Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/291

Rh juice from fermenting, till a sufficient quantity is procured, the bottles in which it is collected, ought to be immediately stopped.

One of the best methods of making birch-wine is as follows: to every gallon of the sap, add a pint of honey, or a pound of sugar, stir the whole together, and boil it for an hour with a few cloves, and a little lemon peel; at the same time carefully scum the rising impurities. When cool, a few spoonfuls of new ale should be added, to induce a proper degree of fermentation; and, after the yeast has settled, the wine should be bottled up, and kept for use. If this liquor be prepared with proper attention, it becomes so strong that the common stone bottles, into which it is decanted, frequently burst.

(Dwarf), or, Betula nana, L. an indigenous, creeping plant, which grows on moist heaths, and rarely exceeds three feet in height. It has roundish leaves, tender branches, a smooth bark, and its flower-catkins are uncommonly small: this diminutive tree, however, is more common in the marshy parts of Russia, Sweden, and on the mountains of Lapland and Norway, than in Britain. From its fibrous roots, the Norwegians and Laplanders manufacture very beautiful carpets; and its leaves are said to produce a more delicate yellow colour, than those of the common birch.  BIRD is a biped animal, provided with a bill, and covered with feathers, having two wings, by which it is enabled to fly, except in a few instances. The science which treats of birds, in general, is called : to which article we refer the reader, for farther particulars respecting the feathered tribe. But the uses, &c. of the various species, will be stated under their different heads.

is a stick split at one end, and containing a leaf of some plant, by which the notes of different birds are imitated, and they are thus attracted to the net, snare, or lime-twig. Thus, a laurel-leaf fitted to the bird-call, enables a skilful whistler to produce accents resembling those of lapwings; a leek, those of nightingales, &c.

is the art of taking birds, whether for the table, for the pleasure of their song, or with a view to destroy them, on account of their depredations.—This art is practised by several persons in the vicinity of London, for a livelihood; and is now reduced to a degree of systematic perfection. It is, however, attended with considerable expence, and the whole process is little known in other parts of Britain. We shall, therefore, as concisely as possible, describe the ingenious contrivances of bird-catchers, chiefly for the information and amusement of our country readers.

The nets are a most curious invention, about twelve yards and a half in length, and two and a half wide: the birds are caught by the nets flapping over each other.

Wild birds fly, as the bird-catchers term it, chiefly during September, October, and November; and also in March, though not in such abundance. The pippet, a small species of lark, appears about Michaelmas, and is succeeded by the wood-lark, linnet, gold-finch, chaff-finch, &c. none of which can be caught in great