APPENDIX (DUKE OF OTRANTO-PACA.) was comprised in the law against the regicides, and the court of Saxony was not strong enough to protect him. He then retired to Prague, Lintz, and, at last, to Trieste, where he died, Dec. 26, 1820, without complaint or regret, leaving his character to be settled by history. Fouché's life is one of the most important parts of the history of the time in which he lived. He was a highly estimable father and husband, and educated his children with the greatest care. His whole private life is irreproachable. He loved justice, and enjoyed the good opinion of the most opposite parties. His countenance was expressive of penetration and decision. He was of the middle size, rather thin, of firm health, and strong nerves. The tones of his voice were somewhat hollow and harsh; in speech, he was vehement, determined and lively; in his whole appearance he was plain and simple. The Mémoires de Jos. Fouché, Duc d'Otrante, etc. (2d part, Brussels, 1824), which appeared at Paris, 1824, are not acknowledged by his sons, who prosecuted the publisher, and gained the case. OYSTER; a well known edible shellfish, belonging to the genus ostrea, occurring in most parts of the world. The European oyster (O. edulis), which forms a considerable article of trade on the coasts of England and France, is generally taken by dredging, after which the animals are placed in pits formed for the purpose, furnished with sluices, through which, at spring tides, the water is suffered to flow. In these receptacles, they acquire the green tinge so remarkable in the European oyster, and which is considered as adding to their value. This color, which at one time was supposed to be owing to some mineral impregnation, has recently been ascertained to arise from the conferve, and other marine vegetable matter, on which the animal feeds. The oysters brought to the different markets in the U. States are furnished by several species, which it is extremely difficult to discriminate, and are known among the venders and epicures of this food by appellations derived from the places from whence they are brought. The business of taking these shell-fish employs a great number of hands, and no inconsiderable amount of tonnage. In many places, oysters are planted, as it is called; that is, large artificial beds are formed in favorable situations, where they are permitted to fatten and increase. The breeding time of oysters is in April or May, from which time to July or August, 603 the oysters are said to be sick, or in the milk. This is known by the appearance of a milky substance in the gills. Oysters attain a size fit for the table in about a year and a half, and are in their prime at three years of age; though what the natural term of their lives may be, it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine with any degree of accuracy. Many curious discussions have arisen as to whether oysters possessed the faculty of locomotion. It is well known that, in general, they are firmly attached to stones, or to each other; and it has been stated, and generally believed, that they were not endowed with any powers of changing their position. From the observations and experiments of naturalists, however, it appears that they can move from place to place by suddenly closing their shells, and thus ejecting the water contained between them with sufficient force to throw themselves backward, or in a lateral direction. Oysters form the basis of many culinary preparations, but are much more digestible in their raw state than after any mode of cooking them, as this process, in a great measure, deprives them of the nourishing animal jelly which forms so large a portion of their substance. The shell of the oyster is composed of carbonate of lime and animal matter, and was, at one time, supposed to possess peculiar medical properties; but analysis has shown that the only advantage of these animal carbonates of lime over those from the mineral kingdom arises from their containing no admixture of any metallic substance. The lime obtained from the calcination of oyster shells, though exceedingly pure and white, is better suited for work which does not require great tenacity, as for plastering rooms, than for the common purposes of building, as it does not form as hard a compound with sand as the mineral limes. PACA (cœlogenus); a genus of animals inhabiting South America, living in the woods, in the vicinity of water, concealing themselves in superficial burrows, which have three openings to them. They are thick set, and of a clumsy form, and, when full grown, measure about two feet in length from the tip of the nose to the extremity of the body, and about one foot in height both before and behind; for, although the hinder legs are much longer than the anterior, they are so bent as to allow a much greater proportion of their length to touch the surface of the ground. Their eyes are large, prominent, and of a brownish hue, their ears nearly naked and