BIRD'S FOOT TREFOIL.

Britain in pastures. It has a stem 6-12 inches in length, decumbent, and bearing umbellate heads of 8-10 yellow flowers, which have a rich honey-like smell. The leaves have three obovate leaflets, like those of the true Trefoils or Clovers, but at the base of each leaf-stalk there are also two large leaf-like ovate stipules. The plant is by some regarded as the shamrock (q.v.) of Ireland. It is eaten with great avidity by cattle, and its deeply penetrating roots adapt it well for very dry situations.-A larger species, otherwise very similar, by many regarded as merely

Bird's Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).

a, a stem with leaves, flowers, and pods; b, calyx; c, standard of flower; d, keel of flower; e, style; fg, stamens.

a more luxuriant variety of this, with stem nearly erect, more compact heads of smaller flowers, and much smaller seeds, is the GREATER or NARROW-LEAVED BIRD'S FOOT TREFOIL (L. major) which also is a common native of Britain, generally found in moist, bushy places. The charac teristic differences remain under cultivation in every variety of soil and situation.-A species called the Winged Pea (L. tetragonolobus), remarkable for four membranous wings which run along its pods, a native of the south of Europe, is in some places cultivated for its seeds, as a substitute for coffee.

BIRDS OF PASSAGE.

BIRDS OF PASSAGE: those birds which spend one part of the year in one country or climate and another part in another, migrating according to the season. No species of bird is known to hibernate (see HIBERNATION); and although many naturalists were at one time inclined to believe in the hibernation of swallows, this opinion has been entirely relinquished, and their annual migrations are fully ascertained. Birds avail themselves of their powers of wing to seek situations adapted for them in respect of temperature and supply of food, and even within the tropics there are birds which migrate as the seasons change from wet to dry, or from dry to wet. See BIRD OF PARADISE. The migration of birds, however, is more generally from n. to s., or from s. to n. in the temperate and colder regions of the globe, as winter passes into summer, or summer into winter; and birds of passage are commonly distinguished into summer birds of passage and winter birds of passage, as they are summer or winter visitants; but, of course, those which are summer birds of passage in one country are winter birds of passage in another. They breed in the country in which they are summer birds of passage. The arrival of summer birds of passage is always among the welcome signs of advancing spring, and has most cheerful associations. In winter, flocks of swans, geese, and other waterfowl from the frozen north seek the coasts and inland lakes and marshes of the middle and southern states, and of Britain; and at the same time, woodcocks, fieldfares, redwings, and many other birds which breed in more northern regions, regularly appear. Some birds come almost at the same date annually; others are more influenced by the character of the season, as mild or severe. Many seafowl are migratory, and the inhabitants of St. Kilda and other isles, to whom they are of the greatest importance. depend with confidence upon their return almost at a particular day. The migrations of pigeons in North America are remarkable from the vast numbers of which the migrating flocks consist. See PIGEON. The whole subject of the migration of birds is one of great interest, particularly in reference to the instinct by which they appear to be guided. Birds of migratory species, which have been reared in continement, become restless when the season for migration arrives, and in many species the migration seems to be little influenced by the state of the weather. It seems that the youngest swallows are left behind, to follow the first migrating hosts of their species. The number of birds of passage is very considerable, nor are they all or mostly birds of long wing and powerful flight, but many short-winged birds are included among them. Some birds of passage, as woodcocks, have, however, been found in a very exhausted state after their arrival; and it is to be considered that, both in the old and new world, distant migrations are possible without long flights. Some birds possess such powers of wing, that they may easily pass over wide seas; and the rapidity of the flight of birdsfrom 50 to 150 m. an hour-partly explains the possibility

BIRDS OF PREY-BIRKENHEAD.

of their migrations between distant parts of the world. It is believed that birds of passage habitually return to the same localities which they have inhabited in former years; and this seems proved at least in regard to swallows.

BIRDS OF PREY: a common English appellation of the order of birds called Raptores (Accipitres, Linnans). Some birds, however, which do not belong to this order, frequently pursue and prey upon other birds. If those which feed on fishes, insects, and worms were also reckoned, great part of the whole class of birds must be considered predaceous. Birds of prey are very commonly divided into two sections-Diurnal and Nocturnal; the latter exclusively owls.

BIREME, n. bi'rēm [L. birēmis-from bis, twice; rēmis, an oar]: a vessel with two tiers or banks of oars.

BIRHOMBOIDAL, a. bi-rom-boyd'al [L. bis, twice, rhom boides, a rhomboid]: having a surface composed of twelve rhombic faces, which being taken six and six, and prolonged in idea till they intercept each other, would form two different rhombs.

BIRIOUTCHE, be-re-ôtch', or BIRIUTCH, ber-yôtch': town in the govt. of Voronej, Russia; on the left bank of the Sosna, a tributary of the Don. It is surrounded with earthen ramparts and a ditch, and has four annual fairs A stream of the same name in its immediate vicinity is noted for its pearl-oysters; and the teeth of elephants are often found exposed on its banks. Pop. (1880) 3,500.

