Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/128

110&#93; Il6] LIN 4. The anodijne Uniivent, or ~^-alsam ; is prepared by digesting one dram ot" opium, and halt' an ounce ol Cdstile soap in four ounces of reftified spirit of wine, for the space of three days ; then adding two drams of camphor, and half a dram of distilled oil of rosemary : the vessel should be agitated, that the various ingredients may be properly mixed. — This composi- tion is frequently employed with success, for r^iitigating the pains arising from sprained limbs, and si- milar local affections. LINNET, or Fringilla Unnia, L. is a very elegant bird, of which there are several varieties : it is of a small size, and a greyish-brown colour; the lov/er part of its breast u tinged with a fine blood-red spot, wiiich disappears in the moulting season, and again becomes visible in the spring. Linnets are deservedly esteemed for their song: the female con- strucls her nest in hedges and turze-bushes on l^^aths ; deposits iive whitish t^ggs, spotted similar to those of gold-rinchas ; and broods three or four times in the j-ear. With a view of teaching linnets to whistle tunes, or to imitate the notes of any other bird, they should be taken from the parent bird, when €nly betveen four and ten davs old. If removed at this early age, they may without ditticuity be taught to modulate their voice, and strike melodious notes, being remarkabl}'- docile birds. While young, they should be fed v.ith equal parts of bread and rape-seed, bruised and boiled togetlier, which may be giveu them several tines a day, properly moistened 3 but this mixture must neither be suffered tp become sour, nor dry or stiff; as, in the forr.isr state, it will g; ips LiiNf and destroy them ; in the laftefy it renders them costive, and thus proves ahke fatal. Linnets are peculiarly fond of linseed, or the fruit of the flax-« plant, which they divest of its husk or shell, before it is swallowed. But it deserves to be remarked, that linseed, if allowed tliem un- mixed with rape-seed, bread, ca- nary-seed, &c. is detrimental to their health, and, in a few week* or montlis, proves destructive. It has been attempted to teach linnets to pronounce words like parrots ; and they have sometimes, though with considerable trouble, acquired the art of speaking in a manner more pleasing to children than adults. LINSEED, orLixTSEED, is the fruit of the Flax- plant, or Linum, L. from the stalks of which, linen, cambric, and other sorts of cloih are manufactured. According to the most expe- rienced cultivators of flax, the ex- cellence of the seed depends upon its weight, and the brightness of its colour. But, though such marks of distinguishincf old from fresh, or heavy Irom liglit linseed, may be sufficiently accurate for the pur- pose of expressing the oil, yet they do not afford a satisfa6tory criterion, in selecting the most proper seed for the culture of this valuable plant. Hence, a handful of linseed should be thrown intoa glass of v/ater; and, if the whole or greater part of the grains in a few minutes sink to the bottom, such seed will be fit for sowing : or, by putting a small quantit}-^ of them in a silver spoon, and holding it over a moderate fire, all the grains that contain the germinating principle, will speedily escape. But the most certain me- thod of determining their vegetat- ins: