be a dactylus, and sometimes also the first, when it can be done without affectation. Besides 'tis also necessary these dactyli should be made without any cæura following; and if possible there should be a rest in the sense after each dactyle, which would add greatly to the regularity and perfection of the verse. Such are the following verses of Theocritus and Virgil:
Ειπί μος Κορυδων, τινος αι βοες; ἤ ξα Φιλυνδα: Theoc. Idyl. 4. v. I. Dic mihi, Damœta, cujum pecus? An Melibœi? Virg. Ecl. 3. v. 1.
This structure in pastoral poems gives a vivacity, which is wonderfully pleasing in the mouth of a shepherd. These rules are observed by Theocritus, with all the exactness possible; but by Virgil seldom; which is rather to be imputed to the genius of the Latin tongue, than his want of ability; it being less copious, bold and pliant, than the Greek. Mem. Acad. Inscrip. T. 6. p. 255, 256.
The invention of the Idyllion is ascribed to Daphnis, who by his extraordinary genius, says Diodorus Siculus, "invented" the bucolic poem and song, in the form it continues to appear in at present, in Sicily[1]". This passage is considerable, as it fully ascertains the origin of the Idyliion, such as it appears in Theocritus, and those that have imitated him. A fate that pastoral poetry in general cannot pretend to; for tho' much pains has been taken to discover its origin, and several nations dispute that honour one with another; yet the result of the whole serves only to convince us, that shepherds have for many ages amused themselves in their leisure hours with singing, without our being able to determine exactly when, or in what country they began to do so. After Daphnis, another Sicilian shepherd, called Diomus, made himself famous for his pastoral poems. Next came Stefichorus, who, according to Ælian, was the first that made the misfortunes of Daphnis the subject of his songs. He lived, as some chronologers will have it, in the time of Phalaris about 550 years before the vulgar æra. And lastly, some ages after this Theocritus appeared, who forming himself on these first models, so far excelled as to give pastoral poetry all the perfection it was capable of receiving.— [2]
JECARINUS Piscis, in ichthyology, a name given by Gaza, and many other writers, to the fish more commonly called Hepatus piscis, by some Jecur marinum. See the article Hepatus.
JECUR Marinum, in ichthyology, is used by Hermolaus and some other writers in the same sense for hepatus. See the article Hepatus.
JEER (Cycl.)—Jeer, or JEER-Rope, in a ship, a piece of a hawser fastened to the main-yard and fore-yard (in great ships only) close to the ties; it is then reeved through a block, which is seized close to the top, and so comes down again, and is reeved through another block at the bottom of the mast close by the deck. There are usually two of these, one on each fide the ties. Its use is to help to hoise up the yard, but more especially to succour the ties, and to keep the yards from falling, if they should break.
Jeers, in a ship. They say a man is brought to the Jeers, when going to be punished at the Jeer-capstan. This is done in the following manner: A capstan bar being thrust through the hole of the barrel, the offender's arms are extended at full length cross-wise, and so tied to the bar; having sometimes a basket of bullets, or some other like Weight, hanging by his neck. In this posture he continues till he be either brought to confess some plot or crime, whereof he is suspected; or that he has suffered what he is censured to undergo, at the discretion of the captain.
JENDAYA, in zoology, the name of a Brasilian species of peroquette. It is of the size of a black-bird; its beak and legs are black, and its back, wings, and tail, are of a bluish green; the tips of its wings are blackish, and its head, neck, and breast are of a pale yellow, with an admixture of a deeper yellow in some places. Marggrave's Hist. Brasil.
JENNY-Wren, a name given by the writers on song-birds to the wren.
This bird tho' very small is of a very chearful disposition, and has a very agreeable voice, which he throws out with great chearfulness and sprightliness, usually cocking up his tail all the time he is singing. The female breeds twice in the year, first in the latter end of April, and afterwards in the middle of June. The nest is usually placed among clusters of moss and ivy, in such a manner, that it is very hard to discover it. It is made of dry moss and leaves put together in a very artificial manner, being closed all round except for a small hole left to go in and out at; they lay a great number of eggs, not less than eighteen; and it has been often found that they all hatch, except one or two; and thus fifteen young ones have been found together in one nest. These are brought up so well as to shift for themselves by the end of May; and then another brood is provided for by the middle of the month following. The young ones may be easily raised: They should for this purpose be taken out of the nest at about fourteen days old, and fed with sheep's, calf's, or ox's heart cut small, with eggs minced among it. When they are able to peck this meat for themselves, they may be put into cages; but they must still be fed for some days, left they should neglect themselves and die of hunger after the greatest part of the trouble is thus over. When they are grown up they may be fed with paste, and will need no more heart. Afterwards it will be a great feast to them to give each a spider or two once in two or three days; and after they are grown up, they may either be left to sing their own wild notes which are very agreeable, or if it be desired that they should whistle tunes, they will easily be taught it.
