FISHES....FLAMINGO.

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the fiery lake no longer spread itself, but nevertheless continued to burn for some length of time. The smoke reached as far as the island of Great Britain, where, during the whole summer of 1783, an obscurity prevailed throughout all parts of that island; the atmosphere appearing to be covered with a continual haze, which prevented the sun from appearing with his usual splendor.... Brit. Encyclopædia.

FISHES. These are the most prolific animals in nature. Lewenhoek assures us, that the cod spawns about nine millions in a season; that the flounder commonly produces above one million; and the mackerel above five. These animals are also remarkable for their longevity; their age being determined by the circles of their scales. When a fish's scale is examined by a microscope, it is found to consist of a number of circles, one within another, in some measure resembling those which appear on the transverse section of a tree, and is supposed to give the same information. For as in trees, we can tell their age, by the number of their circles; so in fishes, we can tell theirs by the number of circles in every scale, reckoning one ring for every year of the animal's existence. Of these animals of the deep Linnæus has described about four hundred species; but since he wrote, the catalogue has been so much enlarg ed by circumnavigators and travellers, that they now amount to considerably more than one thousand....Encyclopædia, Miller.

FLAMINGO, a large and beautiful bird, of a firecolour, which is seen on the shores of India. They generally inhabit in swampy grounds, and salt marshes, in the waters of which they construct their nests, by raising out of the moisture, of a foot deep, a little hillock of mud, a foot and a half high. They there make a hole in the summit of this hillock; in this the hen deposits two eggs, and hatches them, with her feet sunk in the water, by means of the extreme length of her legs. When several of these birds are setting at the same time on their eggs, in the midst of a swamp, you would take them at a distance, for the flames of a conflagration, bursting from the bosom of the waters.... St.

Pierre.

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FLANDERS....FLINT.

FLANDERS, a country of the Netherlands; sixty miles long, and about fifty in breadth; bordering upon the German Ocean, and English Channel. The Flemings, or people of Flanders, were formerly the principal manufacturers and merchants of Europe, and from them the English learned the art of weaving. All the wool of England, before the reign of Edward III, (that is, about the middle of the fourteenth century) except a small quantity wrought into coarse cloth for home consumption, was sold principally to the Flemings, and manufactured by them; and it was not till the middle of the fifteenth century, that the English were capable of fabricating cloth for foreign market. Flanders table linens, lace, and tapestry, are yet thought to be superior to all others. In Anderson's History of Commerce, we are told, that one ounce of the finest Flanders thread has been sold in London for four pounds sterling; and that such an ounce made in Flanders into the finest lace might be sold there (in London) for forty pounds; which is above ten times the price of standard gold, weight for weight. This fine thread, according to Anderson, is spun by little children, whose feeling is finer than that of grown people, whereby they are capable of spinning such a thread as is smaller than the finest hair; and one ounce of that thread is said to reach in length sixteen thousand yards.

FLINT, a hard kind of stone, used, together with steel, for producing fire. Prometheus first struck fire from flints, one thousand seven hundred and fifteen years before the birth of Christ; and hence he is said to have brought fire down from heaven. When flints are struck against other flints, they have the property of giving sparks of light; but it seems to be an internal light, perhaps of electric origin, very different from the ignited sparks which are struck from the flint and steel. The sparks produced by the collision of steel with flint, appear to be globular particles of iron, which have been fused and imperfectly vitrified. They are kindled by the heat produced by the collision; but their vivid light, and their fusion and vitrification are the effects of a combustion continued in these particles during their passage through the air. One cause of gun-locks miss

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ing fire is, the flint being imperfectly fixed, as the form of the hammer allows it to be struck only in one particular place; a flint, therefore, too high or too low, too long or too short, misses fire. In a hammer lately constructed (in England) this cannot happen, for be the flint struck wherever it may, it must produce the effect required.... Keir, New London Review.

FLOATING GARDENS, curious gardens of Mexico, which float on the lake Fetzuco. The Mexicans, in making these gardens, plait and twist willows, and roots of marsh plants, or other materials together, which are light, but capable of supporting the earth of the garden. On this foundation they lay little bushes, and upon that the mud, which they draw up out of the lake. These gardens are, in some instances, about eight rods in length, and three in breadth, and have less than a foot of elevation above the surface of the water. They cultivate flowers and every sort of garden herbs upon them. In the largest gardens there is commonly a little tree, and even a little hut to shelter the cultivator, and defend him from the rain and the sun. When the owner of the garden wishes to change his situation, he gets into his little boat, and by his own strength alone, if the garden be small, or with the assistance of others, if it be large, he tows it after him, and conducts it wherever he pleases, with the little tree and hut upon it.That part of the lake, where the floating gardens are, is a place of infinite recreation, where the senses receive the highest possible gratification....Abbe Clavigero.

