LACE, THE LAND-RAIL. MACE, S. A string, a cord; a snare, a gin. LACERATION, 8. The act of tearing or rending; the breach made by tearing. LAIR, S. The couch of a boar, or wild beast; the place where deer harbour by day. LAKE, 8. A large diffusion of inland water; a small splash of water; a middle colour betwixt ultramarine and vermilion. LAME, a. Crippled, disabled in the limbs. LAMENESS, 8. The state of a cripple, loss or inability of limbs; imperfection, weakness. too much, and too unthinkingly the custom to treat every kind of lameness in the same way. From either a want of patience in the owner, or a want of prudence in the practitioner, the favourite operation of blistering is thought applicable to every case without exception; and being often resorted to before the infam mation of the part has sufficiently subsided, occasions a permanent enlargement, with a thickening of the integument, and consequent stiffness, rendering the remedy equally in. jurious with the original defect. Lameness in Horses.-Proceeds from a va- | a very different mode of treatment; and yet it is riety of causes, and requires much patient investigation to ascertain, to a certainty, the exact seat of injury; for want of which judicious precaution, mischief frequently follows. Horses are sometimes persecuted, blistered, and fired for a lameness in one part, which ultimately proves to be in another, and this alone sufficiently points out the absolute necessity of a deliberate discrimination. As lameness proceeds from different causes, so it is of different kinds, and requires various modes of treatment, equally opposite to each other. This cannot be more forcibly elucidated, than by adverting to the difference between a lameness originating in a relaxation of the sinews, and a ligamentary injury sustained by a sudden turn, twist, or distortion, of some particular joint. These require! In all lameness occasioned by a relaxation of the tendons, blistering, and even firing, are admitted to have a forcible effect, provided they are brought into use at a proper time but not before the inflammation (which is generally attendant upon such case) bas previously subsided. In all ligamentary injaries blistering is seldom, if ever, known to be productive of permanent advantage; and is, perhaps, upon most occasions, so immediately adopted, because a single application is of so much less personal trouble, that a daily persevering hour bestowed in a hot fomentation, and stimulative embrocations. Upon the subject of lameness in general, it is necessary to remark, that injuries sustained in tendons (commonly called the back sinews) are more frequently relieved, and a lasting cure obtained, than in a lameness of the joints; where, after patient and preserving medical applications, and a corresponding portion of rest, a renewal of work has almost immediately produced a relapse. * Lameness, from whatever cause arising, is * * Lameness in Dogs.-During the hunting or shooting season, dogs are very liable to sore feet: they should be frequently washed with strong brine, pot liquor, or salt and vinegar, -a handful of the former to a pint of the latter. But as it will be found easier to prevent than cure the affection, this is best done by washing their feet every day, when returning from the field, with pot-liquor or brine.-The Horse.-Brown. LAMPASS, 8. A lump of flesh, about the bigness of a nut, in the roof of a horse's mouth. Lampass.-Called also lampers, and lampards, is a spongy, elastic enlargement of the roof of a young horse's mouth, just behind the nippers of his upper jaw, which frequently acquires such a luxuriance in growth, as to be equal with, or to exceed, the surface of the teeth, and is supposed to occasion pain to such horses in the mastication of their corn. Whenever the lampass are found so protuberaut as to justify an opinion, or produce a proof, that they occasion pain in mastication, it is then time enough to pass the point or edge of a sharp penknife, or lancet, transversely and longitudinally over the puffy and prominent part, so as to let it bleed in that state for a few minutes; then let it be washed with a solution of alum in water, and no further inconvenience need be apprehended.— White. LAMPBLACK, 8. Is made by holding a torch under the bottom of a basin, and as it is furred striking it with a feather into some shell, and grinding it with gum water. LAMPREY, 8. A kind of eel. The sight of a large square slab of white marble at a trifling distance from the main road on this mountain, excited my curiosity some days ago. It contained a modern Latin inscription of great length, which for its singularity I would send you, but I wish to save postage. The traveller is desired to pause, in order to behold an ocular demonstration of the cruelty and impiety of the ancient pagans, exhibited in the fish-ponds of A. Pollio, Esq. who, says the marble, was particularly fond of lampreys fed with human blood; and who to gratify this inhuman sort of gluttony, had these ponds built at an immense expense, and caused the wretched victims of his corrupt palate to be thrown into them. Accepting the pious invitation, I entered the farm pointed out by the inscription, and actually found the farmhouse to consist of some modern masonry engrafted upon a solid stock of an cient reticulated architecture. At the back of the building a small door opened into the | ponds, which even now appeared to be abun- LAMPRON, 8. A kind of sea-fish, a long eel. The LANCE, ". To pierce, to cut; to open chirurgically, to cut in order to a cure. LANCET, 8. A small pointed chirurgical instrument. LAND, v. To set on shore; to secure a fish. LANDMARK, 8. Anything set up to preserve boundaries. LANDRAIL, OF DAKER HEN, CORNCRAKE, (Rallus crex, LINN; Le