JENTLING, in zoology, the name of a river-fish caught in the Danube, and most of the great rivers in Germany, and called by the Germans Schead, Scheat, Jent, and Koppen; and by Gesner Capito cæruleus, the blue chub. Willughby Hist. Pisc, p. 256.
Its figure is broader than the chub, and narrower than the rudd or finseal; its head is broad and flat, from the nose to occiput;. but from thence to the back it rises considerably. Its mouth is considerably large, its tail forked, and its back of a dusky bluish black, and its belly and sides white and silvery. Its belly-fins are somewhat reddish, and the belly itself in the larger fish becomes yellowish. It has no teeth, in the jaws, but near the orifice of the stomach has two dentated bones. It lives on worms and other small animals, and spawns in April. When very fat it will be yellow on the fides, and is then better tasted, but less wholesome food.
JERFALCON, the English name of the Gyrfalco, a very fierce bold and large bird, the largest of all the falcon kind. Ray's Ornithol. p. 44. See the article Gyrfalco.
JERKIN, a name given by some to the male of the Jerfalcon. See the article Gyrfalco.
JERTH, in the materia medica, a name given to a certain kind of moss, according to Scheffer, growing very plentifully in Lapland, and other cold countries. The root of this is the part used in medicine, and the method of giving it is in decoction. They boil a large quantity of it in the whey made of raindeer's milk, and give the patient large draughts of it warm every hour or two; by that means keeping up a good perforation, which they increase or diminish, according to the nature of the cafe. The principal diseases to which they are subject are plurisies, and the small-pox; and it is wonderful to find how well they get thro' these two dangerous complaints by this regimen alone. And upon the whole, the virtues of so much warm and diluting liquor seem the principal thing to be depended upon by them; for if they cannot readily get the Jerth-root, they scruple not to supply its place with the stalks of angelica, and the medicine seems to succeed as well this way as the other, both in the small-pox and other cases. Scheffer's Lapland.
JERUSALEM-Artichoke.. See the article Artichoke.
JESEN, in zoology, a name given by some to the fish more usually called the jentliny; a fish common in the Danube, and most of the larger rivers of 'Germany, and called the blue chubb, capito cæruleus, by Aldrovand, Gesner, &c. Ray's Ichthyogr. p. 256. See the article Jentliny.
JESSE, a large brass candlestick, with many sconces hanging down in the middle of a church or choir. This invention was first called Jesse, from the similitude of the branches to those of the arbor Jessæ. This useful ornament of churches was first brought over into this kingdom by Hugh de Flory, abbot of St. Austin's in Canterbury, about the year 1100. Chron. Will. Thom, ap. Blount.
JESUITISSÆ, in the Romish church, an order of nuns which was suppressed by pope Urban VIII. See Hoffm. Lex. in voc.
JESUS, in ichthyology, a name given by the people of Dantzick to the fish called by Gesner the blue chubb, or capito cæruleus. It is called also Jese, Jesen, and Jesitz.
JET, Gagates, in natural history.See the article Gagates.
JET-Rings, annular pieces of jet of large dimensions, found in many parts of England, and esteemed Roman antiquities. They are of different kinds; some being plain, others wrought, but all of them are greatly too large for rings. The smallest of them are three inches in diameter; yet the bore is not above an inch and half, which makes them as much too small for the wrist, as they are too large for the fingers. Hook's Philos. Col. p. 90.
IGASUR, in the materia medica, a name given by some authors to the faba sancti Ignatii, or saint Ignatius's bean. Ray's Dendr. p. 118.
IGNATIUS's-Bean, faba sancti Ignatii in the materia medica, the fruit of a plant described by father Camilli, in the Philosophical Transactions, under the name of Catalongay, and Cantara; and by Pluknet, under that of Cucurbitifera malabathri foliis scandens, cujus nuclei faba sancti Ignatii nuncupati. The Spaniards call it Cathalogon.
It is a dry and hard fruit, or kernel of a fruit, of the size of a large hazel nut; and is much celebrated for its medicinal virtues, being recommended in vertigoes, lethargies, epilepsies, asthma's, quartan agues, and worms. It is also given
