ass is remarkable for particular caution against wetting its feet, to avoid which it will make various turns and crossings on the road. It seldom lies down to sleep, unless it is particularly fatigued, and sleeps considerably less than the horse. It is capable of being taught a variety of exercises, and though regarded as a just emblem of stupidity, is far more susceptible and docile than is generally imagined, though unquestionably far inferior to the horse in these respects. Its bray is harsh and disgusting, particularly that of the male. The female has been considered by many naturalists as incapable of braying, contrary, in this country, most certainly, to the most frequent and obvious facts. Her voice is somewhat shriller and weaker than the male. In several countries of Africa, and in some islands of the Archipelago, asses are hunted for food, and their flesh is regarded as highly nutritious and agreeable. In England their milk is in high esteem in cases of debility and decline, and where the stomach of the patient is incapable of digesting the more strong and oily produce of the cow. In America, the ass was introduced by the Spaniards, and on the southern continent of that quarter of the world these animals are found at present in vast herds, having multiplied to an extreme degree, and being frequently hunted by the natives, who contrive to surround a particular herd, and enclosing them gradually within a very small compass, entangle as many as they chuse to take by throwing over each a noosed cord with unfailing dexterity. The animal is then fettered with extreme ease, and left in that state upon the ground till the conclusion of the chase, which sometimes is continued for two or three days. They are as swift as horses, and, indeed, in all ages, the wild ass has been considered as distinguished by rapidity. They attack and defend both with the hoof and teeth in the same manner as horses. The slowness and sluggishness of the ass have frequently excited ludicrous feelings, and it is related of Crassus, that the only occasion on which he was ever known to laugh, was at an ass eating thistles. The habits of the ass, however, do not appear certainly a more fertile subject of ridicule than those of that philosopher. The male is a hybrid animal, between the horse and the ass, and from its barrenness, affords unquestionable evidence of the distinctness of these two species. In mountainous districts the mule is extremely serVOL. III The viceable as a beast of burden, as it moves over steep and rugged roads with astonishing firmness, steadiness, and facility. In England these animals are but little used, and where they are employed, it is almost uniformly in the above situations. breed in this country has been considerably improved within a short period, by the im portation of asses from Spain, where mules are in the highest estimation, and employed by the first orders of the opulent and noble, both for the saddle and the carriage. They are not unfrequently sold in that kingdom at the price of sixty or seventy guineas. To those who reside in a country abounding with precipitous passes and rugged roads, mules are invaluable, on account of their steadiness and accuracy of step. In the Alps they are uniformly employed by travellers to descend roads, the narrowness, obliquity, and danger of which fill the rider with something approaching to consternation. Their manner, on particular occasions of perilous and steep descent, is worthy of being mentioned. Among the Alps the path often occupies only the space of a few feet in width, having on one side an eminence of perpendicular ascent, and on the other a vast abyss, and, as it generally follows the direction of the mountains, presents frequently declivities of several hundred yards. On arriving at one of these the mule, for a moment halts, and no effort of the rider can for the time urge it forward. It appears alarmed at the contemplation of the danger. In a few moments, however, it places its fore feet as it might be supposed to do in the act of stopping itself, and almost immediately closes its hinder feet, somewhat advancing them, so as to give the idea of its intention to lie down. In this attitude it glides down the descent with astonishing rapidity, yet amidst all its speed, retains that self government which enables it to follow, with the most perfect precision, all the windings of the road, and to avoid every impediment to its progress and security. During these singular and critical movements, the rider must be cautious to avoid the slightest check, and must devote his attention to the preservation of his seat without deranging the equilibrium of the mule, the least disordering of which would be inevitably fatal. By