a person who slaughters cattle for the use of the table, or who cuts up and retails the same.

Among the ancient Romans, there were three kinds of established butchers, whose office it was to furnish the city with the necessary cattle, and to take care of preparing and vending their flesh. The furiari provided hogs; the pecuarii or boarii, other cattle, especially oxen; and under these was a subordinate class, whose office was to kill, called lanii, and carnifices.

To exercise the office of butcher among the Jews with dexterity, was of more reputation than to understand the liberal arts and sciences. They have a book concerning shambles-constitution; and in case of any difficulty, they apply to some learned rabbi for advice: nor was any allowed to practise this art, without a license in form; which gave the man, upon evidence of his abilities, a power to kill meat, and others to eat what he killed; provided he carefully read every week for one year, and every month the next year, and once a quarter during his life, the constitution above-mentioned.

We have some very good laws for the better regulation and preventing the abuses committed by butchers. A butcher that sells wine's flesh mealled, or dead of the murrain, for the first offence shall be amerced; for the second, have the pillory; for the third, be imprisoned, and make fine; and for the fourth, abjure the town. Butchers not selling meat at reasonable prices shall forfeit double the value, leviable by warrant of two justices of the peace. No butcher shall kill any flesh in his scalding-house, or within the walls of London, on pain to forfeit for every ox so killed 12d. and for every other beast, 8d. to be divided betwixt the king and the prosecutor.

Butcher-Bird. See Lanius, Ornithology Index.

Butcher-Broom. See Ruscus, Botany Index.

Butcher-Island, in the East Indies, a small island about two miles long and scarce one broad. It has its name from cattle being kept there for the use of Bom-

bay, from which it is about three miles distant. It has a small fort, but of very little consequence.