RAGSTONE, _s._ A stone so named from its breaking in a rugged
manner; the stone with which they smooth the edge of a tool new
ground and left ragged.
RAKE, _v._ To gather with a rake; to heap together and cover; to
fire on a ship in the direction of head and stern; a veterinary
operation.
RAKING, _a._ An operation performed on a horse.
_Raking._—This consists in introducing the hand into the horse’s rectum,
and drawing out any hardened dung that may be there. It may be necessary
in costiveness or fever, if a clyster pipe cannot be obtained; but an
injection will better effect the purpose, and with less inconvenience to
the animal. The introduction of the hand into the rectum is, however,
useful to ascertain the existence of stone in the bladder, or the degree
of distension of the bladder in suppression of urine, for the bladder
will be easily felt below the gut; and at the same time, by the heat of
the intestine, the degree of inflammation in it or in the bladder may be
detected.—_Blaine._
RAM, _s._ A male sheep.
RAMMER, _s._ An instrument with which anything is driven hard; the
stick with which the charge is forced into the gun.
RANA, _s._ That class of animals in the Linnæan system to which the
frog and the toad belong.
RANDOM, _a._ Done by chance, roving without direction.
RANGE, _v._ To place in order; to pass over; to rove at large.
RANGE, _s._ Anything placed in a line; excursion; room for
excursion; compass taken in by anything excursive; line of a
shot.
RANGER, _s._ One that ranges; a rover; a dog that beats the ground;
one whose business it is to rechase the wild beasts from the
purlieus of the forest, and to present offences within the
forest.
RAPACIOUS, _a._ Given to plunder, seizing by violence.
RAPE, _s._ Something snatched away; a plant, from the seed of which
oil is expressed.
RASH, _a._ Hasty, precipitate. An efflorescence on the body, a
breaking out.
RASP, _v._ To rub to powder with a very rough file.
RASP, _s._ A large rough file, commonly used to wear away wood.
RAT, _s._ An animal of the mouse kind that infests houses and ships.
RATAFIA, _s._ A fine liqueur, prepared from the kernels of apricots
and spirits.
RATAN, _s._ An Indian cane.
RATE, _s._ The pace of a setter, pointer, or horse.
RATE, _v._ To value at a certain price; to chide hastily and
vehemently.
RATSBANE, _s._ Poison for rats; arsenic.
RAVEL, _v._ To entangle, to involve, to perplex.
RAVEN, _s._ A large black fowl; a bird of prey.
[Illustration]
_Raven or Great Corbie Crow._ (_Corvus Corax_, LINN.; _Le Corbeau_,
BUFF.)—This is the largest of this kind; its length is above two feet;
breadth four. Its bill is strong and very thick at the base; it measures
somewhat more than two inches and a half in length, and is covered with
strong hairs or bristles, which extend above half its length, covering
the nostrils: the general colour of the upper parts is a fine glossy
black, reflecting a blue tint in particular lights; the under parts are
duller, and of a dusky hue.
The raven is well known in all parts of the world, and in times of
ignorance and superstition, was considered as ominous, foretelling
future events by its horrid croakings, and announcing impending
calamities: in those times the raven was considered as a bird of vast
importance, and the various changes and modulations of its voice were
studied with the most careful attention, and were made use of by artful
and designing men to mislead the ignorant and credulous. It is a very
long-lived bird, and is supposed sometimes to live a century or more. It
is fond of carrion, which it scents at a great distance; it is said that
it will destroy rabbits, young ducks, and chickens: it has been known to
seize on young lambs which have been dropped in a weak state, and pick
out their eyes while yet alive: it will suck the eggs of other birds; it
feeds also on earthworms, reptiles, and even shell-fish when urged by
hunger.
It may be rendered very tame and familiar, and has been frequently
taught to pronounce a variety of words: it is a crafty bird, and will
frequently pick up things of value, such as rings, money, &c. and carry
them to its hiding place. It makes its nest early in the spring, and
builds in trees and the holes of rocks, laying five or six eggs, of a
pale bluish green colour, spotted with brown. The female sits about
twenty days, and is constantly attended by the male, who not only
provides her with abundance of food, but relieves her in turn, and takes
her place in the nest.
The natives of Greenland eat the flesh, and make a covering for
themselves with the skins of these birds, which they wear next their
bodies.
