1. Tar 4 oz.—Melt, and add
Muriatic acid 6 dr.
Verdigris 4 dr.
Mix, and continue stirring until it is cold.
2. Tar, melted 1 lb.
Strong sulphuric acid, by weight 2 oz.
Stir them well together for some time, and immediately before the
mixture is used.
LINK, _s._ A single ring of a chain; anything doubled and closed
together; a chain, anything connecting; any single part of a
series or chain of consequences; a torch made of pitch and
hards; a thread of gut or horse-hair.
LINNET (_Linaria linota_, CUVIER), _s._ A small singing bird.
This species is subject to much variety with respect to the red markings
which, at certain ages and seasons, are found upon the head and breast,
and this has occasioned it to be multiplied into two distinct species by
various ornithologists, all of whom seem to agree that the general
colour of both are alike, but assert that the greater redpole has none
of this colour upon the breast. On comparing the various authors who
have given this as a distinct species, we find they all make it nearly
the same as the redpole, but not quite so rufous on the upper parts. The
principal distinction seems to be in the breast being of a fine crimson
colour, and none of that colour on the head.
The male in full plumage has the bill bluish; irides hazel; the head
light brown; the feathers on the crown darkest in their middle; sides of
the neck inclining to ash-colour; the forehead rosy red; the back,
scapulars, and coverts of the wings, fine deep rufous brown, lightest on
the rump, and palest on the margin of each feather; the breast is brown,
with more or less spots like that on the head; belly light rufous brown;
vent almost white; quill-feathers dusky black, with more or less white
on the exterior and interior webs, which forms a conspicuous bar of that
colour on the wing; the tail is forked, the feathers, like those of the
quills, black, margined with white, which colour predominates on the
inner webs; coverts of the tail black, edged with grey; legs brown. The
weight of the male is about five drachms, that of the other sex rather
less. The plumage of the female is more dusky brown; the coverts of the
wings rufous-brown; sides of the throat plain dirty white, the middle
part streaked; breast and sides pale brown, with dusky streaks; quills
and tail like the other sex, but the former not so deeply margined with
white, and of course no perceptible bar on the wing.
These birds fly in flocks during winter, at which time the males have
little or none of the red markings which, on the return of spring, they
put forth.
This linnet is very common throughout Britain, extending as far as the
Orkneys, where it is abundant. During the summer it resorts to waste
land and commons, in the upper parts of the country, where it breeds.
Furzy commons seem to be the favourite resorts of these birds during
that season; the bushy furze being admirably adapted to conceal the nest
from the prying eye, and sometimes a quickset or gooseberry-bush answers
the purpose. The nest is composed of moss woven with wool, and lined
with wool and hair, very neatly put together; the eggs are four in
number, of a bluish white, with a few purplish specks and short lines;
their weight from twenty-four to thirty grains. In the month of April
they pair, and commence building their nest, and in May the first broods
are hatched; but if the nest should be destroyed, they will build
another as late as the month of August, appearing dissatisfied until the
object of their visit is accomplished. During the time of nidification,
and until the young are hatched, the song of the linnet, although short,
possesses much sweetness. At once brilliant and soft, the song of the
linnet consists of many irregular notes, tastefully put together in a
clear and sonorous tone, which continues during the whole year, except
at the moulting season. Besides its own natural note, it will soon
acquire the notes of other birds, particularly the nightingale; and may
be taught in a very short time to imitate any of our tunes, if they are
whistled to it. After describing the mature bird, Bechstein says, “a
male of three years old is distinguished in the spring, by the name of
the red linnet (_Linotte Sanguine_); the forehead is then of a bright
blood-red colour; the remainder of the head being of a reddish
ash-colour; the top a little speckled with black. After the moulting in
autumn, we no longer see the red upon the forehead, that colour being
hid by the white feathers; the coverts of the breast then assume a deep
brown-colour, and blackish spots begin to appear; the interior feathers
on the breast, which were formerly red, are now of a brownish grey,
mixed with red. In this plumage it is known by the name of the grey
linnet.
“After the time of its second moulting, if we part the reddish grey
feathers on the forehead and breast, we find that they are still red at
the tips, and only hid by the yellowish white borders of the new
feathers.”
In this state it is the rock or mountain linnet (_Linotte de Roche_).
“I have even,” he adds, “had these birds with the forehead and breast of
a rich reddish yellow.” To this variety bird catchers give the name of
the yellow linnet. These varieties of plumage do not occur with the
female, which is besides considerably smaller. In addition to these,
there are many changes produced by season and age; for instance, as the
bird increases in age, the red colour on the head increases
also.—_Bechstein_—_Selby_—_Montagu._
LINSEED, _s._ The seed of flax.
Linseed, or flax-seed, abounds with oil and mucilage, and is useful in
the composition of those emollient drinks given in inflammations of the
bladder and bowels, or complaints of the urinary passages. A strong
mucilaginous drink may be made without bruising the seeds, either by
decoction or infusion.
_Linseed Cake_ is that part of the linseed which remains after the oil
has been pressed out. It is employed to fatten cattle, and is given,
occasionally, to horses. When ground it is sold as linseed meal and
linseed powder, and often used in the composition of poultices.
_Linseed Oil_ is sometimes employed as a laxative, and, though very
inferior to castor, and even olive oil, may be occasionally substituted
for it, on account of its being much less expensive. It is used in
making pectoral emulsions, liniments, and ointments; but even for these
purposes olive oil is preferable, on account of the drying quality of
linseed oil.
LINT, _s._ The soft substance commonly called flax; linen scraped
into soft woolly substance to lay on sores.