Rale de Genet, Burr.) 8. A bird. Length rather more than nine inches; the bill is light brown; the eyes hazel; all the feathers on the upper parts of the plumage are of a dark brown, edged with pale rust colour; both wing coverts and quills are of a deep chestnut; the fore part of the neck and the breast are of a pale ash colour; a streak of the same colour extends over each eye from the bill to the side of the neck; the belly is of a yellowish white; the sides, thighs, and vent, are marked with faint rusty coloured bars; the legs are of a pale flesh colour. We have ventured to remove this bird from the usual place assigned to it among those to whom it seems to have little or no analogy, and have placed it among others to which in most respects it bears a strong affinity. It makes its appearance about the same time as the quail, and frequents the same places, whence it is called in some counties the king of the quails. Its well known ery is first heard as soon as the grass becomes long enough to shelter it, and continues till the grass is cut; but the bird is seldom seen, for it constantly skulks among the thickest part of the herbage, and runs so nimbly through it, winding and doubling in every direction, that it is difficult to come near it; when hard pushed by the dog, it sometimes stops short and squats down, by which means its too eager pursuer overshoots the spot, and loses the trace. It seldom springs but when driven to extremity, and generally flies with its legs hanging down, but never to a great distance; as soon as it alights it runs off, and before the fowler has reached the spot, the bird is at a considerable distance. The corncrake leaves the island before the winter, and repairs to other countries in search of its food, which consists principally of slugs, of which it destroys prodigious numbers; it likewise feeds on worms and insects, as well as on seeds of various kinds. It is very common in Ireland, and is seen in great numbers in the Island of Anglesea on its passage to that country. On its first arrival in England, it is so lean as to weigh less than six ounces, from which one would conclude that it must have come from distant parts; before its departure, however, it has been known to exceed eight ounces, and is then very delicious eating. The female lays ten or twelve eggs on a LANERET, 8. A little hawk. LANIGEROUS, a. Bearing wood. LANIUS (LINN.), 8. Shrike, a genus Bill of middle size, strong, mach compres sed; the upper mandible strongly curved towards the point, where it forms a hook; the base without a cere, but furnished with coarse hairs directed forward; nostrils at the side of nest made of a little moss or dry grass, carelessly put together; they are of a pale ash. colour, marked with rust-coloured spots. The young crakes are covered with black down; they soon find the use of their legs, for they follow the mother immediately after they have burst the shell. * * This is deemed a bird of passage by all the writers: yet from its formation seems to be poorly qualified for migration; for its wings are short, and placed so forward, and out of the centre of gravity, that it flies in a very heavy and embarrassed manner, with its legs hanging down; and can hardly be sprung a second time, as it runs very fast, and seems to depend more on the swiftness of its feet than on its flying. When we came to draw it, we found the entrails so soft and tender, that in appearance they might have been dressed like the ropes of a woodcock. The craw or crop was small and lank, containing a mucus; the gizzard thick and strong, and filled with small shell snails, some whole, and many ground to pieces through the attrition which is occasioned by the muscular force and motion of that intestine. We saw no gravels among the food: perhaps the shell snails might perform the function of gravels or pebbles, and might grind one another. * * * That it is a bird of passage there can be little doubt, though one would think it poorly qualified for migration, on account of the wings being short, and not placed in the exact centre of gravity: how that may be I cannot say, but I know that its heavy sluggish flight, is not owing to its inability of flying faster, for I have seen it fly very swiftly, although in general its actions are sluggish. Its unwillingness to rise proceeds, I imagine, from its sluggish disposition, and its great timidity, for it will sometimes squat so close to the ground as to suffer itself to be taken up by the hand, rather than rise; and yet it will at times run very fast. What Mr. White remarks respecting the small shell snails found in its gizzard, confirms my opinion, that it frequents corn fields, seed clover, and brakes or fern, more for the sake of snails, slugs, and other insects which abound in such places, than for the grain or seeds; and that it is entirely an insectivorous bird.-Bewick-White's Selborne-Wood. thus characterised :— the base, almost round, half shut by a vaulted membrane, often in part concealed by the hairs; feet with the shank longer than the middle toe; three toes before and one behind; quite divided; wings, the first quill of middle LAN] THE FIELD BOOK. length, the second a little shorter than, the wing.-Montagu. Le Lanier, BUFF.) s. A species s. This bird is somewhat less than the buzzard. Its bill is blue; cere inclining to green; eyes yellow: the feathers on the upper part of the body are brown, with pale edges; above each eye there is a white line, which runs towards the hinder part of the head, and beneath it is a black streak pointing downwards towards the neck; the throat is white; the breast of a dull yellow, marked with brown spots; thighs and vents the same; the quill LANSQUENET, 8. A common foot-soldier; a game at cards. feathers are dusky, marked on the inner webs with oval spots of rust colour; the tail is spotted in the same manner; the legs are The lanner is not common in England; it short and strong, and of a bluish colour. breeds in Ireland, and is found in various parts of Europe. It derives its name from the mode of tearing its prey into small pieces with its bill.