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(Locke). 2. Number contained (Brown). 3. The rule of arithmetic which teaches the notation of numbers, and method of reading numters, regularly noted.

In Mr. Southey's History of Brazil we are informed that the Orinoco tribes count as far as five, then proceed to five-one, five-two, as far as two fives, and so on to four fives. This is digitary numeration. It is remarkable how far the Achaguas carry it: with them, abacaje means five, and the fingers of one hand: tuchamacaje, ten, or all the fingers; abacatakay, twenty, or all the fingers and toes; incha matacacay, forty, or two persons complement; and so, says Gumilla (c. 48), they can go on to 2000, 6000, and 10,000 fingers, in a jargon, which by dint of labour and attention may be understood at last.

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Herrera (4. 10. 4.) describes a curious mode of arithmetic in Yucatan. They count, he says, by fives till they come to twenty, and then by twenties as far as a hundred, then to 400, and then to 8000, and from thence to infinity. This numeration, which is not very clearly explained by Herrera, is founded on fives for small numbers; scores and five-scores for 100; then for larger numbers they use twenties as we use tens: thus 20 times 20 is 400, 20 times 400 is 8000, and so on. friend of mine," says Mr. Southey, "better ac quainted with such subjects than I am, tells me, it is the only specimen he has met with of vigesimal numeration. Our score is the nearest similitude." See NUMERAL and SCALE. NUMERATOR, of a fraction, is the num ber which shows how many of those parts, which the integer is supposed to be divided into, are denoted by the fraction. And, in the notation the numerator is set over the denominator, or number that shows into how many parts the integer is divided, in the fraction, So, ex. gr. denotes three-fourths, or 3 parts out of 4; where 3 is the numerator, and 4 the denominator.

NUMERANUS (M. Aurelius,) a son of the emperor Carus. He accompanied his father into the east with the title of Caesar, and at his death he succeeded him with his brother Carinus, B. C. 282. His reign was short. Eight months after his father's death he was murdered in his litter by his father-in-law Arrius Aper, who accompanied him in an expedition. Numerianus has been admired for his learning as well as his moderation. He was naturally an eloquent speaker, and in poetry he was inferior to no writer of his age.

NUMERICAL. a. (from numerus, Latin.) 1. Numeral; denoting number (Locke). 2. The same not only in kind or species, but number (South).

NUMERICALLY. ad. (from numerical.) With respect to sameness in number (Boyle). NUMERIST. s. (from numerus, Latin.) One that deals in numbers (Brown). NUMEROSITY. s. (from numerosus, Lat.) 1. Number; state of being numerous (Brown). 2. Harmony;

numerous flow.

NUMEROUS. a. (numerosus, Latin). 1. Containing many; consisting of many; not few; many (Waller). 2. Harmonious; consisting of parts rightly numbered; melodious; musical (Dryden).

NUMEROUSNESS. s. (from numerous.) 1. The quality of being numerous. 2. Harmony; musicalness (Dryden).

NUMIDIA, an ancient kingdom of Africa, bounded on the north by the Mediterranean Sea; on the south by Gætulia, or part of Libya Interior; on the west by the Mulucha, a river which separated it from Mauritania; and on the east by the Tusca, another river which bounded it in common with Africa Propria. Dr. Shaw has rendered it probable, that the river which formerly went under the denomi nations of Malva, Malvana, Mulucha, and Molochath, is the same with that now called Mullooiah by the Algerines; in which case, the kingdom of Numidia must have extended upwards of 500 miles in length: its breadth, however, cannot be so well ascertained; but supposing it to have been the same with that of the present kingdom of Algiers, in the narrowest part it must have been at least 40 miles broad, and in the widest upwards of 100.

This country included two districts; one inhabited by the Massyli, and the other by the Masæsyli; the latter being also called in after times Mautitania Cæsariensis, and the former Numidia Propria. The country of the Massyli, or, as some call it, Terra Metagonitis, was separated from the proper territory of Carthage by its eastern boundary the river Tusca, and from the kingdom of the Masæsyli, or Mauritania Cæsariensis, by the river Ampsaga. It seems to correspond with that part of the province of Constantina lying between the Zaine and the Wed al Kibeer, which is above 130 miles long, and more than 100 broad. The sea-coast of this province is for the most part mountainous and rocky, answering to the appellation given to it by Abulfeda, viz. El Edwaa, the high, or lofty. It is far from being equal in extent to the ancient country of the Masæsyli; which, Strabo informs us, was yet inferior to the country of the Massyli. Its capital was Cirta, a place of very considerable note among the ancients.

