A bearing is the direction or point of the compass in which an object is seen, or the situation of one object in regard to another, with reference to the points of the compass. Thus, if from a certain situation an object is seen in the direction of north-east, the bearing of the object is said to be north-east from the situation.
A chart is a hydrographical or marine map, that is a draught or projection of some part of the earth's surface, with the coasts, islands, rocks, banks, channels, or entrances into harbours, rivers, and bays, the points of compass soundings, or depth of water, etc, to regulate the courses of ships in their voyages. The term chart is applied to a marine map; the term map is applied to a draught of some portion of land (often including sea also). A plane chart is one in which the meridians are supposed parallel to each other, the parallels of latitude at equal distances, and of course the degrees of latitude and longitude everywhere equal to each other. Research Chart
An idyl (from the Greek eidyllion, or a 'little image') is the name originally and still most usually applied to a short and highly finished descriptive poem, especially if it treats of pastoral subjects, though this last circumstance is not an essential character of the idyl. All that is necessary to constitute a poem of this class is that it presents to view a complete picture in small compass. Research Idyl
The blackbird or merle (Turdus merula) is a British bird of the thrush family common in Britain and throughout Europe. It is larger than the common thrush, its length being about 25 cm. The male has black plumage and a yellow bill. The female is dark brown with a dark bill. The nest is usually in a thick bush, and is built of grass, roots, twigs, etc, strengthened with clay. The eggs, generally four or five in number, are of a greenish-blue, spotted with various shades of brown. The song is rich, mellow, and Mute-like, but of no great variety or compass.
Its food is insects, worms, snails, fruits, etc, and blackbirds may often be seen huntingworms across garden lawns which they do by attracting the worms to the surface by stamping their feet in imitation of rain fall, listening with their head cocked to one side, and then yanking the worm from the ground with their beak when it emerges.
The blackbird was formerly known as the 'Ouzel' or 'Ousel', 'missel thrush', 'mistletoe thrush', 'Holm Thrush', 'Holm Screech' and 'storm cock' in various parts of England, Scotland and Wales.
The blackbirds or crow-blackbirds of America are quite different from the European blackbird, and are more nearly allied to the starlings and crows.
The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus}, belonging to the starling family, is a familiar American bird that congregates in great flocks. Research Blackbird
The Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) is a Composite plant growing in the prairies of the Mississippivalley, and remarkable from the fact that its erect radical leaves stand so that their edges point almost exactly north and south, especially in midsummer. This is said to be due to the action of light, and to depend on the leaves having an equal number of stomata on either face. Research Compass Plant
Richard Hakluyt was one of the earliest English collectors of voyages and maritime journals. He was born in 1553 and died in 1616. He entered Christ Church College, Oxford, in 1575, and became so eminent for his acquaintance with cosmography, that he was appointed public lecturer on that science. About 1584 he went to Paris as chaplain to the English ambassador, and stayed there five years. After his return home he prepared for the press his collection of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, and Discoveries of the English Nation, made by Sea, or over Land, within the Compass of these 1500 Years. The first volume, in folio, was published in 1589, and the third and last in 1600. Besides narratives of nearly 220 voyages, these volumes comprise patents, letters, instructions, and other documents, not readily to be found elsewhere. On his death he was a prebendary of Westminster and rector of Wetheringset in Suffolk, and was interred in Westminster Abbey. Research Richard Hakluyt
Richard Hakluyt was one of the earliest English collectors of voyages and maritime journals. He was born in 1553 and died in 1616. He entered Christ Church College, Oxford, in 1575, and became so eminent for his acquaintance with cosmography, that he was appointed public lecturer on that science. About 1584 he went to Paris as chaplain to the English ambassador, and stayed there five years. After his return home he prepared for the press his collection of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, and Discoveries of the English Nation, made by Sea, or over Land, within the Compass of these 1500 Years. The first volume, in folio, was published in 1589, and the third and last in 1600. Besides narratives of nearly 220 voyages, these volumes comprise patents, letters, instructions, and other documents, not readily to be found elsewhere. On his death he was a prebendary of Westminster and rector of Wetheringset in Suffolk, and was interred in Westminster Abbey. Research Richard Hakluyt
Albert Durer was a German painter, designer, sculptor, and engraver on wood and metal. He was born in 1471 at Nurnberg and died in 1528. His father was a skilful goldsmith of Hungary. In 1486 he left his father's trade and became an apprentice of Michael Wohlgemuth, then the best painter in Nurnberg. Having finished his studies he entered upon his 'wanderjahre,' the usual course of travels of a German youth. On his return to Nurnberg he married the daughter of Hans Frey, a mechanic, who has been falsely accused for centuries of embittering his life and bringing him to his grave. In 1505 he went to Venice to improve himself in his art.
His abilities excited envy and admiration. He painted the Martyrdom of Bartholomew for St. Mark's church, which painting was purchased by the Emperor Rudolph and removed to Prague. He also travelled to Bologna, to improve bisknowledge of perspective. On his return to Nurnberg his fame spread far and wide. Maximilian I appointed him his court-painter, and Charles V confirmed him in this office.
All the artists and learned men of his time honoured and loved him, and for many years he was one of the chief burghers of his native town. Profound application and great facility in the mechanical part of his art were the characteristics of Albert Durer, and enabled him to exert a great influence on German art. He was the first in Germany who taught the rules of perspective, and of the proportions of the human figure. He not only made use of the burin, like his predecessors, but was also among the first to practice etching and invented the method of printing woodcuts with two colours.
Among his masterpieces in painting are a Crucifixion, Adam and Eve, an Adoration of the Magi, and portraits of Raphael, Erasmus, and Melanchthon, who were his friends. Among his best engravings on copper are his Fortune, Melancholy, Adam and Eve in Paradise, St. Hubert, St. Jerome, and the Smaller Passion (so called), in sixteen plates. Among his best engravings on wood are the Greater Passion (so called), in thirteen plates; the Smaller Passion, with the frontispiece, thirty-seven pieces; the Revelation of St. John, with the frontispiece, fifteen plates; the Life of Mary, two prints, with the frontispiece. Albert Durer has also much merit as a writer, and published works on Human Proportion, Fortification, and the Use of the Compass and Square. Research Albert Durer
Angelica Catalani was an Italian singer. She was born in 1779 at Sinigaglia and died in 1849. She made her debut as a soprano at Venice in 1795 and for some thirty years was almost unrivalled. Her voice was of great power, sweetness and flexibility with a compass which extended to G in altissimo. After singing at Lisbon from 1801 to 1806 she went to London and remained there until 1814 when she went to Paris and assumed the direction of the Italian Opera. In 1816 she made a tour through Europe. In 1822 she appeared again in London. Research Angelica Catalani
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Abbreviations
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