Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

BRADBURY, EVANS, & CO., 11, BOUVERIE ST., FLEET ST., E.C.

SCRIBNER, WELFORD, & CO., 654, BROADWAY, NEW YORK.

1867.

[blocks in formation]

airt

Jin Sarsom Library 4-15-01

6702028

NATURAL HISTORY.

VOLUME II.

CLIVINA.

CLIVI'NA, a genus of Coleopterous Insects of the family Scaritida, and section Geodephaga. It has the following characters:-Body elongate, somewhat cylindrical; antennæ moniliform, the basal joints rather long (the first longest), the remaining joints short and rounded; palpi with the terminal joint long and pointed; mentum trilobate; thorax nearly square; anterior tibia broad and compressed, with two notches externally, leaving three long pointed tooth-like processes; the intermediate pair of legs with one of these external processes on the tibia.

Dejean incorporates with this genus that of Dyschirius, but we think without sufficient reason.

These insects are of small size, and live under stones in damp situations, particularly on the margins of rivers, lakes, &c. Their dentated anterior tibiæ enable them to burrow like the Lamellicorn Beetles.

Of the genus Clivina but few species are known. In England there are two; the more common is C. fossor (or C. arenaria of some authors). This species is rather more than ths of an inch in length, and of a black or brown colour; the legs, antennæ, and palpi, are reddish. C. collaris, the other British species, is rather less than the one just described. It is black, and has chestnut-red elytra, sometimes with a black dash on the suture.

The species of the genus Dyschirius are distinguished from those of Clivina principally by their having the thorax globular, the terminal joint of the palpi thicker in proportion, and somewhat securiform. The body is generally shorter in proportion, and more convex, or less cylindrical; they are almost always of a brassy metallic colour, whereas the species of Clivina are black or brown, and without any

metallic hue.

Of the genus Dyschirius between twenty and thirty species are known. Their habits are much like those of the genus Clivina, but they are less frequently found under stones, and often make cylindrical burrows in the ground in banks at the margin of rivers or other pieces of water. Upwards of twelve species inhabit this country, the largest of which is scarcely more than one-eighth of an inch in length.

CLOANTHITE, a cobaltiferous arsenide of nickel.
CLOT. [BLOOD.]

CLOTHO, a genus of Fossil Bivalve Shells, established by Faujas de Saint Fond. Shell oval, subregular, striated longitudinally, equivalve, subequilateral. Hinge formed by a bifid tooth, curved into a hook, a little larger in one valve than in the other. Ligament

external.

CLOTHONIA. [BOIDE.]

CLOUDBERRY, a dwarf kind of Bramble, with herbaceous stems, and orange-yellow fruit, found in turfy alpine bogs; it is the Rubus chamamorus of botanists. Its fruit is excellently well flavoured when newly gathered. [RUBUS.]

CLOVE-PINK, a species of Dianthus, so called from a supposed resemblance in odour between its flowers and the cloves of the shops. [DIANTHUS.]

CLOVER. [TRIFOLIUM.] CLOVES. [CARYOPHYLLUS.] CLUB-MOSS, or SNAKE-MOSS, is a prostrate moss-like plant, with small scaly imbricated leaves, found in alpine or damp situations in most parts of the world. Its fructification consists of little twovalved cases, containing powdery matter. All the species belong to

NAT. HIST. DIV. VOL. II.

CLUPEIDE.

the genus Lycopodium; that to which the name is most commonly applied is L. clavatum. [LYCOPODIUM.]

CLUNCH, a name given to the lower and harder beds of the Cretaceous Rocks. They are occasionally used for building purposes, and have been especially employed for internal work in cathedrals and other large public buildings. This material stands well if not exposed to accidents from mechanical violence. (Ansted, Elementary Geology.)

CLUPE'IDÆ, a family of Fishes of the section Abdominales. The Clupeidae are placed by Cuvier between the Salmonida and the Gadida: in fact they form the fifth and last division of his section Malacopterygiens Abdominaux.' The fishes of this division may be distinguished by their wanting the adipose fin, by having the upper jaw composed of the intermaxillary bones in the middle, and the maxillaries at the sides, and by the body being always covered with scales. Some of the species ascend rivers.

The genus Clupea, as now restricted by Cuvier, may be thus characterised :-Maxillaries arched in front; opening of the mouth moderate; upper jaw entire; body compressed and covered with large scales; teeth minute or wanting. To this genus belong the Herring, Sprat, Whitebait, Pilchard, &c.

C. Harengus, Linn., the Herring (French, Le Hareng Commun), is a fish well known. Its characters however will be useful to distinguish it from some allied species; they are as follows:

Small teeth in both jaws; suboperculum rounded; veins on the infra-orbitals and gill-covers; dorsal fin behind the centre of gravity; this fin commences about half way between the point of the upper jaw and the end of the fleshy portion of the tail; ventrals placed beneath the middle of the dorsal fin; tail forked; length of the head one-fifth of that of the body; the greatest depth of the body one-fifth of the whole length. The upper part of the fish is blue or green, according to the light; the sides, belly, and gill-covers are silverywhite; ordinary length, ten to twelve inches.

The term Herring is the same as the German Häring, which, according to some, is derived from Heer, an army, and is applied to these fishes from their visiting the coasts in such immense numbers.

"The Herring inhabits the deep waters all round the British coasts, and approaches the shores in the months of August and September for the purpose of depositing its spawn, which takes place in October, or the beginning of November. It is during these months that the great fishing is carried on, for after the spawning is over it returns to deep water. The mode of fishing for herrings is by driftnets, very similar to those employed for taking mackerel and pilchard, with a slight difference in the size of the mesh. The net is suspended by its upper edge from the drift-rope by various shorter and smaller ropes, called buoy-ropes; and considerable practical skill is required in the arrangement, that the net may hang with the meshes square, smooth and even, in the water, and at the proper depth; for according to the wind, tide, situation of their food, and other causes, the herrings swim at various distances below the surface.

"The size of the boat used depends on the distance from shore at which the fishery is carried on, but whether in deep or in shallow water, the nets are only in actual use during the night. It is found that the fish strike the nets in much greater numbers when it is dark than when it is light: the darkest nights therefore and those in which the surface of the water is ruffled by a breeze are considered the most favourable. It is supposed that nets stretched in the daytime alarm

B

« EelmineJätka »