NUMIDIA. Pintado. Guinea-hen. In zoology, a genus of the class aves, order gallinæ. Bill strong, short, the base covered with a carunculate cere receiving the nostrils; head horned, with a compressed coloured callus; tail short, bending down; body speckled. Four species, of which N. meleagris, or common Guinea-hen, is the only one worth minutely describing. This is specifically characterised by having double caruncles at the gape, and being without gular fold. There are two other varieties; one with the breast white, the other with the body entirely white. The bill is of a reddish horn-colour, head blue, the crown with a conic, compressed, blueish-red protuberance; upper part of the neck blueish

ash, almost naked; lower part feathered, verging to a violet hue; body black, with round white spots; legs grey-brown. It inhabits Africa, and is domesticated in most parts of Europe; twenty-two inches long; makes a harsh unpleasant cry; and is noisy, restless, and turbulent; continually moving from place to place, and domineering over the whole poultry yard. The turkies, though twice its size, are in continual apprehension from its petulance. So quick are its motions, that these large unwieldy birds may receive twenty strokes from it before they have put themselves into a posture of defence. It seems to have the same mode of fighting that Sallust ascribes to the Numidian cavalry: their charge was brisk, but irregular; upon resistance they turned their backs, but in a moment wheeled about, and fell again upon the enemy. This genus seems, in many respects, to resemble the common poultry. Like them, it scratches the ground, and goes in large flocks, feeding its young, and pointing out their food. In the Cape Verd is lands several hundreds are sometimes seen together, where the inhabitants pursue them with dogs; and, as their flight is heavy, when ever they are run down, they are easily killed with poles. The male and female so nearly resemble each other, that they can hardly be distinguished the only difference is, that the wattles, which are blue in the former, are inclining to red in the latter.

Pintados were originally from Africa, and were known to the ancients by the name of Numidian hens. They are named at present, in different countries of Europe, from that district of Africa from which they are brought. They are more frequently domesticated in those countries that border on the Mediterranean than with us; and into these were, probably, more early introduced, from their vicinity to Africa, throughout which they have been long universally spread. In our northern climate they are neither fertile, nor easily reared; and are rather kept for show than for use. It appears from Edwards, that they were very rare in England before the commencement of the present century.

The pintado was known to the ancients at a very early period, and is mentioned by Aristotle under the name of meleagris, in his History of Animals. Varro, Pliny, and Columella, successively describe this bird, of which there were then discovered two species, as they supposed; one with red caruncles, and the other with blue. It has since, however, been ascertained, that this difference of colour characterizes, as we have already observed, the male and female of the same species.

At Rome the pintado was reckoned a rare bird, und reared with great care. It seems to have afterwards become entirely extinct in Europe, upon the downfall of the Western empire; for there is no mention made of it by any writer during the dark ages, till the Euroropeans began afterwards to frequent the coasts Africa in their passage to India. From that time, it has again not only been spread over

Europe, but transported into America, where varieties of climate and food have produced such alterations in its external form, that natureist have mistaken it for a new species. M. Ens son regards as a distinct race the white-breas ed pintado of Jamaica; while Marcgrave, with more justice, makes a different species of it: the tribe comprises those hooped birds that are seen at Sierra Leona, which have a membrane collar of a blueish colour around their necks

The pintado is nearly of the same degree of fertility as the common hen; but in this r spect varies much according to climate, be ag very sensible of cold. In the Isle of France, where these birds are wild, they lay only in eight to twelve eggs; while those of St. Do mingo, in a domestic state, Jay from an hurand to an hundred and fifty. They are very dicult to rear in northern countries; but their flesh is a very delicate food. A hybrid race has been produced between these birds and ex common poultry, but, as usual, it appears in capable of re-production.

NOMISMATOGRAPHIA, a term use for the description and knowledge of ancien coins and medals, whether of gold, silver, er brass. See COINS and MEDALS.

