More than one of these 7 encyclopedias carries each of the following subjects — but every one of them treats it in a sentence or two and then moves on. They are gathered here so the different accounts can sit side by side.
Secretary Bird
Aiton's Encyclopedia: an African bird of prey, otherwise known as the serpent-eater or crane-vulture. Its common name is derived from the appearance of its crest, which, when the bird is not excited, lies smoothly on the head, not unlike an old-fashioned quill carried above the writer's ear. The secretary bird is about four feet in length, and is of an ashy gray color with black portions of plumage. It has a large capacity for serpents, being able to eat several snakes two or three feet long. It attacks by dealing blows with its wing as the serpent endeavors to strike. This useful bird is often kept by the Dutch colonists in South Africa to protect the premises from snakes and other vermin.
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the Serpentarius secretarius, from South Africa, a bird protected by the native and English authorities for the service it renders in destroying venomous serpents, which it kills SECRETARY BIRD by blows from its powerful feet and bill. The secretary bird stands about four feet high; upper surface grayish-blue, shaded with reddish-brown on wing coverts; throat white, thighs black, tail feathers very long, black at base paling into gray, tipped with white; two long central feathers bluish-gray tipped with black and white. Crest of 10 feathers black or gray tipped with black. From the fancied resemblance of this crest to a pen behind a clerk's ear, the bird derived its specific Latin and popular English name.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Selim
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the name of three emperors of the Turks. SELIM I., son of Bajazet II.; born 1467; dethroned his father and killed his two brothers, 1512; defeated the Shah of Persia 1514; conquered Syria and Egypt 1516-1517; died 1520. SELIM II., succeeded his father, Soliman II., in 1566; took Cyprus from the Venetians the Spaniards in 1570, and Tunis from 1571. In the same year he lost the great 1574. SEnaval battle of Lepanto; died LIM III., son of Mustapha III.; born 1761, , 1789. succeeded his uncle, Abdul-hamed He was ambitious to become a reformer, in but the ill fortune of the Turks the and Austria, and the wars with Russia in numerous rebellions and insurrections the empire, long prevented his attempting the task. War with France fol- , but it lowed, and Egypt was conquered the English and restored was recovered by to Selim. In 1800 he became protector to the Ionian Islands. The organization and discipline of the army, the constitution of the divan, and the system of taxation were the matters which he sought to regulate. War with Russia again broke out in 1806, the new army organization, Nizam Jedid, excited immense dissatisfaction, and in May, 1807, the Selim was de- Janizaries revolted, and posed, imprisoned, and in the following year strangled in Constantinople, July 28, 1808.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: the name of three Turkish sultans. SELIM I (1465-1520) dethroned his father and massacred 40,000 members of a rival Mohammedan sect.
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Selkirk
Collier's New Encyclopedia: ALEXANDER, a Scotch adventurer; born in Largo, Scotland, in 1676. He was a skilful seaman, and made several voyages to the South Sea, in one of which, having quarreled with his commander, he was put ashore on the island of Juan Fernandez, with a few necessaries, a fowling-piece, gunpowder, and shot. Here he lived alone during four years and four months, and was then rescued by Captain Woodes Rogers. During the time of his remaining on the island he had nearly forgotten his native language. He returned to England in 1711, and is said to have given his papers to Defoe, who took from them his story of "Robinson Crusoe." He died on the are Dallas Academy, Alabama Methodist ship "Weymouth," in 1723.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a county in the south of Scotland. It contains the vales of Ettrick and Yarrow, celebrated in song and romance. The name has been conferred on a lofty, snow-capped range of the Rocky Mountains in western Canada.
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Semaphore
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a kind of telegraph or apparatus for conveying information by visible signs, such as oscillating arms or flags by daylight, and by the disposition of lanterns by night. The various combinations may serve to indicate the numbers corresponding to certain expressions in a tabulated code, or may be employed to represent the letters of the alphabet. A simple form is used on railroads.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Block System
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Semele
Collier's New Encyclopedia: in classical mythology, a daughter of Cadmus by Hermione. She was beloved by Jupiter; but Juno, determining to punish her rival, visited the house of Semele in the guise of her nurse, and persuaded her to entreat her lover to come to her with the same majesty as he approached Juno. Jupiter had sworn by by the Styx to grant Semele whatever she required; he therefore came attended by the clouds, the lightning, and thunder-bolts. Semele, unable to endure so much majesty, was instantly consumed by fire. Her child was, however, saved from the flames by Mercury. This child was called Bacchus, or Dionysius.
1000 Classical Characters: A daughter of Cadmus , and Hermione , the daughter of Mars and Venus . She was the mother of Bacchus . After death she was made immortal under the name of Thyone. 2026 Editor's Note: Semele was the youngest daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, not Hermione. This genealogical error affects the accuracy of her mythological identity. She was the mother of Dionysus (Bacchus in Roman tradition) by Zeus. After death she was made immortal under the name of Thyone, which the entry correctly preserves. (Ed: BR 2026-06-26)
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Seoul
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the capital of Korea; about 3 miles N. of the Han river, 75 miles from its entrance into the Yellow Sea, and about 20 miles from its port Chemulpo, with which it has been connected by rail since July, 1900. It lies in a natural basin, among granite hill ranges, and is surrounded with walls. The streets are very narrow and very dirty, and the houses beggarly in the extreme. The city includes several wide, desolate squares. The royal palace and its adjuncts cover 600 acres of ground. Silk, paper, tobacco, mats, fans, and similar commodities are the principal products of native industry. There are schools for the teaching of Japanese, French, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and English, and an American Mission School, which is subsidized. There are also an electric light plant, an electric street railway, railways to Fusan and Wiju, and telegraph. Pop. including extensive suburbs, about 303,000.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: the capital city of Korea. Population, about 200,000. There are three Korean dailies. The officials are Japanese. There are enough British and American residents to support an English school and an English daily paper. The chief exports are rice, beans, cotton, ginseng, cow hides, and gold. . See Korea
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia