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of the word as used in the Public Works Department; but the term has also been locally applied to mere back-waters forming stagnant pools and to certain water channels arising from a source.

An English fish, allied to the cod; the coalfish. [Written also billet and billit.]

A name applied to several distinct fishes: (a) The garfish (Tylosurus, or Belone, longirostris) and allied species. (b) The saury, a slender fish of the Atlantic coast (Scomberesox saurus). (c) The Tetrapturus albidus, a large oceanic species related to the swordfish; the spearfish. (d) The American fresh-water garpike…

Animals having two hands; -- a term applied by Cuvier to man as a special order of Mammalia.

Applied to a line which is the sum of two lines commensurable only in power (as the side and diagonal of a square).

ressed according to the binary scale, or in which two figures only, 0 and 1, are used, in lieu of ten; the cipher multiplying everything by two, as in common arithmetic by ten. Thus, 1 is one; 10 is two; 11 is three; 100 is four, etc. Davies & Peck. -- Binary compound (Chem.), a compound of two elements, or of an elem…

Two-nerved; -- applied to leaves which have two longitudinal ribs or nerves.

A believer in the theory of biogenesis.

eyelike spot on the wing, with two dots within it of a different color, as in some butterflies.

c upon birds. -- Bird mite (Zoöl.), a small mite (genera Dermanyssus, Dermaleichus and allies) parasitic upon birds. The species are numerous. -- Bird of passage, a migratory bird. -- Bird spider (Zoöl.), a very large South American spider (Mygale avicularia). It is said sometimes to capture and kill small birds. -…

The name of several very beautiful birds of the genus Paradisea and allied genera, inhabiting New Guinea and the adjacent islands. The males have brilliant colors, elegant plumes, and often remarkable tail feathers.

The nest of a small swallow (Collocalia nidifica and several allied species), of China and the neighboring countries, which is mixed with soups.

ndmen respecting rural affairs; a rustic or local law or by-law. [Written also byrlaw, birlie, birley.]

The act or fact of coming into life, or of being born; -- generally applied to human beings; as, the birth of a son.

Belief in the existence of two gods; dualism.

A wading bird of the genus Botaurus, allied to the herons, of various species.

A plant (Lewisia rediviva) allied to the purslane, but with fleshy, farinaceous roots, growing in the mountains of Idaho, Montana, etc. It gives the name to the Bitter Root mountains and river. The Indians call both the plant and the river Spæt'lum.

(Anat.) Having two bellies or protuberances; as, a biventral, or digastric, muscle, or the biventral lobe of the cerebellum.

e genus Globicephalus, of several species. The most common is G. melas. Also sometimes applied to other whales of larger size.

anciently paid, in the north of England and south of Scotland, to certain men who were allied to robbers, or moss troopers, to be by them protected from pillage. Sir W. Scott.