LIP, _s._ The outer part of the mouth, the muscles that shoot beyond
the teeth; the edge of anything.
LITTER, _s._ A kind of portable bed; a carriage hung between two
horses; the straw laid under animals; a brood of young; any
number of things thrown sluttishly about; a birth of animals.
LITTER, _v._ To bring forth, used of beasts; to cover with things
negligently; to cover with straw.
LIVER, _s._ One who lives; one who lives in any particular manner;
one of the entrails.
LIVERGROWN, _a._ Having an increased liver.
LIZARD, _s._ An animal resembling a serpent, with legs added to it.
LOACH, _s._ A little fish.
[Illustration]
This little fish is found in small brooks among the gravel, or where
there is a soil of mud and gravel together, with weeds, and in several
of our rivers by the sides of sharp streams; it seldom rises to the top
of the water, keeping at the bottom on the gravel, upon which it feeds,
and is, on that account, in some places, called the groundling; it is
frequent in the stream near Amesbury, in Wiltshire, where, out of
frolic, the sportsmen swallow it down alive, in a glass of white wine.
It is a slimy fish without scales, and of rather a long make; the mouth
is small, placed beneath, and has no teeth; it is bearded like the
gudgeon and the barbel, having on the upper mandible six small beards,
one at each corner of the mouth, and four at the end of the nose; the
body is smooth and slippery, and almost of the same thickness; the
colour of the head, back, and sides, is in some white, in others of a
dirty yellow, very elegantly marked with large spots, consisting of
numberless minute black specks; the pectoral, dorsal, and caudal fins
are also spotted; the belly and ventral fins of a pure white; the tail
broad, and rather rounded. One of the largest ever heard of by Mr.
Pennant, was four inches and three quarters in length, but they seldom
exceed three inches. The flesh of the loach is singularly nutritious,
and from that circumstance, and its being equally grateful to the
palate, it is recommended to the sick. The females, during summer, are
generally full of spawn; these fish are to be taken with a very small
red worm, the bait touching the ground. The loach is used as a bait for
other fish, and for eels perhaps it is the best.
LOAD, _v._ To burden, to freight; to encumber; to charge a gun; to
make heavy.
LOAD, _s._ The leading vein in a mine; the charge of a gun.
_Loading._—Much as may be said on this important head, I shall attempt
to explain it by one simple example: for instance, to load a single gun
of six, or double gun of seven, eight, or nine pounds’ weight, take a
steel charger, which holds precisely an ounce and a half of shot; fill
it brimful of powder, from which first prime, and then put the remainder
into the barrel; to this add the same measure bumperful of shot, and
then regulate the tops of your flasks and belts accordingly.
Some little difference of charge will, of course, be required between a
twenty-two and a fourteen gauge; and, in this, we may be guided by the
shoulder, observing, at the same time, the proportion of each here
recommended: but, unless the gun is very heavy, a gauge of fourteen will
recoil more than one of twenty-two; so that, after all, the above charge
might do equally well for both.
For those who have scales at hand, another way will be to ascertain this
by weight; for instance, to the guns above mentioned, put one drachm and
a half of powder, exclusive of priming, to an ounce and a half of shot.
The proportion for a twelve pounds’ gun to be doubled; eighteen pounds’
trebled; twenty-four pounds’ quadrupled, &c. with one trifling
deviation; viz.—the larger the gun the less should be the proportion of
shot, as the larger and longer the calibre the more powder may be
damaged in going down it.—_Hawker._
LOB, _s._ Any one clumsy, or sluggish; a large worm.
LOBE, _s._ A division, a distinct part; used commonly for a part of
the lungs.
LOBSTER, _s._ A small crustaceous fish, having a cylindrical body
with a long tail and long antennæ. It is found on all the rocky
coasts of the United Kingdom.
LOCK, _s._ An instrument composed of springs and bolts, used to
fasten doors and chests; the part of the gun by which fire is
struck; a hug, a grapple; any enclosure; a quantity of hair or
wool hanging together; a tuft; a contrivance to raise the water
on a river or canal made navigable.
_To dissect a gun-lock._—Place the lock on full cock, screw on the
cramp, let down the cock, and the main-spring will fall off; replacing
it when necessary, by letting down the cock, hooking the spring, full
cocking, and then removing the cramp. I need not detail the mode of
taking to pieces the whole of the lock; but I may remind you, that, in
separating the cock from the tumbler, the turnscrew should on no account
be placed between the cock and the lock-plate, but a small blow should
be struck on the end of the tumbler, which may protrude through the
cock, or, if level with it, the end of a turnscrew may be placed upon
it, and the other end struck as a punch; while the plate of the lock
itself, disencumbered of course of all the other movements, is held in
the palm of the left hand, the turnscrew being held in its place by the
finger and thumb of the same hand. In inserting the scear, it is well to
remember that this is to be done after re-fixing the feather spring, by
hooking the end in the tumbler before the re-adjustment of the
mainspring, and pressing back the other end by force till the screw is
put in its place. This, I confess, is somewhat more difficult than half
securing the bridle, and putting on the feather spring last by pushing
it into its place when the screw is through it, though not tight; but I
like the first-mentioned of these ways the best. Let me recommend you to
clarify the oil you use for the purpose of lubricating the locks, by
filling the bottle with shot, drawing off the clear oil, and repeating
the process again and again at your leisure. See here is some I have had
eleven years, and you will observe it is free from that cloudy deposit
which oil not thus or otherwise clarified contains, and which is apt to
leave a black stain behind it. But we are to be up early—so good
night.—_Hints to Sportsmen._