more than any other round-billed birds, feem to grope for their meat in cow- dung, and thelike. In the lower bill, there are alfo nerves,which have much the fame fituation with thofe in the flat-billed kind % but very fmall, and fcarce difcernible. Phil. Tranf. N° 206. p. 990.
Of thofe birds that live near wet places, fome live upon fifh or ftime (out of which they fuck fomething that is oleofe, and from thence yield a delicate flefh, as wood-cocks, fnipes, cur- lews, tic.) or on infects. Phil. Tranf. N° 120. p. 483. The cohnbus minor, or didapper, has fuch a ftructure of parts, that it moves much more eafily under water than on its fur- face, or aloft. He raifes himfclf from the water with great difficulty ; but when he is got up to the air, he can then con- tinue his (light long enough. Phil. Tranf. N° 1 20. p. 485 . Concerning the carniferous or rapacious birds, it is obferved, 1 °. That though Ariftotle fays they fly folitary, yet that holds not in all ; feeing that vultures have been fecn to fly in troops fifty or fixty together. Phil. Tranf. N» 1 20. p. 483. 2". That the females of the ravenous birds are bigger, ftronger, and of greater courage, than the males, nature feeming to have been fo provident, as to furnifh thefe females with fuch advan- tages, upon the account that they muft provide food not only for themfelves, but alfo for their young ones. Phil. Tranf. ubi fupra.
Of frugivolous lirds, it is obferved, among other particulars, 4 U that