* * * * *
In 1808, a raven was kept at the Red Lion, Hungerford: a gentleman’s
chaise, in turning into the yard, ran over the leg of his
Newfoundland-dog, and while examining the injury done, Ralph was
evidently a concerned spectator. When the dog was tied up, under the
manger with the horses, Ralph attended upon him with particular
kindness: this was so marked, that it was observed to the hostler, who
said, that he had been bred from his pin-feather in intimacy with a dog,
that the affection between them was mutual, and that all the
neighbourhood had been witnesses of the acts of fondness they had
conferred upon each other. This dog also had his leg broke, and during
the long time he was confined Ralph waited upon him and carried him
provisions daily; by accident the hostler shut the stable door, and
Ralph was deprived of the company of his friend the whole night, but in
the morning the bottom of the door was found so pecked, that Ralph
would, in another hour, have made his own entrance port.—_Bewick._
RAVENOUS, _a._ Furiously voracious, hungry to rage.
RAW, _a._ Not subdued by fire; not covered with the skin; sore;
immature; unseasoned; bleak, chill.
RAY, _s._ A beam of light; a genus of the class amphibia, including
the skate, sturgeon, thornback, and torpedo.
REBOUND, _s._ The act of flying back in consequence of motion
resisted.
RECHARGE, _s._ Among hunters, a lesson which the huntsman winds on
the horn when the hounds have lost their game.
RECHEAT, _s._ A lesson which the huntsman winds on the horn when the
dogs are at fault, to bring them back from pursuing a
counterscent.
RECIPE, _s._ A medical prescription.
RECOIL, _v._ To rush back from resistance; the rebound of a gun.
_Recoil._—Whatever retards the exit of the charge operates like an
increase of lead, and, by confining the force of the explosion the more
to the barrel, produces a greater recoil, hence partly it is, that in
proportion as the barrel becomes foul within by repeated firing, the
recoil increases. A piece will recoil if, from the breach plug being
made too short, there remain some turns of the screw not filled up,
these hollows, wherein a part of the powder is lodged, forming an
obstacle that confines and retards the explosion. A barrel mounted on a
stock that is very straight, will recoil more than when mounted on a
stock that is considerably bent, as the curvature serves to break and
deaden the force of the recoil; and, sometimes also, a fowling piece
will recoil from the shooter applying it improperly to his shoulder, for
if the butt is not applied closely to the shoulder, or is applied so as
to be supported only at a single point, the recoil will be much more
sensibly felt, than when the hollow of the butt embraces the shoulder,
and is firmly supported by the weight of the body. Guns are observed to
recoil more after being fired a number of times, than they did at the
beginning. The matter which is left on the inside of the barrel after
the explosion, and which increases on every discharge, attracts moisture
very quickly, especially if the saltpetre employed in the powder was not
well purified from the admixture of common salt which it contains in its
rough state. This moisture becomes considerable after a few discharges,
and, being formed into vapour by the heat during the explosion, adds its
expansive effort to that of the inflamed powder, and greatly increases
the agitation and recoil. Owing to this cause, probably, rather than to
that before mentioned, arises the recoil, from some turns of the breech
screw not being filled up by the breech plug, and thereby affording a
lodgment to moisture.—_Essay on Shooting._
RECTIFIED SPIRIT, _s._ Alcohol, or spirit of wine.
This is obtained in a dilute state from fermented liquors by
distillation, and is afterwards rectified or concentrated, by repeating
the operation two or three times. Rectified spirit is the basis of many
useful embrocations, for strains, bruises, &c. It dissolves camphor and
all the resins very readily: hence we have camphorated spirit,
opodeldoc, Friar’s balsam, &c. Mixed with an equal quantity of water it
forms what is termed proof spirit, which is the liquid generally
employed for making tinctures. Rectified spirit is often used undiluted
as an embrocation for strains; and, when the injury is deeply seated,
may be serviceable. I think, however, it is rendered more efficacious by
the addition of soap, ammonia and camphor, or oil of rosemary. Rectified
spirit is never employed as an internal remedy in the horse; though
fermented liquors, such as beer, porter, or wine, have been often given
with advantage, in cases which required cordials. Horses, that have been
so fatigued with a long chase or journey as to refuse their food and
appear quite exhausted, are much refreshed by taking a cordial ball in
half a pint of beer, and feed soon after with great alacrity. The
advantage thus derived is merely temporary, as they are not by this
treatment rendered adequate to another chase or journey quicker than
they would otherwise be.