NUMITOR, the son of Procas king of Al ba, and the brother of Amulius. Procas before his death made him and Amulius joint heirs the crown, on condition of their reigning 25 nually by turns: but Amulius, on getting pos session of the throne, excluded Numitor, whose son Lausus he ordered to be put to death, an obliged Rhea Sylvia, Numitor's only daughter, to become a vestal. This princess becom pregnant, declared that she was with child by the god Mars; and afterwards brought forth Rhemus and Romulus, who at length kied Amulius, and restored Numitor to the thase, 754 B. C. See RHEMUS and ROMULES

NUMMARY. a. (from nummus, Lat, Relating to money (Arbuthnot).

NUMMULAR. a. (nummularius, Lata.) Relating to money.

NUMMULARIA. (nummularia, Fr. from nummus, money; so called because its leares

are round and of the size of the old silver twopence.) Herundinaria. Moneywort, This plant, lysimachia nummularia of Linnéus, is very common in our ditches. It was former accounted vulnerary; it possesses antiscorbutie and restringent qualities. See LYSIMARIA.

NU'MSKULL. s. (numb and skull.) 1.A dullard; a dunce; a dolt; a blockhead (d buthnot and Pope). 2. The head. In but lesque (Prior).

NU'MSKULLED. a. (from numskull) Dull; stupid; doltish (Arbuthnot).

NUN, a woman, in several catholic countries, who devotes herself, in a cloister of nu nery, to a religious life. (See the article MONK) There were women in the ancient Christian church who made public profession of vit ginity before the monastic life was known in the world, as appears from the writings of Cyprian and Tertullian. These, for distin tion's sake, are sometimes called ecclesiastical

virgins, and were commonly inrolled in the canon or matricula of the church. They differed from the monastic virgins chiefly in this, that they lived privately in their father's houses, whereas the others lived in communities: but their profession of virginity was not so strict as to make it criminal in them to marry afterwards, if they thought fit. As to the consecration of virgins, it had some things peculiar in it: it was usually performed publicly in the church by the bishop. The virgin made a public profession of her resolution, and then the bishop put upon her the accustomed habit of sacred virgins. One part of this habit was a veil, called the sacruin velamen; another was a kind of mitre or coronet worn upon the head. At present, when a woman is to be made a nun, the habit, veil, and ring of the candidate are carried to the altar; and she herself, accompanied by her nearest relations, is conducted to the bishop, who, after mass and an anthem (the subject of which is, "that she ought to have her lamp lighted, because the bridegroom is coming to meet her)," pronounces the benediction: then she rises up, and the bishop consecrates the new habit, sprinkling it with holy water. When the candidate has put on her religious habit, she presents herself before the bishop, and sings, on her knees, Ancilla Christi sum, &c.; then she receives the veil, and afterwards the ring, by which she is married to Christ; and lastly, the crown of virginity. When she is crowned, an anathema is denounced against all who shall attempt to make her break her vows.

NUN, or VLED DE NUN, a province in the south part of the kingdom of Sus. The emperor of Morocco arrogates to himself the sovereignty, but his real authority is extremely feeble. This desert province is inhabited by different tribes of Arabs, whose camps are scattered over such interior parts of the country as are capable of cultivation. It has a river of the same name, which enters the Atlantic on the north side of Cape Non.

NU'NCHION. s. A piece of victuals eaten between meals (Hudibras). NUNCIATURE. s. (from nuncio, Latin.) The office of a nuncio.

NUNCIO. s. (Italian; from nuncius, Lat.) 1. A messenger; one that brings tidings (Shakspeare). 2. A spiritual envoy from the pope (Atterbury).

NUNCUPATIVE. NUNCUPATORY. 4. (nuncupatus, Lat. nuncupatif, French.) 1. Publicly or solemnly declaratory. 2. Verbally pronounced.

NUNDINA, a goddess whom the Romans invoked when they named their children. This happened the ninth day of their birth, whence the name of the goddess Nonadies.

NUNDYDROOG, a town and fortress of Hindustan, capital of a considerable district, in Mysore. It is built on the summit of a mountain, 1700 feet in height, the greater part inaccessible; but was besieged and taken by the English, under lord Cornwallis, in 1792. It is 70 miles north of Seringapatam.