long expe rience on these perilous roads, some mules have acquired the most admirable and astonishing dexterity, and having been in particular requisition from their extraordinary E skill and fame, have become a source of corresponding profit to their owners. See Mammalia, Plate XI. fig. 3. E. zebra, or the zebra, is somewhat larger than the ass, and far more elegant in its form, particularly with respect to the head and ears. It is either of a milk white or cream colour, adorned on every part with brownish-black stripes, running transversely on the limbs and body, and longitudinally on the face, and arranged with exquisite order, and attended with extreme brilliancy and beauty. These animals inhabit in Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape of Good Hope, between which they exist in vast herds, possessing much of the habits of the wild horse and ass. Like them they are extremely vigilant, and extremely fleet, and so fearful of the sight of man, that, on his first appearance, they fly off with all possible rapidity. They are of an untractable temper, and the attempts which have been made to domesticate them, have in no instance been attended with complete success. Even when taken young, and brought up with particular assiduity, they have yet exhibited a disposition so wild and vicious, as to give little hope that this beautiful race of creatures will ever eventually be of great service to mankind. Our slight acquaintance, however, with them would render a positive decision to this purpose exceedingly premature. Should the zebra ever be made safely and easily convertible to the same purposes as the horse, an elegant variety would be added to the luxuries of the great and opulent. See Mammalia, Plate XI. fig. 4. E. quagga is marked with fewer stripes than the zebra, and those few of a browner colour and larger size. The hinder parts of this animal are not striped, but spotted. It is found in Africa, is gregarious, extremely fleet, and more tractable than the last species, so much so indeed, that by the Dutch settlers at the Cape, it has been occasionally employed for the purposes both of draught and saddle. The same parts of Africa abound both in the quagga and the zebra, but the two species are never seen together. E. bisulcus, or the huemel, is a native of South America, particularly of the rugged districts of the Andes. It resembles the ass in general form, and the horse in voice, and in the smallness and neatness of its ears; it is distinguished from both, and from every other known species of the equine genus, by having a divided hoof, and constitutes a link between the clovenhoofed and whole-hoofed quadrupeds. ERECTOR. See ANATOMY. ERICA, in botany, heath, a genus of the Octandria Monogynia class and order. Natural order of Bicornes. Ericæ, Jussieu. Essential character: calyx four-leaved; corolla four-cleft; filaments inserted into the receptacle; anthers cloven; capsule fourcelled. There are eighty-four species. These are small shrubs. Their leaves are linear, lanceolate or ovate, imbricate or remote, entire, ciliate or serrate, in some opposite, in most whorled, in others again scattered; bractes usually three; the flowers are either axillary or terminating, and variously disposed; corolla mostly of a purple colour; anthers usually oblong, though sometimes linear; germ in most species smooth. ERIDANUS, in astronomy, a constellation of the southern hemisphere; containing, according to different authors, 19, 30, or even 68 stars. ERIGERON, in botany, a genus of the Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua class and order. Natural order of Compositæ Discoidea. Corymbiferæ, Jussieu. Essential character: receptacle naked; down hairy; corolla of the ray linear, and very narrow. There are thirty species. ERINACEUS, the hedge-hog, in natural history, a genus of Mammalia, of the order Feræ. Generic character: two fore teeth, both above and below, those of the upper jaw distant, those of the lower approximated; five tusks on each side of the upper jaw, three on each side of the lower; four grinders on each side, both above and below; body covered on the upper part with spines. There are six species. E europæus, the common hedge-hog, is found in all the temperate climates of Europe and Asia. Its whole length is about eleven inches, its colour generally a grey brown. It lives in hedges and thickets, and subsists on young toads, worms, beetles, crabs, fruits, and birds. It conceals itself in its hole during the day, and by night wanders in search of food. It builds its nest of moss, and produces four or five young ones at a birth. These animals possess the curious, though not completely singular property of rolling themselves into a compact form, like