RED, _a._ Of the colour of blood, of one of the primitive colours.
REDBREAST, _s._ A small bird so named from the colour of its breast,
called also a Robin.
This well-known species of warbler needs little description. The upper
parts are of a yellowish brown, tinged with ash-colour; forehead and
from chin to breast of a deep rufous orange; belly and vent whitish; the
plumage of both sexes are alike; the nestling-feathers of young birds
are spotted; and they do not possess the red on the breast for two or
three months after they leave the nest.
It is said to be a migrative species, but from no other reason than
their more frequent and numerous appearance about our habitations in the
winter, when the woods and fields are destitute of insects; it is then
they seek the protection of man, and are so tame as to enter doors and
windows, and pick up the crumbs fallen from the table; here they too
frequently fall a sacrifice to the watchful cat.
“The redbreast,” says Fleming, in a letter to Colonel Montagu, “is only
occasionally observed in Zetland after gales of wind.” Whether in spring
or autumn, or at what season, is not mentioned; but most probably in the
latter, when those which breed in the more northern parts of the
European continent may be shifting their quarters, and, by accident, are
driven from Norway. It sings throughout the winter, except in severe
weather. About the beginning of April it prepares a nest in some mossy
bank or out-building, composed of dead leaves, green moss, and stalks of
plants, lined with hair; and lays from five to seven whitish eggs
spotted with rust-colour and cinereous; their weight about twenty-six
grains.—_Montagu._
RED DEER, _s._ The stag, the greater deer. _Vide_ STAG.
REDLEAD, _s._ Minium.
REDPOLE, _s._ A bird of the finch tribe, so called from a red spot
on the crown of the head.
This bird is less than the common linnet and twite, and although like
them, subject to a partial change of colour at a particular season, may
be readily distinguished from them, as well by other peculiar
characteristics as by its inferiority of size, weighing about two
drachms and a half; length five inches; the bill is of a light colour,
inclining to dull yellow; irides hazel; the forehead is of a purplish
red; the feathers of all the other parts are dusky, margined with
rufous-brown; chin black; throat and breast pink; sides streaked with
dusky; belly white; quills and tail dusky, edged with pale brown; in
some the rump is tinged with pink; legs dusky.
The female differs in being somewhat lighter above, and in the colour on
the head, which is not so bright, sometimes yellowish. This sex has the
black spot on the chin, but none of the pink on the breast and throat.
In confinement they lose the pink colour on the breast at the first
moulting; at the second the colour on the head changes to a greenish
yellow. Bechstein had a male, the head of which turned to a fine gold
colour after the third moulting. The young birds are destitute of the
pink feathers; and indeed the males are subject to as much variety as
the linnet, and sometimes have no red at all on the breast.
This species is very generally diffused throughout Europe; but its
native regions seem to be the northern parts. They reach Germany in
great flocks towards the end of October, and again retire in the months
of March and April.—_Montagu._
REDSHANK, RED-LEGGED HORSEMAN, POOL SNIPE, or SAND COCK, (_Scolopax
calidris_, LINN.; _Le Chevalier aux Pieds rouges_, BUFF.) _s._ A
bird.
[Illustration]
This bird weighs about five ounces and a half: its length is twelve
inches, and breadth twenty-one. The bill, from the tip to the corners of
the mouth, is more than an inch and three quarters long, black at the
point, and red towards the base: the feathers on the crown of the head
are dark-brown, edged with pale rufous; a light or whitish line passes
over and encircles each eye, from the corners of which a dark-brown spot
is extended to the beak: irides hazel; the hinder part of the neck is
obscurely spotted with dark-brown, on a rusty ash-coloured ground; the
throat and forepart are more distinctly marked or streaked with spots of
the same colour: on the breast and belly, which are white, tinged with
ash, the spots are thinly distributed, and are shaped something like the
heads of arrows or darts. The general appearance of the upper parts of
the plumage is glossy olive-brown; some of the feathers are quite plain,
others spotted on the edges with dark-brown, and those on the shoulders,
scapulars, and tertials are transversely marked with the same coloured
waved bars, on a pale rusty ground: the bastard wing and primary quills
are dark-brown; the inner webs of the latter are deeply edged with
white, freckled with brown, and some of those quills next the
secondaries are elegantly marked, near their tips, with narrow brown
lines, pointed and shaped to the form of each feather; some of the
secondaries are barred in nearly the same manner, others are white; back
white; the tail-feathers and coverts are beautifully marked with
alternate bars of dusky and white; the middle ones slightly tinged with
rust colour; legs red, and measure from the end of the toes to the upper
bare part of the thigh, four inches and a half.
