An avalanche is a large mass of snow or ice precipitated from the mountains, and distinguished as wind or dust avalanches, when they consist of fresh-fallen snow whirled like a dust storm into the valleys; as sliding avalanches, when they consist of great masses of snow sliding down a slope by their own weight; and as glacier or summer avalanches, when ice-masses are detached by heat from the high glaciers. Research Avalanche
The Eddystone Lighthouse is a lighthouse in the English Channel, erected to mark a group of rocks lying in the fair-way from the Start to the Lizard. The rocks are covered only at the flood. The first lighthouse was of wood, and built by Henry Winstanley in 1696. It was carried away in the storm of 1703. Another lighthouse, also of wood, was built in 1706 by Mr. Rudyerd, but was burned down in 1755. It was succeeded by one built by John Smeaton in 1757 to 1759, which was a circular tower some 85 feet tall. The foundations becoming weakend this structure was replaced in 1879 - 1822 by one designed by Sir J N Douglass and placed on the neighbouring reef. Research Eddystone Lighthouse
The Meteorological Office was established in 1854 originally as a department of the Board of Trade. It deals with the meteorology of the British Isles, including the service of weather forecasts and storm warnings for shipping. Research Meteorological Office
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 Petrel is any of various families of seabirds, including the worldwide Storm Petrels (family Procellariidae), which include the smallest seabirds, and the Diving Petrels (family Pelecanoididae) of the southern hemisphere, which feed by diving underwater and are characterized by having nostril tubes. They include the Fulmars and Shearwaters. Research Petrel
Rainbird is a name given to several birds, especially the black-billed cuckoo and the yellow-billed cuckoo. They get their name from the belief that they call frequently before a rainstorm. Research Rainbird
The Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) is a small sea bird, about 15 centimetres long, predominantly brown in colour with webbed feet and a round head. They are found in the eastern North Atlantic and western Mediterranean areas, in winter flying to the west and south coasts of Africa. Research Storm Petrel
The Albigenses were a sect which spread widely in the south of France and elsewhere about the twelfth century, and which differed in doctrine and practice from the Roman Catholic Church, by which they were subjected to severe persecution. They are said to have been so named from the district of Aibi, where, and about Toulouse, Narbonne, etc, they were numerous. A crusade was begun against them, and Count Raymond VI of Toulouse for tolerating them, in 1209, the army of the cross being called together by Pope Innocent III. The war was carried on with a cruelty which reflected deep disgrace upon the Catholic Church. Beziers, the capital of Raymond's nephew Roger, was taken by storm, and 20,000 of the inhabitants, without distinction of creed, were put to the sword. Simon de Montfort, the military leader of the crusade, was equally severe towards other places in the territory of Raymond and his allies. After the death of Raymond VI, in 1222, his son, Raymond VII, was obliged, notwithstanding his readiness to do penance, to defend his inheritance against the papal legates and Louis VIII of France. When hundreds of thousands had fallen on both sides, a peace was made in 1229, by which Raymond was obliged to cedeNarbonne with other territories to Louis IX, and make his son-in-law, a brother of Louis, his heir. The heretics were now delivered up to the proselytising zeal of the Dominicans, and to the courts of the Inquisition, by which means it was brought about that the Albigenses disappeared after the middle of the thirteenth century. Research Albigenses
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Avalanche