NUNEATON, a town in Warwickshire, with a market on Saturday, and manufactures of woollen cloth and ribands. It was formerly noted for its nunnery, and is seated on the river Anker, nine miles N. by E. of Coventry, and 98 N.W. of London.

NUNNERY, a house or convent for the reception of female religious, who retire from the world under a vow. See NUN.

NUNNIA, the name given by the Greek to the song or melody used by nurses; a lullaby. NUPTIAL. a. (nuptial, French; nuptialis, Latin.) Pertaining to marriage; constituting marriage; used in marriage (Dryden). NUPTIALS. s. (nuptiæ, Lat.) Marriage. NURENBERG, a city of Franconia (lately imperial), capital of a territory of the same name, with a university. It is six miles in circumference, surrounded by high walls, flanked with 365 towers and through the middle of it flows the river Pegnitz, over which are six stone bridges, and several of wood. The inhabitants, estimated at 30,000, are very industrious, and the best workmen in arts: their maps and prints are in high esteem, as well as their musical and mathematical instruments; nor are they less curious in clockwork, and in the several manufactures of iron, steel, ivory, wood, and alabaster. The best toys are made here, which are commonly known in England by the name of Dutch toys. Here is a famous academy for painting, an anatomical theatre, and a public library. The ancient castle or palace is still standing at the extremity of the city; and the arsenal is one of the best in Germany. The houses are built of freestone, and are four or five stories high. Though the religion is the Lutheran, the church of the Holy Ghost has a variety of relics; as also the imperial crown, sceptre, &c. the sword of St. Maurice, and the gloves, slippers, and hereditary crown of emperor Rodolph II. No Jews are suffered to lodge a single night here; nor can they enter the city without paying a certain tax. Nurenberg has obtained a considerable territory, 100 miles in circumference, in which are two large forests. In 1807, by the treaty of Tilsit, it was given to Bavaria. It is 95 miles N. by W. of Munich, and 250 W.N.W. of Vienna. Lon. 11. 4 E. Lat. 49. 27 N.

NURSE. s. (nourrice, Fr.) 1. A woman that has the care of another's child (Raleigh). 2. A woman that has care of a sick person (Shakspeare). 3. One who breeds, educates, or protects (Shakspeare). 4. An old woman, in contempt (Blackmore). 5. The state of being nursed (Cleaveland). 6. In composition, any thing that supplies food (Wulton).

To NURSE. v. a. (nourrir, French.) 1. To bring up any thing young (Dryden). 2. To bring up a child not one's own (Exodus). 3. To feed; to keep; to maintain (Addison). 4. To tend the sick. 5. To pamper; to foment; to encourage.

NURSER. s. (from nurse.) 1. One that nurses: not used (Shakspeare). 2. A promoter; a fomenter.

NURSERY. s. (from nurse.) 1. The act or office of nursing (Shakspeare). 2. That which is the object of a nurse's care (Milton). 3. A plantation of young trees to be transplanted to other ground (Addison). 4. Place where young children are nursed and brought up (Bacon). 5. The place or state where any thing is fostered or brought up (Shakspeare). NURSERY, in gardening, a portion of ground set apart for propagating and raising various sorts of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants to proper states of growth for supplying gardens, orchards, plantations, and other departments of horticulture.

In the distribution of the different sorts in the nursery grounds, every sort should be kept separate the fruit-trees, forest-trees, &c. occupying a space not remote from each other; the shrub kinds ranged in the vicinity; and suitable plots being allotted to the herbaceous perennials and tender plants, defended with yew, privet hedges, or a reed fence, in which may also be set such plants in pots as are a little tender while young, and require occasional shelter from frost, but not so tender as to need being housed like green-house plants. And in such places frames of various sizes may be placed, either to be covered occasionally with glass lights or with mats, to contain many of the more choice tender kinds in pots, to be nursed a year or two or even longer, with occasional shelter, till gradually hardened to bear the open air.