This species is of a solitary character, being mostly seen alone, or in
pairs only. It resides the greater part of the year in the fen
countries, in the wet and marshy grounds, where it breeds and rears its
young. It lays four eggs, whitish, tinged with olive, and marked with
irregular spots of black, chiefly on the thicker end. Pennant and Latham
say, it flies round its nest, when disturbed, making a noise like a
lapwing. It is not so common on the sea-shores as several others of its
kindred species.
Ornithologists differ much in their descriptions of the redshank, and
probably have confounded it with others of the red-legged tribe, whose
proper names are yet wanting, or involved in doubt and uncertainty.
Latham, in his supplement, describes this bird as differing so much in
its summer and winter dress, and its weight, as to appear to be of two
distinct species. There is reason to believe that several species of the
scolopax and tringa genera, which have not been taken into the list of
British birds, appear occasionally in Great Britain, and that this
circumstance, together with the difference of age and sex, has
occasioned much confusion.
_Red-legged Godwit, Spotted Snipe or Barker, Spotted Redshank._
(_Scolopax Totanus_, LINN.; _Le Chevalier Rouge_, BUFF.)—The length of
this bird, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail is twelve
inches, and to the end of the toes, fourteen inches and a half; its
breadth, twenty-one inches and a quarter, and its weight about five
ounces two drachms, avoirdupoise. The bill is slender, measures two
inches and a half from the corners of the mouth to the tip, and is for
half its length, nearest to the base, red, the other part black: irides
hazel; the head, neck, breast, and belly are spotted in streaks, mottled
and barred with dingy ash-brown and dull white, darker on the crown and
hinder part of the neck: the throat is white, and lines of the same
colour pass from the upper sides of the beak over each eye, from the
corners of which two brown ones are extended to the nostrils: the ground
colour of the shoulders, scapulars, lesser coverts, and tail, is a
glossy olive-brown; the feathers on all these parts are indented on the
edges, more or less, with triangular-shaped white spots. The back is
white; the rump barred with waved lines of ash-coloured brown, and dingy
white; the vent-feathers are marked nearly in the same manner, but with
a great portion of white: the tail and coverts are also barred with
narrow waved lines, of a dull ash-colour, and, in some specimens, are
nearly black and white. Five of the primary quills are dark-brown,
tinged with olive; the shaft of the first quill is white; the next six
are, in the male, rather deeply tipped with white, and slightly spotted
and barred with brown: the secondaries, as far as they are uncovered,
when the wings are extended, are of the same snowy whiteness as the
back. The feathers which cover the upper part of the thighs, and those
near them, are blushed with a reddish or vinous colour: the legs are of
a deep orange red, and measure, from the end of the middle toe-nail to
the upper bare part of the thigh, five inches and a half.—_Bewick._
REDWING, _s._ A bird.
[Illustration]
_Redwing, Swinepipe, or Wind Thrush._ (_Turdus Iliacus_, LINN.; _Le
Mauvis_, BUFF.)—This bird is not more than eight inches in length. The
bill is of a dark-brown colour; eyes deep hazel; the plumage in general
is similar to that of the thrush; but a white streak over the eye
distinguishes it from that bird: the belly is not quite so much spotted,
and the sides of the body, and the feathers under the wings, are tinged
with red, which is its peculiar characteristic; whence also it derives
its name.
These birds make their appearance a few days before the fieldfare, and
are generally seen with them after their arrival; they frequent the same
places, eat the same food, and are very similar to them in manner. Like
the fieldfare, they leave us in the spring, for which reason their song
is quite unknown to us; but it is said to be very pleasing. The female
builds her nest in low bushes or hedges, and lays six eggs, of a
greenish blue colour, spotted with black.
