Barbel

[Fr. barbel; Dut. barbeel, from Lat. barb a, a beard.] ( Zool.) The Barbus vulgar is, a fresh-water malacopterygious fish, usually frequenting the deep and still parts of rivers, swimming with great strength and rapidity, and living not only on aquatic plants, worms, ., but occasionally by preying on small fishes. It is said to receive its name from the barbs or wattles attached about its mouth, by which appendages it is readily distinguished. The section of its body forms an elongated ellipse; its scales are small, its head smooth; its eyes large and contiguous to the nostrils, and the lateral line straight and nearly parallel to the back. Its pectoral fins are of a pale brown color; its ventral and anal, tipped with yellow; the tail is slightly bifurcated, and of a deep purple, and the general color of the scales is pale gold, edged with black on the back and sides, and silvery-white on the belly. The dorsal fin is armed with a strong serrated spine, with which it sometimes inflicts dangerous wounds on the hands of the fishermen, and does considerable damage to their nets. It is sometimes found to weigh from 9 to 20 pounds, and to measure 3 feet in length. The flesh of the B. is very coarse and unsavory; the fish, consequently, is held in little estimation, except as affording sport for the angler. Barbet, n. [Fr.] (Zool.) The French name for the POODLE DOG, q. v. - A family of birds, order Scan sores , or Climbers, including the genera Bucco , Pagonias , and Ta- matia. They are distinguished by their large conical beak, and by being bearded (whence the name) with five tufts of stiff bristles, directed forwards. They inhabit Java, Sumatra, ., and flutter about in all positions on the trunks and among the branches of trees, in search of insects or their larvæ, on which they feed. The plu- mage of some of the species is very brilliant. -A genus of APHIS, q . v. Barbette, ( bar -bet',) n. [Fr.] ( Fort . ) An earthen ter- race inside the parapet of a rampart, serving as a plat- form for heavy guns; it has such an elevation that the guns may be fired over the crest of the parapet instead village, cap. of Knox co., on the Cumber land river, 122 m. E.S.E. of Frankfort. Coal and iron are abundant ir the neighborhood. Barboursville, in New York , a village of Delaware co., about 30 m. E. of Binghamton. Barboursville, in Virginia , a village of Orange co., 76 m. N.W. of Richmond. Barboursville, in W. Virginia , a village, cap. of Cabell co., on the Guyandotte river, 7 m. from its confluence with the Ohio, and 352 W.N.W. of the city of Richmond. Barbuda, ( bar - bodda ,) one of the Caribbean islands in the West Indies, belonging to the Leeward group; Lat. 17° 47′ N.; Lon. 62° 2' W. Ext . 15 miles long and 8 broad. Area , about 75 sq. m. Desc. Low, level, well covered with woods, and generally fertile. Prod . Cotton, corn, pepper, and tobacco. Pop . 1,600.