(VIZCAYA) SEIGNORY or, one of the three Provincias Vascongadas or Basque provinces in the north of Spain. It is bounded on the north by the Bay of Biscay, east by Guipuzcoa, south by Alava, and west by Santander. Area 1272 square miles; pop. (1850) estimated at 150,000. The surface is highly picturesque, being very mountainous, and diversified with numerous narrow valleys and fertile plains. The mountains are generally covered with forests to their summits, while others consist almost entirely of naked calcareous rock. This province is well cultivated, and produces wheat, maize, barley, rye, flax, chestnuts, grapes, peaches, and other fruits. The farms are generally small, but are cultivated with great care, and almost entirely by manual labour. Among its forest-trees are the oak, holly, arbutus, and chestnut; and furze and heath abound in the poorer parts. The wild-boar, lynx, fox, and other beasts of prey, are still found in several of the forests; and deer, rabbits, partridges, woodcocks, and other kinds of game, are plentiful. The principal river is the Nervion or Ibaizabal, on which the capital, Bilbao, is situated; it has, besides, several smaller rivers, and numerous mountain streams. The coast presents a bold and rugged aspect, and in several places is deeply indented. Its principal ports are Portugalete at the mouth of the Nervion, Plencia, Bermeo, and Hea. Biscay is very rich in minerals. Iron of the finest quality is found in almost every part of the province; and marble, lime, and sandstone, are abundant. The Biscayans, who represent the ancient Cantabrians, are an industrious, bold, and hardy race; primitive in their manners, as well as gay, friendly, and hospitable. They are characterized by an innate love of freedom, and an intense jealousy of everything having the appearance of an encroachment upon their liberties. In manners and habits they have a considerable resemblance to the Irish, and were supposed to be of the same Celtic origin; but the Basque is not a Celtic language.

The manufacture of iron is the chief branch of industry, but at present it is less flourishing than formerly, though their gun-barrels are still in high repute. Among the other manufactures are porcelain, linens, hats, copper and brass wares, straw and rush chairs, ropes, leather, &c. The fishings are actively prosecuted along the coast. The earliest whale-fishery of Europe was pursued on this coast by the hardy Biscayans; but the whale has long ago retired farther to the north, and deprived them of this species of industry.

The Cantabrians in the time of the Romans were a fierce and warlike people, and were only subdued after a severe struggle by Augustus. This province afterwards fell successively into the hands of the Suevi, Franks, and Goths; and it formed for some time an independent lordship. In the fourteenth century it came into the power of the king of Castile, and since that time it has formed a part of the Spanish kingdom. Although subject to Spain, the Biscayans still maintain a republican form of administration, nominating their own governors and magistrates, regulating the amount of taxation, &c. The term Biscay is frequently used as synonymous with Basque, to include the three Basque provinces—Madoz, Dic. Geogr. de España.

Biscay, Bay of, an extensive gulf or bay of the Atlantic, between the northern coast of Spain and the western coast of France. It extends from the island of Ushant, off Brest, to Cape Ortegal on the north coast of Galicia. The Spanish coast is almost wholly bold and rocky; the French is more varied, and from the mouth of the Gironde southward to the Adour is low and sandy. The openness of this bay, the strong westerly winds, and the current (Remmel's) which sets in from the west and sweeps along its southern and eastern shores, impede its navigation. It receives the waters of the Loire, Charente, Gironde, and Adour.