their whiskers long and rigid. They swim and dive remarkably well, and run with considerable swiftness. Their cry is not unlike that of a pig. Their flesh is said to be very savory, and forms a staple article of food in many parts of South America. They seldom leave their burrows, except during the night, when they sally forth in search of their food, which consists of herbs and fruit. They are taken alive by closing two of the openings to their burrows, and digging up the third. They often make an obstinate defence, and are capable of biting very severely. They are readily tamed, and might prove a valuable addition to our stock of domestic animals, especially in the Southern States, where the winter is not sufficiently severe to injure them. They are very prolific, and, in a warm climate, would require but little attention. PARTRIDGE (perdix). The partridges were formerly classed with the grouse (q.v.),in the genus tetrao,till they were formed into a separate genus by Brisson, since which they have been still further divided into subgenera by Temminck, Cuvier, &c. These are, 1. francolinus, having a long, strong beak, large tail, and generally strong spurs: 2. perdix; the beak less powerful; males with short spurs or simple tubercles; females destitute of these defences: 3. coturnix; smaller than perdix; beak small, tail short, no spur, and destitute of the red eye-lid: 4. ortyx; beak thick and short; tail more developed. The gray or English partridge (P. cinereus) belongs to the second of these subgenera. It is distinguished by having the bill and feet of a light brown color, the head fawn color, and the plumage brown and ashcolored, mixed with black: the male has a deep-brown crescent on his breast. This species is found in all the temperate parts of Europe, and is very abundant in England. They pair early in the spring, and the female lays from fourteen to twenty eggs, in a nest composed of dry leaves and grass. The young can run about as soon as they are excluded from the egg. The affection of the partridge for her young is very strong, and in taking care of them, she is assisted by the male. They frequently sit close to each other, covering the young with their wings, and, when in this situation, are not easily roused. The principal food of the young partridges are ant-eggs and insects; but, when full grown, they feed on all kinds of grain. The red or French partridge (P. rufus) also belongs to this subdivision. It is larger than the last-mentioned species, has red feet and beak, is brown above, and its sides are beautifully variegated with ferruginous and ash-color; the neck is white, with a black margin. The red partridge lives on higher grounds than the gray, preferring hills. The flesh is whiter and less juicy. There are many other species inhabiting Europe and Asia which it is needless to particularize. Those belonging to the other two subgenera are known under the name of quails, though, in Pennsylvania, and some other states, the American species is also termed partridge. (See Quail.) The above-mentioned birds form an important part of what is denominated game among the modern nations of Europe, the killing of which has been made the subject of public regulations. (See Game Laws.) PECCARY (dicotyles). The peccaries bear a strong resemblance to the hog, but are sufficiently dissimilar to justify their separation as a distinct genus. The most striking difference between them, and every other species of quadruped, is the existence of a large gland under the skin on the middle of the loins. This gland secretes a fluid of a very offensive smell. In their habits, however, they are closely allied to the hog: their gait is the same; they root up the earth in a similar manner, and express their feelings by the same disagreeable grunt. They are equally susceptible of domestication; but, from the fetid smell emitted by the gland on their back, they have never been tamed to any extent. Their flesh, also, is much inferior to pork in flavor. They are peculiar to South America, living in the extensive forests of that country, in hollows of trees, or in burrows made by other animals. There are only two species--the collared peccary (D. torquatus), and the white-lipped peccary (D. labiatus). These differ more in habits than they do in appearance: the former is the smaller, and lives in pairs, or in small herds, never migrating. The latter assemble in large herds, sometimes amounting, it is said, to more than a thousand individuals. These herds traverse extensive districts, never turning from their line of march for any obstacle. great fury, and the only escape for a If attacked, they fight with huntsman, under such circumstances, is in ascending a tree. The smaller bands are not as dangerous, generally taking to flight on the first attack. When irritated, they erect their bristles, rub their snouts together, and make a continued grunting. The secretion from the gland in this spe cies is not as fetid as in the other. |