Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 3.djvu/797

skull, and the skin is then dried in a smoky hut. The Great Emerald Bird, so far as yet known, is only found in the Aru Islands. The Lesser Bird of Paradise (Paradisea minor), though smaller in size and somewhat less brilliant in plumage, in other respects closely resembles the preceding species. It is also more common, and much more widely distributed, being found throughout New Guinea and the neighbouring islands. Its plumes are those most generally used as ornaments for ladies head-dresses. It has been brought alive to Europe, and has been known to live for two years in the gardens of the Zoological Society of London. Both species are omnivorous, feeding voraciously on fruits and insects. They are strong, active birds, and are believed to be polygamous. The King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius) is one of the smallest and most brilliant of the group, and is specially distinguished by its two middle tail feathers, the ends of which alone are webbed, and coiled into a beautiful spiral disc of a lovely emerald green. In the Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisea rubra) the same feathers are greatly elongated and destitute of webs, but differ from those in the other species, in being flattened out like ribbons. They are only found in the small island of Waigiou off the coast of New Guinea. Of the Long-billed Paradise Birds (Epimachidce) the most remarkable is that known as the " Twelve-wired" (Scleuddes alba], its delicate yellow plumes, twelve of which are transformed into wire-like bristles nearly a foot long, affording a striking contrast to the dark metallic tints of the rest of its plumage. Like the Para-

diseidce they feed on insects and fruits.

BIRKBECK, George, an English physician and philanthropist, born at Settle in Yorkshire in 1776. He early evinced a strong predilection for scientific pursuits ; and in 1799, after graduating as doctor of medicine, he was appointed to the chair of natural philosophy at the Andersonian Institution of Glasgow. In the following year he delivered, for the benefit of the working-classes, a gratuitous course of scientific lectures, which were continued during the two following years and proved eminently successful. He removed to London in 1804, and there he endeavoured to prosecute his philanthropic schemes, at first without much encouragement, but ultimately with marked success. In 1827 he contributed to found the Mechanics Institute, his coadjutors being Bentham, Wilkie, Cobbett, and others. He was appointed director of the institute, which he had originally endowed with the sum of 3700, and held the office till his death in December 1841.

BIRKENHEAD, a seaport, market-town, extra-parochial district, township, and parliamentary borough, in the hun dred of Wirral and west division of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the western bank of the Mersey, directly opposite Liverpool. It is of considerable antiquity, its history dating from 1150, w r hen a priory was founded in honour of St Mary and St James by the third baron of Dunham Massey, and had considerable endowments. The priors sat in the parliaments of the earls of Chester, and enjoyed all the dignities and- privileges of palatinate barons. A fine crypt and some interesting ruins of the priory still exist. From a comparatively obscure fishing village Birken head has become a large and important town, with a rapidity truly marvellous. The inhabitants numbered only 200 in 1821; in 1831 they were 2569 ; the following table shows the increase since 1841:—

Year. Population. Dwelling Houses. Rateable Value. 1841 8227 1466 44,000 1851 25,000 4148 114,301 1861 37,796 5239 150,827 1871 45,418 7511 219,011 1875 |(estim.)52,000 8000 228,909

Birkenhead began to develop itself as a market-town in the year 1833, when an Act was obtained fur paving, light ing, watching, cleansing, and improving the town, and foi" regulating the police and establishing a market. By this Act the Improvement Commissioners were originally con stituted, and at that time included the mayor, bailiffs, and four aldermen of Liverpool. Immediately after the passing of this Act the town made rapid progress. The principal streets were laid out on a regular plan, intersect ing each other at right angles. A line of tramway, the first laid in England, affords every facility of street com munication. Hamilton Square, which occupies the summit of the rising ground near^ the river, forms the basis or starting point for all the parallel and rectangular lines of streets. The houses of the square are four stories in height, with stone fronts, the centres and ends of each terrace being relieved or ornamented with columns and porticos in the Tuscan order of architecture.

Birkenhead has (exclusive of the out townships) nine churches belonging to the Established Church. St Mary s, built in 1821 by Mr. F. R. Price, late lord of the manor, is in the Decorated Gothic style of architecture, with a well- proportioned tower and spire. The churchyard includes the burial ground and ruins of the ancient priory and chapel of St Mary. In addition to the Established churches there are .twenty-four places of worship belonging to various Nonconforming denominations, viz., five Presby terian, three Independent or Congregational, 2 Baptist, four Wesleyan, one Primitive Methodist, one Society of Friends, two Plymouth Brethren, three Roman Catholic, one Catholic and Apostolic, two Unitarian. Many of these buildings are fair examples of Gothic and classic architecture. St Aidan s Theological College, in connec tion with the Established Church, occupies a fine and elevated site adjoining the western boundary of Claughton. It is a handsome building in the Tudor style of architec ture. There are seven public elementary schools in con nection with the Established churches, and seven in con nection with other religious bodies. There is also a first- class proprietary school, conducted on the model of the great public schools, besides several private academies.

There are several public buildings in Birkeuhead worthy of notice. The market-hall is a large and commodious building, 430 feet long and 130 feet wide/with substantial and lofty vaults extending under its entire area. It was opened in 1845, and built at a cost of 35,000. The public slaughter-houses in Jackson Street, belonging to the Birkenhead Commissioners, form an extensive pile of build ings; they were erected in 1846 at a cost, exclusive of the site, of about 11,000, and were the first public slaughter-houses of any extent erected in England. The town water-works also belong to the Birkenhead Commis sioners, and consist of two pumping stations, the wells of which yield an aggregate supply of about 2^- million gallons in twenty-four hours. The town-hall in Hamilton Street is a one-story building, and formed when first erected the front of the old market-hall ; it contains a police court, fire-engine station, and chief bridewell ; there are, besides, two branch bridewells. Among other buildings are the post-office in Conway Street, the borough hospital, and the School of Art, also in Conway Street, both erected by the late Mr John Laird, M.P., and a free library in Hamilton Street. The large and commodious industrial schools in Corporation Road were built at the cost of Sir "Wm. Jackson, Bart., as a memorial to the late Prince Consort. The Music Hall and the Queen s Hall are situated in Claughton Road. There is also a neat and commodious theatre and opera-house in Argyle Street.

Birkenhead Park, opened in 1847, occupies 1904- acres of ground, and was laid out at a cost (including the land) of