This and the former are delicate eating: the Romans held them in such
estimation that they kept thousands of them together in aviaries, and
fed them with a kind of paste, made of bruised figs and flour, and
various other kinds of food, to improve the delicacy and flavour of
their flesh; these aviaries were so contrived as to admit light barely
sufficient to direct them to their food; every object which might tend
to remind them of their former liberty was carefully kept out of sight,
such as the fields, the woods, the birds, or whatever might disturb the
repose necessary for their improvement. Under this management these
birds fattened, to the great profit of their proprietors, who sold them
to Roman epicures for three denarii, or about two shillings sterling,
each.
* * * * *
A redwing was taken up, November 7th, 1785, at six o’clock in the
morning, which, on its approach to land, had flown against the
light-house at Tynemouth, and was so stunned that it fell to the ground
and died soon after; the light most probably had attracted its
attention.
* * * * *
When redwings appear on the eastern coast, they as commonly announce the
approach of the woodcock, as does the arrival of the wryneck that of the
cuckoo, in the south.—_Bewick_—_Daniel._
REED, _s._ A hollow knotted stalk, which grows in wet grounds; a
small pipe; an arrow.
REEK, _s._ Smoke, steam, vapour; a pile of corn or hay.
REEL, _s._ A turning frame upon which yarn is wound into skeins from
the spindle; an implement for winding up the angler’s line.
REEVE, _s._ The female of the ruff.
REFUSE, _s._ That which remains disregarded when the rest is taken.
REGARDER, _s. obs._ The regarder is a ministerial officer of the
forest, sworn to make regard there as usual, to view and enquire
of all the officers within the forest of vert or venison, and of
concealments or defaults of the forester, or other officers of
the forest.
REIN, _s._ The part of the bridle which extends from the horse’s
head to the driver’s or rider’s hand; used as an instrument of
government, or for government.
REIN, _v._ To govern by a bridle; to restrain, to control.
REINS, _s._ The kidneys, the lower part of the back.
RELAY, _s._ Horses on the road to relieve others.
REMOVE, _s._ Change of place; the act of changing place; a step in
the scale of gradation; act of putting a horse’s shoes upon
different feet.
RENDEZVOUS, _s._ Assembly, meeting appointed; place appointed for an
assembly.
RENDEZVOUS, _v._ To meet at a place appointed.
RENNET, _s._ The ingredient with which milk is coagulated, in order
to make cheese.
RENOUNCE, _v._ To disown, to abnegate; a term in card playing.
REPELLENT, _s._ An application that has a repelling power.
REPERCUSSION, _s._ The act of driving back, rebound.
REPTILE, _a._ Creeping upon many feet.
REPTILE, _s._ An animal that creeps upon many feet.
RESINOUS, _a._ Containing resin, consisting of resin.
RESPIRATION, _s._ The act of breathing; relief from toil.
REST, _s._ Sleep, repose; cessation from disturbance; cessation from
bodily labour.
REST, _v._ To lay as on a support; to steady a gun when taking aim.
RESTHARROW, _s._ A plant.
RESTIFF, _a._ Unwilling to stir; resolute against going forward;
stubborn.
RESTIVENESS, _s._ Obstinate reluctance; viciousness in a horse.
RESTORATIVE, _s._ A medicine that has the power of recruiting life.
RETICLE, _s. obs._ A small net.
RETICULATED, _a._ Made of net-work.
RETINA, _s._ The optic nerve which receives the image of the object
in vision.
RHEUM, _s._ A thin watery matter oozing through the glands, chiefly
about the mouth and eyes.
RHEUMATISM, _s._ A painful distemper supposed to proceed from acrid
humours.
Acute general rheumatism, or rheumatic fever, is inflammation of the
muscular system, and has been already noticed under the head founder, or
chill. There is, however, a different kind of rheumatic affection I have
sometimes met with, in which the joints are affected; generally, I
believe, the hock joint; but probably the other joints are equally
liable to this affection. It is sometimes accompanied with a morbidly
irritable state of the stomach and bowels, and if a strong or even a
common purgative is given in such a case, there will be danger of its
producing inflammation of these parts. The same irritable state of the
stomach and bowels is sometimes observable also in chills, as they are
termed, and when the hind-leg is suddenly attacked with inflammation and
swelling, after violent shivering and fever. In all such cases, though
physic is often necessary, that is, when the bowels are in a costive
state, yet it is likely to do great harm unless in a moderate dose, and
guarded with cordials or opium. The following ball may be given on such
occasions: it must be observed, however, that copious bleeding is the
essential remedy, and must precede every other.