Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 02.djvu/101

LEFT BOAT 79 BOCABDO BOAT, a small open vessel or water- craft usually moved by oars or rowing. The boats belonging to a ship of war are the launch or long boat, which is the largest, the barge, the pinnace, the yawl, cutters, the jolly boat and the gig. The boats belonging to a merchant vessel are launch or long boat, before mentioned, the skiff, the jolly boat or yawl, the stern boat, the quarter boat and the captain's gig. BOAT BILL, the English name of canci'oma, a genus of birds belonging to the sub-family ardeina, or true herons, and especially of the cancroma oochle- aWa. The bill looks as if formed by two spoons applied to each other on their concave sides. The C. cochlearia is whit- ish, with the back gray or brown and the belly red; the front is white, behind which is a black cap, changed into a long crest in the adult male. It inhabits the hot and humid parts of South America. BOAT FLY, the English name of the vvater bugs of the genus notonecta, so called because they swim on their backs, thus presenting the appearance of boats. BOATSWAIN (bosn), an officer on board a ship, whose function it is to take charge of the rigging, cables, cord- age, anchors, sails, boats, flags, and stores. He must inspect the rigging every morning and keep it in good re- pair; and must either by himself or by deputy steer the life boat. If on a ship of war he must call the men to their duty by means of a silver whistle given him for the purpose: besides taking into cus- tody those condemned by a court mar- tial, and, either by himself or by deputy, inflict on them the punishment awarded. BOAZ, a Bethlehemite of means, who took upon himself the duty of providing for Ruth, as the near relation of her dead husband Elimelech. From him Jesus Christ was directly descended. BOBADILLA, FRANCISCO DE, a Spanish statesman, appointed plenipo- tentiary concerning the State of Hispan- iola, in 1500. Having sent its governor, Columbus, to Spain in chains, he was censured and recalled, but was drowned on the return voyage, in 1502. BOBBIN, a reel or other similar con- trivance for holding thread. It is often a cylindrical piece of wood with a head, on which thread is wound for making lace; or a spool with a head at one or both ends, intended to have thread or yarn wound on it, and used in spinning machinery and in sewing machines. BOBBIN NET, a machine-made cotton net, originally imitated from the lace made by means of a pillow and bobbins. BOBOLI (bob'6-le) GARDENS, the famous grounds of the Pitti Palace at Florence. They contain many fine stat- ues and the Isoletto fountain, designed by Jean de Bologne. BOB-0-LINK. BOBLINK, REED BIRD, or RICE BIRD {dolichonyx oryzivonis or icterus acripennis), a common American bird found from Par- aguay to Canada, the only one of its kind, and that difficult to classify. Some place it near the Baltimore bird {icte- ■rus), others near starlings, but both the characteristics and the character of the bob-o-link exhibit much that is unique. In the male the head, lower surface, and tail are black, while the upper surface is lighter, yellowish white in front, black with yellow streaks behind. The color and the note change with the seasons. The female is much plainer — yellowish brown with darker streaks above, and pale grayish yellow below. The name — originally Bob Lincoln — is an imitation of the bird's note. In song, the full-throated male bob-o-link is unique, rivaling the lark. The change of the male in color and form at the breed- ing time is very striking. He becomes black and white more emphatically, so as sometimes to be called the skunk bird, and acquires a broad form and a curi- ous, mincing gait. The bob-o-link is a bird of passage, spending the winter in the West Indies. In summer it is found as far N. as the banks of the Saskatchewan, in 54° lat., but is most plentiful in the Atlantic States and other eastern parts of the United States, where it is to be seen in every meadow and cornfield. It renders good service by the destruction of in- sects and their larvae; but in the South, both in April and August, at seed time and harvest, its ravages seriously crip- ple the rice-growing industry, and de- stroy about a fourth of the crop. Thou- sands are killed for the table. On ac- count of their beauty and powers of song, many are caught, caged and sold in the markets. BOB WHITE, popular name of a small game bird of the United States, given because of its peculiar call. In the Northern States it is known as Quail {q. v.), and in the Southern as Par- tridge {q. v.). BOCAGE, MANOEL DO (bok'azh or bos'azh), a Portuguese poet, born in 1766. He is esteemed the most original and most truly national of his country's modern poets. His sonnets are the finest in the language. He died in 1806. BOCARDO. the old North gate of Ox- ford, England, occasionally used as a