-White. This game may be played by almost any places them in the same manner, on each side number of people, although only one pack of of his own. Any single card the company cards is used at a time, during each deal. The has a right to take and put money upon, undealer, who has rather an advantage, begins less the dealer's own card happens to be douby shuffling the cards, and having them cut ble, which often occurs by this card being the by any other person of the party; after which same as one of the two cards which he first of he deals out two cards on his left hand, turn-all dealt out on the left hand. Thus he conAs long as his own card remains ing them up; then one for himself and a tinues dealing till he brings either their cards, fourth, which he places in the middle of the or his own. table for the company, called the rejouissance undrawn he wins; and whichever card comes card. Upon this card any, or all of the com-up first loses. If he draw or deal out the pany, except the dealer, may put their money, two cards on his left, which are called the cither a limited or unlimited sum, as may be hand-cards, before his own, he is entitled to agreed on, which the dealer is obliged to an- deal again; the advantage of which is merely swer, by staking a sum equal to the whole his being exempted from losing when he draws that is put upon it by different persons. He a similar card to his own immediately after continues dealing, and turning the cards up- he has turued up one for himself, wards, one by one, till two of a sort appear; for instance two aces, two deuces, &c., which, in order to separate, and that no person may mistake for single cards, he places on each side of his own card; and as often as two, three, or the fourth card of a sort come up, he always LANTERN, 8. A transparent case for a candle; a lighthouse; a light hung out to guide ships. This game is often played more simply without the rejouissance card, giving every person round the table a card to put money upon. Sometimes it is played by dealing only two cards, one for the dealer and another for the company.-Hoyle. LAP To wrap or twist round anything; to involve in anything. LAPDOG, 8. A little dog, fondled by ladies in the lap; generally a common nuisance. they were to dine at the cabin-table, and lap their wine afterwards. Yet these happy dogs do not engross the whole of their good lady's affection; she has also, in Jamaica, forty cats and a husband.-Country Newspaper. In one of the ships of the fleet, that sailed lately from Falmouth, for the West Indies, went passengers, a lady and her seven lapdogs, for the passage of each of which she paid thirty pounds, on the express condition, that LAPWING, BASTARD PLOVER, or PEE WIT, (Tringa vanellus, LINN; Lo Vanneau, BUFF.) s. A clamorous bird with long wings. This bird is about the size of a pigeon. Its bill is black; eyes large and hazel; the top of the head is black, glossed with green; a tuft of long, narrow feathers issues from the back part of the head, and turned upwards at the end; some of them are four inches in length; the sides of the head and neck are white, which is interrupted by a blackish streak above and below the eye; and the back part of the neck is a very pale brown; the forepart, as far as the breast, is black; the back and the wing coverts are of a dark green, glossed with purple and blue reflections; the quills are black, the first four tipped with white; the breast and belly are of a pure white; the upper tail-coverts and vent pale chestnut; the tail is white at the base, and the rest of it is black, with pale tips; the outer feathers almost wholly white, the legs are red; claws black; hind-claw very short. This bird is a constant inhabitant of this country; but as it subsists chiefly on worms, it is forced to change its place in quest of food, and is frequently seen in great numbers by the sea-shore, where it finds an abundant supply. It is everywhere well known by its loud and incessant cries, which it repeats without intermission whilst on the wing, and from which, in most languages, a name has been given immitative of the sound. The peewit is a lively, active bird, almost continually in motion; it sports and frolics in the air in all directions, and assumes a variety of attitudes; it remains long upon the wing, and sometimes rises to a considerable height; it runs along the ground very nimbly, and springs and bounds from spot to spot with great agility. The female lays four eggs of a dirty olive, spotted with black: she makes no nest, but deposits them upon a little dry grass hastily scraped together: the young birds run very soon after they are hatched during this period the old ones are very assiduous in their attention to their charge; on the approach of any person to the place of their deposit they flutter round his head with cries of the greatest inquietude, which increase as he draws nearer to the spot where the brood are squatted: in case of extremity, and as a last resource, they run along the ground as if lame, in order to draw off the attention of the fowler from any farther pursuit. The young lapwings are first covered with a blackish down, interspersed with long white hairs, which they gradually lose, and about the latter end of July, they acquire their beautiful plumage. At this time they assemble in flocks, which hover in the air, saunter in the meadows, and after rain disperse among the ploughed |