BIRK, n. berk [Icel. björk; Dan. birk; Ger. birke, a kind of birch]: in Scot, and prov. Eng., the birch-tree.

Ap

BIRKBECK, bůrk běk, GEORGE, M.D.: 1776-1841; b. Settle, in Yorkshire. He studied medicine at Leeds, and then at Edinburgh, where he made the acquaintance of Sydney Smith, Brougham, Jeffrey, and Horner. pointed to the chair of the Andersonian Institution in Glasgow, he delivered his first course of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy in the winter of 1799. He was a leader with Brougham and others in the forma tion of the London Mechanics' Institution-the first of its kind in the kingdom-and was chosen its president for life. He gave much attention to efforts for the education of the working-classes. He died in London. See the Life by Godard (1884).

BIRK'ENHEAD: market-town, seaport, and parlia mentary borough in the parish of Bidston, and hundred and union of Wirral, Cheshire; opposite Liverpool, on the left bank of the Mersey. The parliamentary borough, constituted 1861, when one of the seats rendered vacant by the disfranchisement of Sudbury and St. Albans was assigned to it, includes, besides the chapelry of B., the townships of Claughton, Oxton, Tranmere, and part of Higher Bebington. B. has within the last few years risen from comparative obscurity to its present important position. No later than 1818, it had only a few straggling houses, and the population, numbered 50. In 1821 it

BIRMAH-BIRMINGHAM.

amounted only to 236. The principal streets of B are laid out with great regularity, crossing each other at right angles, and about 20 yards wide; but the back streets are narrow and the houses mean. Hamilton Square, a quadrangle of about 8 acres, is scarcely excelled by any build. ings in the United Kingdom. The park is a splendid feature of B., consisting of 190 acres. A railway bridge over the Mersey at Runcorn, opened for traffic in 1869, shortened by 10 miles the distance between the Liverpool and Birkenhead docks; and the Mersey railway tunnel, 1,230 yards long, was opened by the Prince of Wales 1886, Jan. 20. It is to the docks chiefly that B. owes its rapid development and prosperity. The first were opened 1847; they now cover 496 acres, and are superb specimens of engineering skill.

B. has for some years been celebrated for its ship-building yards, some of the largest iron ships afloat having been built there by extensive firms. The too historical Alabama was built by the Messrs. Laird, to whose enterprise, more than that of any other company, the town owes its present eminence. In the neighborhood of the docks are the Canada Works for the construction of gigantic bridges, the Britannia Machinery Works, and others.

Ed

B. owes its origin to a Benedictine priory founded there in the 12th c., of which some remains are still seen. ward II. granted the entire monopoly of the ferries to its monks. The remains of the monastery are still in a tolerable state of preservation, exhibiting some fine specimens of the English architecture of the period of its foundation. Pop. of B. parliamentary borough (1871) 65,971; (1881) 84,006; (1891) 99, 184.

BIR'MAH: see BURMAH.

BIRMINGHAM: a city, county-seat of Jefferson co., Ala., about 25 m. w. of the Coosa river, on the South and North Alabama railroad where it crosses the Alabama and Chatanooga railroad, 95 m. n.n.w. of Montgomery. It is on a level plain between two ranges of hills, and is well laid out. On account of its marvellous growth since the last census it well deserves the name of magic city.' It owes its prosperity to the extent and richness of its coal and iron mines, the most valuable being in Jefferson co. and in Walker co., which adjoins it on the n.w. Its varied manufacturing interests, stimulated by northern capital, have made it one of the great commercial centres of the south. B. has 22 churches, 11 schools, a large waterworks system, and a very complete and efficient sewerage system. Net debt (1894), $1,405,000. In 1890 there were reported 34 manufacturing industries, which had 223 establishments; employed $2,874,141 capital and 2,524 hands; paid $1,261,045 for wages, $2,025,540 for materials, and $438,997 for miscellaneous expenses; and received $5,236,909 for products, $1,618,200 of this being for iron and steel products, which employed 1,020 hands. The steel and iron works and machine shops in Birmingham are of the larg est and best in the country, having become the successful

PLATE 4.

$17

m

Beaks of various Birds: a, Marabou stork: b. Sparrow; c, Boatbill; d, Swordbill humming-bird; e, Species of thrush; f, Pelican; g, Spoonbill; h, Scissorbill; i, Flamingo; j, Avocet; k, Boatbill stork; 1, Open-bill stork; m, Ibis; n, Condor; o, Merganser; p, Columba ænas; q, Mycteria or saddle stork.

b

a

Lungs of Bird: a, Base of trachea; b,b, Bronchial tubes; c, Branches of

brouchi; d, Blood-vessel.

Tol. 4.

Birds