as food for horses. See FARREYRY.

BEAN-Caper. See ZYGOPHYLLUM, BOTANY Index.

BEAN-Cod, a small fishing vessel, or pilot-boat, common on the sea-coasts and in the rivers of Portugal. It is extremely sharp forward, having its stem bent inward above into a great curve: the stem is also plated on the fore-side with iron, into which a number of bolts are driven, to fortify it, and resist the stroke of another vessel, which may fall athwart-haule. It is commonly navigated with a large lateen sail, which extends over the whole length of the deck, and is accordingly well fitted to ply to windward.

BEAN-Flour, called by the Romans sementum, was of some repute among the ancient ladies as a cosmetic, wherewith to smooth the skin, and take away wrinkles.

BEAN Fly, in Natural History, the name given by authors to a very beautiful fly, of a pale purple colour, frequently found on bean-flowers. It is produced from the worm or maggot called by authors mida.

BEAN-Goose. See ANAS, ORNITHOLOGY Index.

Kidney-BEANS. See PHASEOLUS.

Malacca-BEANS, or Anacardia, the fruit of a tree growing in Malabar and other parts of the East Indies, supposed by some to be the AVICENNIA tomentosa; by others, the BONTIA germinans. The fruit is of a shining black colour, of the shape of a heart flattened, about an inch long, terminating at one end in an obtuse point, and adhering by the other to a wrinkled stalk: it contains within two shells a kernel of a sweetish taste: betwixt the shells is lodged a thick and acrid juice.

The medicinal virtues of anacardia have been greatly disputed. Many have attributed to them the faculty of comforting the brain and nerves, fortifying the memory, and quickening the intellect: and hence a confection made from them has been dignified with the title of confectio sapientum: others think it better deserves the name of confectio fluturorum, and mention instances of its continued use having rendered people maniacal. But the kernel of anacardium is not different in quality from that of almonds. The ill effects attributed to this fruit belong only to the juice contained betwixt the kernels, whose acrimony is so great, that it is said to be employed by the Indians as a caustic. This juice is recommended externally for tetter, freckles, and other cutaneous deformities; which it removes only by exulcerating or excoriating the part, so that a new skin comes underneath.