a ball, their spines only appearing, and presenting to the enemy an armed front, which he generally trem bles to assail. The greater the danger it is exposed to, the more closely it is compacted, and it is difficult to compel it from this state to its usual form without the application of cold water, on being immersed in which, it appears in its usual shape. It lies in this ball-like form during the winter in its mossy nest, insensible to the extremity of the cold, and, on the approach of spring, resumes its nocturnal researches. It is perfectly harmless, and in some countries is said to be domesticated, and in this state is employed by the Calmucks in their habitations to clear them from various annoying insects. It possesses a considerable odour of musk. It is occasionally hunted by dogs, which, however, before they are disciplined to the pursuit, are not fond of encountering these animals, being deterred by their horrid aspect, or wounding bristles. They soon, however, find their superiority, and after a little irritation from the spines of the animal, are exasperated to the full application of their teeth, which the hedge-hog is totally unable to resist. Finding his globular form now cease to be his effectual security, he unrolls himself, and falls an immediate victim to the dogs, who are generally arged on to the sport by persons of far greater curiosity than sensibility. See Mammalia, Plate XII. fig. 1. E. malaccensis, or the Malacca hedgehog, is about the size of the common porcupine; its ears are long and pendulous, and its spines, or rather quills, are stated to vary on different parts of the animal from the length of an inch to a foot and a half. It is remarkable for a concretion in the gall-bladder about the size of a walnut, which is intensely bitter, and which, in the days of medical ignorance and superstition, was imagined to possess the highest virtue in cases of fever and other malignant diseases, and, when found entire, has been sold occasionally for more than two hundred pounds. These bezoars, however, are by no means peculiar to this animal. See Mammalia, Plate XII. fig. 2. ERINUS, in botany, a genus of the Didynamia Angiospermia class and order. Na tural order of Personatæ. Pediculares, Jussieu. Essential character: calyx fiveleaved; corolla border five-cleft, equal, with the lobes, emarginate; upper lip very short, reflex; capsule two-celled. There are thirteen species. The flowers in this genus are either axillary, or with one bracte to each, in a terminating spike; leaves alternate. They are chiefly natives of Africa. ERIOCAULON, a genus of the Triandria Tryginia class and order. Natural order of Ensatæ. Junci, Jussieu. Essential character: calyx common, an imbricate head; petals three, equal; stamina upon the germ. There are six species. ERIOCEPHALUS, in botany, a genus of the Syngenesia Polygamia Necessaria class and order. Natural order of Compositæ Nucamentaceæ. Corymbiferæ, Jussieu. Essential character: receptacle subvillose; down none; calyx ten-leaved, equal; in the ray five floscules. There are two species, viz. E. africanus, cluster-leaved eriocephalus, and E. racemosus, silveryleaved eriocephalus. Both natives of the Cape of Good Hope. The leaves of the first mentioned are woolly; they come out in clusters, some taper and entire, others divided into three pairs, which spread open like a hand; they have a strong smell when bruised, approaching to that of lavender cotton, though not so rank. The flowers are produced in small clusters at the ends of the branches, standing erect. The female florets which compose the ray form a hollow, in the middle of which the hermaphrodite florets forming the disk are situated. ERIOPHORUM, in botany, cotton grass, a genus of the Triandria Monogynia class and order. Natural order of Calamaria. Cyperoideæ, Jussieu. Essential character: glumes chaffy, imbricate every way; corolla none; seed one, surrounded with a very long wool. There are six species. These are bog plants, and are nearly allied to the grasses; they are rarely cultivated in gardens. ERIOSPERMUM, in botany, a genus of the Hexandria Monogynia class and order. Corolla six petalled, campanulate, permanent; filaments dilated at the base; capsule three-celled; seeds invested with wool. There are three species. ERIOSTEMUM, in botany, a genus of the Decandria Monogynia class and order. Calyx five-parted; petals five, sessile; stamina flat, ciliate; antheræ pedicelled terminal; style from the base of the germ; capsules five, united, seated on a nectary covered with protuberances; seeds coated. One species, viz. E. australasia. ERITHALIS, in botany, a genus of the Pentandria Monogynia class and order. Natural order of Rubiacea, Jussieu. Essential