Bill short, much depressed, and wide at the base; the upper mandible
being keeled and bent at the tip; gape extending as far backwards as the
eyes; nostrils at the base of the bill, oblong, and partly covered by a
membrane; legs with the shank short; the toes slender, three before and
one behind; the outer toe united to the middle one as far as the first
joint; tail of twelve feathers, generally forked; wings long and
acuminated, the first quill being the longest.—_Montagu._
HIT, _v._ To strike, to touch with a blow; to touch the mark, not to
miss; to reach the point; a lucky chance; a game at backgammon.
HITCH, _s._ A knot or noose taken on a rope.
HIVE, _s._ The habitation or cell of bees; the bees inhabiting a
hive.
HOAR, _a._ White; grey with age; white with frost.
HOBBY, _s._ A species of hawk; an Irish or Scottish horse.
_The Hobby._ (_Falco subbuteo_, LINN.; _Le Hobereau_, BUFF.)—The length
of the male is twelve inches; breadth about two feet. The bill is blue;
cere and orbits of the eyes yellow; the irides orange; over each eye
there is a light-coloured streak; the top of the head and back are of a
bluish black; the wing coverts the same, but in some edged with rust
colour; the hinder part of the neck is marked with two pale yellow
spots; a black mark from behind each eye, forming almost a crescent, is
extended downwards on the neck; the breast and belly are pale, marked
with dusky streaks; the thighs rusty, with long dusky streaks; the wings
brown; the two middle feathers of the tail are of a deep dove colour,
the others are barred with rusty and tipped with white. The female is
much larger, and the spots on her breast more conspicuous than those of
the male; the legs and feet are yellow.
The hobby breeds with us, but is said to emigrate in October. It was
formerly used in falconry, chiefly for larks and other small birds,
which were caught in a singular manner: when the hawk was cast off, the
larks, fixed to the ground through fear, became an easy prey to the
fowler, who drew a net over them. Buffon says that it was used in taking
partridges and quails.
A male hobby perceiving a goldfinch in a cage, within a window which
happened to be open, dashed at the imprisoned bird, notwithstanding
several persons were in the room; but being alarmed at the natural
vociferations of some young ladies for the safety of their darling, the
intruder mistook the passage by which he entered, and flew against the
glass, when his retreat was cut off, and he was secured.
This species was formerly trained for hawking, but more commonly used
for taking partridges and larks with a net, which was termed daring,
that is, the hobby was cast off, which so frightened the birds, that
they readily suffered a net to be drawn over them.—_Montagu._
HOCK, _s._ The joint between the knee and fetlock; old strong
Rhenish.
HOE, _s._ An instrument to cut up the earth.
HOG, _s._ The general name of swine; a castrated boar.
_To prepare Hog’s Fur._—Take according to the quantity of fur you have:
if a pound, four quarts of water; cut down into it two ounces of soap
with a noggin of stale urine; throw in your fur, and let it come to a
high scald, and while it is coming to that, keep it constantly under the
liquor. Lay it by to cool, and when cool enough gently squeeze and press
with your hands, and throw it into cold water. Then in some clean water,
about two quarts, dissolve about the size of two walnuts of alum, and
when it boils throw in your fur, press it well, and throw it into clean
water; press it, and throw off the water, pour in more, and do the same
at least three times. You must open your fur before you can dye it, as
this process will cement it together. As to mohair it needs nothing more
than washing with soap and water, to be boiled as above in alum, and
washed.—_Old Recipe._
HOGGEREL, _s._ A two-years-old ewe.
HOGSHEAD, _s._ A measure of liquids containing sixty gallons; any
large barrel.
HOG’S LARD, _s._ An article of some importance in veterinary
surgery, being the basis of almost every ointment.
Hog’s lard possesses a laxative quality, and may be given to the extent
of half a pound, melted or mixed with warm water or peppermint water, as
a substitute for castor oil, olive oil, or linseed oil, when neither of
those can be procured. Fresh hog’s lard melted, and mixed with a little
salad oil, forms a good softening ointment for horses’ heels that are
subject to cracks.—_White._
HOLD, _s._ The act of seizing; gripe, grasp, seizure; something to
be held; hold of a ship, all that part which lies between the
keelson and the lower deck; a lurking-place.
HOLE, _s._ A cavity narrow and long; a cave, hollow place; cell of
an animal.
HOLLOW, _v._ To shout, to hoot. _View hollow!_ The hunter’s halloo!
given when the game is viewed by the hounds.
HOLLY, _s._ A tree.
HONEY, _s._ A thick, viscous, luscious substance, which is collected
and prepared by bees. Honey is divided into three kinds; virgin
honey, the first produce of the swarm, obtained by drawing,
without pressing the comb; a second, or thicker kind, produced
by pressure; and a third and worst description extracted by
heating, and then pressing the comb.
HONEYCOMB, _s._ The cells of wax in which the bee stores her honey.
HONEYCOMBED, _a._ Flawed with little cavities; a term used to
describe the injuries produced by rust on cannon and gun
barrels.
HOOD, _s._ Anything drawn upon the head, and wrapping round it; a
cap of leather put on the hawk’s head immediately after he is
taken. It is so constructed as to prevent him from seeing, but
to allow him to feed; and may be put on or taken off at
pleasure. To hood a hawk requires a degree of manual dexterity
that is not easily acquired.
HOOD, _v._ To blind as with a hood.
HOODED or ROYSTON CROW (_Corvus cornix_, LINN.; _La Corneille
mantelée_, BUFF.) _s._
[Illustration]
This bird is somewhat larger and more bulky than the rook, measuring
twenty-two inches in length. Its bill is black, and two inches long; the
head, fore part of the neck, wings, and tail, are black; the back and
all the under parts are of a pale ash-colour; legs black.
These birds arrive with the woodcock, and on their first coming frequent
the shores of rivers. They depart in the spring to breed in other
countries, but it is said that they do not all leave us, as they have
been seen during the summer months in the northern quarters of our
island, where they frequent the mountainous parts of the country, and
breed in the pines. In more northern parts of the world they continue
the whole year, and subsist on sea-worms, shell-fish, and other marine
productions. With us they are seen to mix with and to feed in the same
manner as the crow. During the breeding season they live in pairs, lay
six eggs, and are said to be much attached to their offspring.—_Bewick._