Rathlin – Razor
Rathlin
a c crescent-shaped island off the coast of Antrim, 6½ miles N. of Ballycastle. Area, 3,398 acres. St.
Colomba established a church here in the 6th century; and Bruce in 1306 took refuge in a castle, now a ruin.
Ration
a stated or fixed amount or quantity dealt out; an allowance. Speci- RATION, a stated or fixed amount or fically, rations are the allowance of provisions given out to each officer, non- fically, rations are the allowance of commissioned officer, soldier, or sailor.
Rattlesnake Root
a name for Polygăla Senega, an American plant used to cure the bite of the rattlesnake.
Rattlesnake Weed
the Amer- RAVENNA
Ravelin
in fortification a detached work having a parapet and ditch forming a salient angle in front of the curtain.
It is erected on the counterscarp, and receives flank defense from the body of the place. Inside the ravelin may be a redoubt and ditch; the gorge is unprotected, and the ravelin may be considered a redan on the counterscarp.
Ravenala
or RAVINALA, a genus of Uranex. The U. speciosa is a fine banana-like tree with edible seeds, from Madagascar, where the French call it he traveler's tree, perhaps because water is found in the cup-like sheaths of the leaf-stalks.
Ray
in ichthyology, any individual of the genus Raja; but the family Rajidæ, and even the section Batoidei, are often spoken of as rays. Their flattened shape indicates that they live on level sandy bottoms, generally at no great dis-
Rayah
in Turkey, a person not a Mohammedan, who pays the capitation tax, called the haratch.
Raymond
HENRY JARVIS, an American educator; born in Clinton, Ia.,
Raymond
JOHN T., right name those of Asa Trenchard in "Our Ameriter." His greatest characters were can Cousin" and Colonel Sellers in the Ind., April 10, 1887. "Gilded Age." He died in Evansville, FRANÇOIS, known as the ABBE RAYNAL,
Raynal
GUILLAUME THOMAS THOMAS a French historian and political writer; RAYNOUARD born in St. Geniez, France, April 12, sandy coasts which they inhabit. These 1713. He acquired a European reputation by his "Philosophical History of the 'Two Indies." He died in Paris, March 6, 1796.
Razor
a keen-edged steel instrument for shaving off the beard or hair. The great center of the razor manufacture is Sheffield, England. The savages of Polynesia still use two pieces of flint of the same size, or pieces of shells or sharks' teeth ground to a fine edge for shaving.