character: corolla five-parted, with the divisions bent back; calyx pitchershaped; berry ten-celled, inferior. There are two species, viz. the fruticosa and polygama. ERMIN. See MUSTELA. ERMIN, inheraldry, is always argent and sable, that is, a white field, or fur, with black spots. These spots are not of any determinate number, but may be more or less, at the pleasure of the painter, as the skins are thought not to be naturally so spotted; but serving for lining the garments of great persons, the farriers were wont, in order to add to their beauty, to sow bits of the black tails of the creatures that produced them, upon the white of their skin, to render them the more conspicuous, which alteration was introduced into armoury. ERMINE', or cross erminé, is one com posed of four ermin spots. It is to be observed, that the colours in these arms are not to be expressed, because neither this cross nor these arms can be of any other colour but white and black. ERNODEA, in botany, a genus of the Tetrandria Monogynia class and order. Essential character: calyx four-parted; corolla one-petalled, salver-shaped; berry two-celled; seeds solitary. There is but one species, viz. E. littoralis, a native of Jamaica. ERODIUM, in botany, cranes-bill, a genus of the Monadelphia Pentandria class and order. Natural order of Gruinales. Gerania, Jussieu. Calyx five-leaved; corolla five-petalled; nectary five-scales, alternate with the filaments and glands at the base of the stamens; fruit five-grained, with a spiral beak, bearded on the inside. There are twenty-eight species. ERUCTATIONS, in medicine, are the effect of flatulent foods, and the crudities thence arising. ERUDITION, denotes an extensive acquaintance with books, especially such as treat of the belles lettres. ERUPTION. See MEDICINE. ERVUM, in botany, a genus of the Diadelphia Decandria class and order. Natural order of Papilionacea, or Leguminosa. Essential character: calyx five-parted, the length of the corolla. There are six species; of which E. lens, flat-seeded tare, or common lentil, is an annual plant, and the least of the pulse kind which is cultivated; it rises with weak stalks a foot and a half high, having pinnate leaves at each joint, composed of several pairs of narrow leaflets, terminated by a tendril, which supports it by fastening about some other plant; the flowers come out on short pe duncles from the sides of the branches; they are small, of a pale purple colour, and three or four together; legumes short and flat, containing two or three flat, round seeds, a little convex in the middle; the flowers appear in May; the seeds ripen in July. ERYNGIUM, in botany, English eryngo, a genus of the Pentandria Digynia class and order. Natural order of Umbellatæ. Essential character: flowers in a head; receptacle chaffy. There are eleven species; these bear some resemblance to the this tles; the leaves are frequently spinous, as are also the involucres; the umbellets in some are inclosed in an involucre, which is are dispersed. ERODIUS, in natural history, a genus of insects of the order Coleoptera. Antennæ moniliform; feelers four, filiform; body roundish, gibbous, immarginate; thorax transverse; shells closely united, longer often irregular and branched; in others they than the abdomen; jaw horny, bifid; lip horny, emarginate. There are four species. EROTEUM, in botany, a genus of the Polyandria Monogynia class and order. Essential character. calyx five-leaved; corolla five-petalled; style trifid; berry juiceless, three-celled, many-seeded. There are two species, viz. E. thoides, and E. undulatum, both natives of Jamaica. ERROR, in law, signifies an error in pleading, or in the process on the judgment; and the writ which is brought for remedy of it is called a writ of error. This is a commission to judges of a superior court, by which they are authorized to examine the record upon which a judgment was given in an inferior court, and on such examination, to affirm or reverse the same according to law. For particulars as to the ERYSIMUM, in botany, hedge-mustard, a genus of the Tetradynamia Siliquosa class and order. Natural order of Siliquosæ. Cruciferæ, Jussien. Essential character: silique columnar with four equal sides; caThere are eight species. lyx closed. ERYSIPELAS. See MEDICINE. ERYTHRINA, in botany, a genus of the Diadelphia Decandria class and order. Natural order of Papilionaceæ or Leguminosa. Essential character: calyx twolobed; corolla standard very long, lanceolate. There are seven species; these are small, prickly trees, or shrubs; leaves as in dolichos, ternate, stipulaceous; the petiolules jointed and awned, or glandular, seldom simple; flowers in fascicles from the axils, or in spikes at the ends of the stem