FLORIDA, a country of North America, claimed by the king of Spain, but mostly possessed by the native. Indians; situated between 25° and 31° north latitude; extending six hundred miles in length, and one hundred and thirty miles in medial breadth; bounded north by Georgia, east by the Atlantic Ocean, south by the Gulf of Mexico, and west by the Missisippi. It is divided into East and West Florida. St. Augustine, situated on the sea coast, is the capital of East Florida; and the principal town of West Florida is Pensacola.This country produces two crops of Indian corn a year:

132 FLOWERING TREES...FLYING FOX, &c.

it took its name from the profusion of flowers with which it was clad, when first discovered by the Europeans.

FLOWERING TREES. The three following are the most celebrated flowering trees of China, with which the Chinese ornament their gardens. First, the Outong-tree, which is of a large size, and resembles the sycamore, or maple; and is loaded with such bunches of flowers, that it excludes the rays of the sun. Second, the Molien, the branches of which are few in number, very slender, and covered with red bark, interspersed with small white spots. This tree produces large flowers, formed of seven or eight sharp pointed oval leaves; the flowers being some red, others yellow, and others white. Third, the Yu-tan, a most beautiful tree, which rises to the height of thirty or forty feet. All its branches are crowned with flowers, the scent of which perfumes the air to a great distance around.... Winterbotham.

FLYING FOX, a singular animal found on the Pelew Islands. According to captain Wilson's description, this animal has some similitude to the bat, but is five or six times larger; it resembles a fox in its head, and has much the same smell. It runs along the ground, and up trees, like a cat; it has wings that extend pretty wide, by which it flies like a bird.... Wilson's Journal.

FLYING SQUIRREL, a native of the North American forests. This remarkable little animal has a kind of wings, (or membranes spread like wings) by which he will fly from one tree to another, at the distance of thirty or forty feet. None of our anir ls has a more fine or delicate fur than this little squirrel. He feeds on the buds and seeds of vegetables and generally has his nest in decayed and rotten trees.... Williams.

FORMOSA, an island in the Chinese Sea; extending about two hundred and forty miles in length, and sixty in its greatest breadth; separated from the continent of China by a strait, sixty miles over: it received its name of Formosa, on account of its singular beauty. The inhabitants rear a great number of oxen, which they

FOULAHS....FOX.

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use for riding, from a want of horses and mules. They accustom them early to this kind of service, and by daily exercise, train them to go well and expeditiously. These oxen are furnished with a bridle, saddle, and crupper; and a Chinese looks as big and is as proud when mounted in this manner, as if he were carried by the finest Barbary coarser.... Winterbotham.

FOULAHS, a people of Africa, inhabiting in great numbers the countries near the river Gambia: they are generally of a tawny complexion, with soft silky hair, and pleasing features. They are much attached to a pastoral life, and have introduced themselves into all the kingdoms in the windward coasts of Africa, as herdsmen and husbandmen; paying a tribute to the sovereign of the country for the land which they hold. The Foulahs being bigotted Mahometans, most of them view a Christian with horror, especially their women and children. Whilst Mungo Park was in the interior of Africa, a Foulah, of more than ordinary liberality of mind, invited him into his tent, and some food was bro't him. When he was eating, the children kept their eyes fixed upon him; and no sooner did the shepherd pronounce the word Nazarene, (that is, Christian) than they began to cry, and their mother crept slowly towards the door, out of which she sprung like a greyhound, and was instantly followed by her three children; so frightened were they at the very name of a Christian, that no intreaties could induce them to approach the tent.

FOX, a common and mischievous animal, which, in all ages and nations, has been celebrated for his craft and wiles. He is so extremely fond of honey, that he attacks the nests of wild bees, regardless of their fury. They at first put him to flight by numberless stings; but he retires for the sole purpose of rolling himself upon the ground and crushing his enemies under him. He returns to the charge so often, that he obliges them to abandon the hive, which he soon uncovers, and devours both the honey and the wax. The fox sleeps in a round form, like the dog; but when he only reposes himself, he lies on his belly with his hind-legs extendN