The arrangement of all the sorts in the open grounds should always be in lines or nursery rows, the fruit-stocks, &c. for grafting and budding upon being placed two feet asunder when for dwarfs, and for standards two feet and a half, and a foot and a half in the lines. But, as after being grafted and budded they become fruit-trees, &c. whenever it is intended they should stand till they have grown to a large size, the width of a yard should be allowed between the different rows. Forest-trees should also be placed in rows from two to three feet asunder, and half that distance in the lines, varying the distance both ways, according to the time they are to stand. The shrubs may be placed in rows about two feet asunder, and from fifteen to eighteen inches distant in cach line. And the herbaceous plants may be generally disposed in four-feet-wide beds, or larger borders, in rows or distances from six to twelve or eighteen inches asunder, according to their nature of growth and the time they are to stand or remain in them. By which mode of arrangement a great number of plants will be included within a narrow compass, yet the compass will be sufficient, as they are only to remain for a short period; and they will also hereby be kept more readily under proper regulation.

In public grounds of this sort many kinds of seedling-trees and shrubs are planted out often in much closer rows at first than those now proposed, not only with a view of husbanding the ground to the best advantage, but by standing closer, to encourage the different

stems to shoot more directly upwards, and prevent their expanding themselves much in any direction but at the top. Thus especially are many sorts of ever-greens of slow growth during the first year or two managed and arranged, such as pine-trees, firs, and larches. These the nursery-gardeners often prick on from the seminary, first into four-feet-wale beds in rows lengthways, six inches asunder, and after having allowed them one or two years growth here, they transplant them rows a foot asunder; and a year or two after give them another and final transplantation in the nursery, in rows two or three fet asunder as above. These different transpla ings encourage the roots to branch out in many horizontal fibres, and prepare them beter for their ultimate destination.

'Sometimes these various plants are pricked out by dibble, after being reared as above; ** other cases they are put in by the spade, ed by trenches, slitting in, trenching, or holing. while several are drilled in by a drill or b according to the kinds.

In a nursery designed altogether for fre trees, the following rules are to be observed: 1. That the soil should not be better than ad in which the trees are to be planted out good. 2. That it ought to be fresh, and such as has been already worn out by trees, e other large growing plants. 3. It ought next to be too wet nor too dry, but rather of a middling nature; though of the two extrens, dry is to be preferred; because, though tes in such a soil do not make so great a prog yet they are generally sounder, and more posed to fruitfulness. 4. It must be incl in such a manner that neither cattle nor veru a may enter; and so as particularly to exce hares and rabbits, which, when the ground covered with snow, are great destroyes a young trees. 5. The ground being i should be carefully trenched about two iet deep; this should be done in August, thera may be ready for receiving young stocks ide season for planting, which is commonly ates the beginning of October: in trenching the ground you must be careful to cleanse it insa the roots of all noxious weeds. 6. The season being come for planting, level down iz trenches as equal as possible; and then lay t the ground into quarters, which may be ba out in beds for a seminary, in which you a sow the seeds or stones of fruit. 7. And bas ing provided yourself with stocks, the nex year proceed to transplant them in the follwing manner: draw a line across the groun intended to be planted, and open a number of trenches exactly straight; then take the stocks out of the seed-beds; in doing which, you should raise the ground with a spade, in oreet to preserve the roots as entire as possible, prune off the very small fibres, and if there are any that have a tendency to root directis downwards, such roots should be shortec.es Then plant them in the trenches, if they are designed for standards, in rows three feet and a half, or four feet, from each other, and a fact

and a half distant in the rows; but if for
dwarfs, three feet row from row, and one foot
in the row, will be a sufficient distance. These
plants should by no means be headed, or prun-
ed at top, which will weaken them, and cause
them to produce lateral branches. If the win-
ter should prove very cold, lay some mulch on
the surface of the ground near their roots, tak-
ing care not to let it lie too thick near the
stems of the plants, and to remove it as soon as
the frost is over.
In the summer season de-
stroy the weeds, an dig up the ground every
spring between the lows. The second year
after planting, such of the stocks as are design
ed for dwarfs will be fit to bud; but those that
are designed for standards should be suffered to
grow five or six feet high before they are bud-
ded or grafted; for the manner of doing which,
see GRAFTING.

As to timber trees, Mr. Miller advises those gentlemen who would have plantations in parks, woods, &c. to make nurseries upon the ground intended for planting, where a sufficient number of the trees may be left standing, after the others have been drawn out to plant in other places.

