, a small island of Asia, at the bottom of the gulf of the same name, at the entrance of the gulf of Persia. It is about two leagues from the main land, and about fix leagues in circuit. They catch excellent oysters about the island; and it yields plenty of fine white salt; also a kind of shining black sand, which is used for polishing writings, and is transported in considerable quantity to Europe. There is neither sweet water nor grass upon it, the soil being of a salt sulphurous nature. It was taken by the Portuguese in 1507, who fortified it; and it was afterwards frequented by a vast number of merchants, who were extremely rich. In 1622 the Persians, by the assistance of the English, conquered this place, and demolished the houses, which were 4000 in number, containing 40,000 inhabitants. Some time after, the Persians rebuilt the fort, and placed a garrison in it; but they could never bring it to be a place of trade as before: however, it is the key of the Persian gulf, as well on account of the importance of the place, as the commodiousness of the harbour. It is now almost deserted, for it produces nothing but salt, which sometimes is two inches deep upon the surface of the earth. E. Long. 56. 25. N. Lat. 27. 20.

ORNITHIAE, a name given by the ancients to certain winds, which usually blew in the spring, at the time when the birds of passage came over to them. Pliny says, that these winds blew from the west, and that by some the Etesian winds were called by this name. Others suppose that they blew from the north, or north-west.

ORNITHOGALLUM, STAR OF BETHLEHEM; a genus of plants belonging to the hexandria class; and in the natural method ranking under the 10th order, Coronariae. See BOTANY Index.

ORNITHOLOGY.