in court to answer the plaintiff at the return and branches, generally scarlet. ERYTHRONIUM, in botany, dog-tooth violet, a genus of the Hexandria Monogynia class and order. Natural order of Sarmenticeæ. Lilia, Jussieu. Essential character: corolla six-petalled, bell-shaped; nectary tubercles two, fastened to the base of the alternate petals. There is but one species with several varieties, viz. E. dens camis, dog-tooth violet; the roots of this plant are white, oblong, and fleshy, shaped like a tooth, whence its name. ERYTHROXYLON, in botany, a genus of the Decandria Trigynia class and order. Natural order of Malpighiæ, Jussieu. Essential character: calyx turbinate; ccrolla having a small emarginate nectareous scale at the base of the petals; stamina connected at the base; drupe one-celled. There are five species. ESCALLONIA, in botany, so named in honour of M. Escallon, a genus of the Pentandria Monogynia class and order. Natural order of Calycanthema. Onagræ, Jussieu. Essential character: calyx surrounding the fruit; stigma capitate; berry twocelled, containing many seeds. There are two species, viz. E. myrtilloides, and E. serrata. ESCAPE, in law, is where one who is arrested gains his liberty before he is delivered by course of law. Escapes are either in civil or criminal cases; and in both respects may be distinguished into voluntary and negligent; voluntary, where it is with the consent of the keeper; negligent, where it is for want of due care in him. In civil cases, after the prisoner has been suffered voluntarily to escape, the sheriff can never retake him, but must answer for the debt; but the plaintiff may retake him at any time. In the case of a negligent escape, the sheriff, upon fresh pursuit, may retake the prisoner; and the sheriff shall be excused, if he has him again before any action brought against himself for the escape. When a defendant is once in custody in execation, upon a capias ad satisfaciendum, he is to be kept in close and safe custody; and if he be afterwards seen at large, it is an escape, and the plaintiff may have an action for his whole debt against the sheriff; for,' though upon arrests, and what is called mesne process, being such as intervenes between the commencement and end of a suit, the sherif, till the statute 8 and 9 Will. c. 27. might have indulged the defendant as he pleased, so as he produced him of the writ; yet, upon a taking in execufion, he could never give any indulgence; for in that case, confinement is the whole of the debtor's punishment, and of the satis. faction made to the creditor. A rescue of a prisoner in execution, either in going to gaol, or in gaol, or a breach of prison, will not excuse the sheriff from being guilty of, and answering for the escape; for he ought to have sufficient force to keep him, seeing he may command the power of the county. In criminal cases, an escape of a person arrested, by eluding the vigilance of his keeper before he is put in hold, is an offence against public justice, and the party himself is punishable by fine and imprisonment; but voluntary escapes amount to the same kind of offence, and are punishable in the same degree as the offence of which the prisoner is guilty, and for which he is in custody, whether treason, felony, or trespass, and this whether he was actually committed to gaol, or only under a bare arrest; but the officer cannot be thus punished, till the original delinquent is actually found guilty or convicted by verdict, confession, or outlawry; otherwise it might happen, that the officer should be punished for treason or felony, and the party escaping turn out to be an innocent man. But before the conviction of the principal party, the officer thus neg. lecting his duty, may be fined and imprisoned for a misdemeanor. 4 Black. 129. If any person shall convey, or cause to be conveyed into any gaol, any disguise, instrument, or arms, proper to facilitate the escape of prisoners, attainted or convicted of treason or felony, although no escape or attempt to escape be made, such person so offending, and convicted, shall be deemed guilty of felony, and be transported for seven years. 16 Geo. II. c. 31. ESCAPEMENT. See SCAPEMENT. ESCHEAT, in our law, denotes an obstruction of the course of descent, and a consequent determination of the tenure, by some unforeseen contingency; in which case, the land naturally results back, by a kind of reversion, to the original grantor or lord of the fee. This happens either for want of heirs of the person last seized, or by his attainder for a crime by him committed; in which latter case, the blood is tainted, stained, or corrupted, and the inheritable quality of it is thereby extinguished. ESCHEAT, for want of heirs, is where the |