The ground intended for the flower-nursery should be well situated to the sun, and defended from strong winds by plantations of trees, or by buildings. The soil also should be light and dry, especially for bulbous-rooted flowers; for in this nursery the offsets of all bulbous Dooted flowers should be planted, and remain there till they become blowing roots, when they should be removed into the pleasure-garden, and planted either in beds or borders, according to the goodness of the flowers. These flowers may also be raised in the nursery from seed. The seedling auriculas, polyanthuses, ranunculuses, anemonies, carnations, &c. should be raised in this nursery, where they should be preserved till they have flowered, when all those should be marked that are worthy of being transplanted into the flowergarden: this should be done in their proper seasons; for all these seedling flowers ought not indiscriminately to be exposed to public view in the pleasure-garden, because it always happens, that there are great numbers of ordinary flowers produced among them, which will there make but an indifferent appearance. NURSLING. s. (from nurse.) One nursed up; a fondling (Dryden).

NURTURE. s. (contracted from nourriture, French.) 1. Food; diet (Milton). 2. Education; institution (Spenser).

1.

To NURTURE. v. a. (from the noun.) To educate; to train; to bring up (Wotton). 2. To nurture up; to bring by care and food to maturity (Bentley).

NUSANCE. See NUISANCE. NUSSERPOUR, a town of Hindustan, capital of a country of the same name, in the province of Sindy. It is situate on the Sinde, 58 miles N.E. of Tatta. Lon. 68. 22 E. Lat. 25.18 N.

NUT. (nux.) A seed covered with a shell. Extending not only to nuts, commonly so called, but to the acorn, and all stone-fruits. NUT-TREE. See CORYLUS.

NUT (Cocoa). The fruit of the cocos nucifera of Linnéus. Within the nut is found a kernel, as pleasant as an almond, and also a large quantity of liquor resembling milk, which the Indians greedily drink before the fruit is ripe, it being then pleasant, but when the nut is matured the liquor becomes sour. Some full grown nuts will contain a pint or more of this milk, the frequent drinking of which seems to have no bad effects upon the Indians; yet Europeans should be cautious of making too free with it at first, for when Lionel Wafer was at a smali island in the South Sea, where the tree grew in plenty, some of his men were so delighted with it, that at parting they were resolved to drink their fill, which they did; but their appetites had like to have cost them their lives, for though they were not drunk, yet they were so chilled and benumbed, that they could not stand, and were obliged to be carried aboard by those who had more prudence than themselves, and it was many days before they recovered. The shells of these nuts being hard, and capable of receiving a polish, are often cut transversely, when, being mounted on stands, and having their edges silvered or gilt, or otherwise ornamented, they serve the purpose of drinking cups. The leaves of the tree are used for thatching, for brooms, baskets, and other utensils; and of the reticular web growing at their base the Indian women make cauls and aprons. See Cocos.

NUT (Barbadoes). See RICINUS MAJOR.
NUT (Purging). See RICINUS MAJOR.
NUT (Bladder), in botany. See STA-

PHYLOEA.

NUT (Cashew), in botany. See ANACAR DIUM.

NUT (Chocolate), in botany. See THEO

BROMA.

NUT (Fansel), in botany. See ARECA.
NUT (Hazel), in botany. See CORYLUS.
NUT (Malabar), in botany. See Jus-

TICIA.

NUT (Oil), in botany. See RICINUS. Nur (Physic), in botany. See JATROPA. NUT (Pistacia), in botany. See PISTACIA. NUT (Wall), in botany. See JUGLANS. NUT, in mechanics, the concave cylindrical spiral which receives a screw.

NUTANT, in botany. See NODDING. Nuto properly signifies to nod with the head, or to nod assent. Cicero uses it for nodding to its fall, or being ruinous; also for hesitating or doubting in an opinion.

NUTATION, in astronomy, a kind of libratory notation of the earth's axis; by which its inclination to the plane of the cliptic is continually varying, by a certain number of seconds, backwards and forwards. The whole extent of this change in the inclination of the earth's axis, or, which is the same thing, in the and the period of that change is little more than KK

To NUSTLE. v. a. To fondle; to cherish. apparent declination of the stars, is about 19", See NUZZLE.

VOL. VIII.

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