Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/748

 744 DE BAY DEBRECZIN a large ovoid joint ; the tibiae are not dentated, and the terminal spurs are very small. They are slow in their motions, rarely fly, and when touched counterfeit death for a long time; hence their generic name, from the Greek avapiov, resuscitated. It is said that they will allow themselves to be pulled to pieces, and even slowly burned to death, without showing the least sign of life. The larvae resemble white soft worms, with six short feet ; the scaly head is armed with two powerful cutting max- illae, with which they gnaw into wood, old furniture, books, &c., leaving small round holes like those of a gimlet, whence the French name vrillettes; they produce the small masses of worm-eaten wood often seen on the floors of old and deserted houses ; the larvae also attack the flour of various grains, wafers, and prepared birds and insects, concealing them- selves in grooves or galleries; they pass the nymph state in their cells lined with a few silken threads. The tick of the death watch is made by the perfect insects, of several species, by striking their h^ads or mandibles against the wood in which they are concealed ; these strong and repeated strokes, from 7 to 11, resemble the regular ticking of a watch, and are supposed to be the means by which the sexes call each other. Ten species are enumerated by Mr. Stephens in Great Brit- ain alone, which make this sound. One of the most common is the A. striatum, with striated wing covers, considered by some the same as the A. pertinax (Fabr.), of a dark brown color; another is the A. tessellatum (Fabr.), with the wing covers handsdmely tes- sellated. The tick resembles that made by tapping the finger nail gently on the table, so much so that the insect hearing this may often be led to recommence its sounds. The super- stitious regard this tick with fear, firmly be- lieving that The solemn death watch clicks the hour of death. Such firm hold had this belief in Sir Thomas Browne's time, that, says he, " the man who could eradicate this error from the minds of the people would save from many a cold sweat the meticulous heads of nurses and grand- mothers." The wood louse, a neuropterous insect, of the tribe termitince, and genus psocus (Latr.), makes a similar tick. The P. pulsato- rhis (Linn.) is very small, soft, white, and slender, with a reddish mouth ; it lives in old wood and books, wall paper, collections of in- sects and plants, &c. ; it is quick in its motions, darting into dark corners. DE BAY. See BAIUS. DEBENTURE (Lat. delete, to owe), the draw- back or right allowed to merchants of claiming repayment or remission of duties on imported goods when the goods are re'exported. The term is also used for the custom house certifi- cate issued as a voucher for such right. Goods may be entered subject to debenture, in which case the original invoice is left with the collec- tor ; but without such entry at the time of importation, the drawback may be obtained upon reexportation by making satisfactory proof of the identity of the goods. It is re- quired that they be exported in the original packages, casks, &c., and when any change of such packages becomes necessary, it must be made under the inspection of a revenue officer. A drawback of duties on wines and spirits is not allowed unless such liquors have been de- posited in public stores, and kept there from the time of landing until reshipment. Three years from the time of importation is allowed for reexportation with drawback of duties, but such exportation must be from the district of original importation. The general regulations of debenture are contained in the act of con- gress of March 2, 1799, but modifications have been made by various other acts. The term is also applied in England to railway mortgages, and sometimes to the obligations issued by municipal bodies. DEBRECZIN (Hung. Debreczeri), a royal free town of Hungary, county of Bihar, in the N". E. part of the Hungarian Lowland (Aliold), 119 m. E. of Pesth ; pop. in 1870, 46,111. It is an open town with long suburbs, ending on a vast heath. The houses are mostly of one story and thatched. There are some fine build- ings, of which the principal are the town house, the Catholic church, the Piarist mon- astery, and the Protestant reformed college, founded in 1792. The last mentioned has a large library and valuable collections, and is the best frequented seat of learning for the Calvinistic youth of Hungary. There are several other higher educational institutions belonging to both Protestants and Catholics, as well as a number of charitable establish- ments and a house of correction. The princi- pal streets are paved with brick. The inhabi- tants, who with the exception of a few thou- sands are Protestants and Magyars, are mostly employed in agriculture. Many of them retire several times in the year with their families and cattle to their distant fields on the plains, where they live for weeks in huts or under tents. The principal manufac- tures are coarse woollens, sheepskins for cloth- ing, leather, shoes and boots, saltpetre, soap, various kinds of pottery, cutlery, cooperage, combs, buttons, pearl wreaths, and particular- ly clay tobacco pipes. The trade of Debreczin is important, consisting chiefly in cattle, horses, swine, hides, bacon, potash, wine, various kinds of oils, cheese, and Vienna haberdashery and colonial articles, for which it is the chief depot for eastern Hungary and Transylvania. It has four annual fairs held on the surrounding plains, which are attended by many thousands of people. Eailway lines connect the town with all parts of the empire. The bread of Debreczin is renowned, but the town suffers from scarcity of water. During the long wars between the Hapsburg monarchs of Hungary, the Turks, and the princes of Transylvania,