BERLIOZ, HECTOR (ber-lē-ōs′), a French composer, born in La Côte-Saint-André, Dec. 11, 1803. He forsook medicine to study music at the Paris Conservatoire, where he gained the first prize in 1830 with his cantata, "Sardanapale." After studying in Italy, he began to produce his larger works, and was forced to defend his principles in the press. His chief literary works are: "Traité d'Instrumentation" (1844); "Voyage Musical" (1845); "A Travers Chant" (1862). The more important of his musical works are "Harold en Italic," "Episode de la Vie d'un Artiste," and "Le Retour à la Vie;" "Romeo and Juliette" (1834); "Damnation de Faust" (1846); the operas "Benvenuto Cellini," "Beatrice and Benedict." and "Les Troyens," "L'Enfance du Christ," and the "Requiem." He died in Paris, March 9, 1869. After his death his "Memoirs" appeared.
BERMUDA CEDAR, a species of cedar which covers the Bermuda Islands. The timber is made into ships, boats and pencils. The wood of juniperus barbadensis, the Barbadoes cedar, is sometimes imported with it under the same name.
BERMUDA GRASS, a species of grass, called in Bermuda, devil grass. It grows in the American Southern States and in southern Europe. It is much esteemed for pasture.
BERMUDA HUNDRED, a locality in Chesterfield co., Va.; the scene of a battle in the Civil War between the Federal troops under General Butler, and the Confederates under General Beauregard. The battle was fought May 16, 1864, and resulted in a defeat for Butler.
BERMUDAS, THE, or SOMERS' ISLANDS, a group of small islands, about 300 in number, in the North Atlantic Ocean, belonging to Great Britain, 580 miles from Cape Hatteras; area, about 30 square miles. The principal islands are Bermuda, St. George, Ireland, and Somerset. The protection afforded to shipping by their numerous bays, and their position in the track of the homeward bound West India vessels have led to the conversion of the Bermudas into a maritime rendezvous, and likewise, into a British naval station for West Indian fleets. The harbor of St. George's Island has been greatly improved, is fortified, protected by a breakwater, and has water and space enough to float the largest fleet. The principal productions are fruits, vegetables, maize, and tobacco. Pineapples are very abundant and largely exported. The climate is mild and salubrious; almost realizing the idea of a perpetual spring. Fish abound, and form a profitable source of industry to the inhabitants. Breadstuff s, etc., are imported from the United States, and manufactured goods from England. The imports in 1918 amounted to £692,742, and the exports to £119,977. The tonnage entering and clearing the ports in 1918 amounted to 732,613. During the World War Bermuda was an important station for the British Navy. Hamilton, on Bermuda Island, is the seat of the colonial government. Pop. of capital (1918) 2,700; of the islands 21,629. These islands were discovered by Bermudez, a Spaniard, in 1522, and settled by the English in 1607.
BERMUDEZ (ber-mū′dāth), a state in the N. E. of Venezuela, between the Orinoco and the Caribbean Sea, formed in 1881 from the former states and present sections of Barcelona, Cumana, and Maturin. Area, 32,243 square miles; pop. about 360,000.
BERN, or BERNE, a Swiss canton, bounded on the N. by France. It is the most populous, and next to the Grisons, the most extensive canton of Switzerland; its area being nearly 2,657 square miles, and its pop. about 683,000, The fertile valleys of the Aar and the Emmen divide the mountainous Alpine region in the S. from the Jura Mountains in the N. The Bernese Oberland, or Highlands, comprises the peaks of the Jungfrau, Mönch, Eiger, Schreckhorn, Finsteraarhorn, etc., and the valleys of Hasli, Lauterbrunnen, etc. The Lakes of Thun, Brienz, Neuchâtel, and Bienne are in the canton, which is watered by the Aar and its several tributaries. The climate is generally healthful. The plains of the Aar and the Emmen are the most fruitful, producing corn and fruits of various kinds, and affording excellent pasturage for cattle, which, with dairy produce, form the chief agricultural wealth of Bern. The vine grows in some districts. The horses of the Emmenthal are much prized. The lakes abound with salmon and trout. Iron mines are worked, and a little gold is found, and quarries of sandstone, granite, and marble are abundant. Its manufactures, which are not extensive, consist chiefly of linen, coarse woolens, leather, iron, and copper wares, articles of wood, and watches. Bern entered the Swiss Confederation, in which it now holds the second rank, in 1352. In the early part of the 19th century it received additions to its territory. The present constitution of the canton, proclaimed in 1874, but based on the laws of 1848, is one of representative democracy.
