a town of Italy, in the patrimony of St Peter, with a bishop's see, and a magnificent palace. It is the capital of the province of Orvietano, in the ecclesiastic state, in E. Long. 13. Lat. 43. It is a large thriving town, situated at the confluence of the Tiber and the Chiane, on a steep hill, surrounded on every side with rocks and precipices. To this situation it is owing that it has no springs; but there is a very surprising well cut into the rock, to supply it with fresh water. The mules, which bring up the water on their backs, go down by a staircase of 150 steps, and 60 windows, and come up by another, without meeting. The architect of of this singular building was the famous Antonio de San Gallo, employed by Clement VII. At the entrance is this inscription, *Quod natura monumentum incidit, industria adject.* This city, called Herbanum by Pliny, and Urbevetanum by Procopius, is the see of a bishop suffragan of Rome. The cathedral, which is of Gothic architecture, is a handsome building, which was begun in 1250 by Nicola Pisano. The front is adorned with fine statues, among the rest the Virgin Mary and the four Evangelists, with a bas-relief of the last judgment, by the said Nicola Pisano, and others representing some histories of the Old Testament. The other half of the front is a surprising work in mosaic, by Scalzi, expressing the history of the New Testament. In the church there is a very fine organ, and a bas-relief of Raphael da Monte Lupo. Here is also a chapel, which was begun to be painted by E. Angelio, a Dominican, and finished by Luke Signorelli, where you see a very beautiful representation of the last judgment. Orvieto was once a potent and populous city, but is now much upon the decline.

**ORYZA**, rice, a genus of plants belonging to the hexandria class, and in the natural method ranking under the 4th order, Graminae. See Botany Index.

There is but one species, namely the sativa, or common rice. This plant is greatly cultivated in most of the eastern countries, where it is the chief support of the inhabitants; and great quantities of it are brought into England and other European countries every year, where it is much esteemed for puddings, &c., it being too tender to be produced in these northern countries without the assistance of artificial heat; but from some seeds which were formerly sent to Carolina there have been great quantities produced, and it is found to succeed as well there as in the east.

This plant grows upon moist soils, where the ground can be flowed over with water after it is come up. So that whoever would cultivate it in this country should sow the seeds upon a hot-bed; and when the plants are come up, they should be removed into pots filled with light rich earth, and placed in pans of water, which should be plunged into a hot-bed; and, as the water wastes, it must from time to time be renewed again. In July these plants may be set abroad in a warm situation, still preserving the water in the pans, otherwise they will not thrive; and, toward the latter end of August, they will produce their grain, which will ripen tolerably well, provided the autumn proves favourable. The leaves of rice are long, like the reed, and flabby; the flowers blow on the top like barley; but the seed which follows is disposed in clutters, each of which is inclosed in a yellow husk, ending in a spiral thread. The seed is oblong, or rather oval, and white.

Rice is the chief commodity and riches of Damietta in Egypt. Dr Hasselquist gives the following description of the manner in which they dress and separate it from the hulls. "It is pounded by hollow iron pestles of a cylindrical form, lifted up by a wheel worked by oxen. A person fitting between the two pestles, pushes forward the rice when the pestles are rising; another sifts, winnows, and lays it under the pestles. In this manner they continue working it until it is entirely free from chaff and husks. When clean, they add a third part of salt, and pound them together; by which the rice, formerly gray, becomes white. After this purification, it is passed through a fine sieve to part the salt. Oryzivora from the rice; and then it is ready for sale." Damietta sells every year 60,800 sacks of rice, the greatest part of which goes to Turkey, some to Deghorn, Marfeilles, and Venice.

**ORYZIVORA**, called the rice-bird of Cateby, a species of emberiza, which see, Ornithology Index.