Oyster-Catcher
a shore bird, a sort of surf-plover. It is from seventeen to twenty-one inches long and has a long, stout, crab-red bill, compressed toward the end into the form of a knife blade. It stalks in a dignified manner along the shore on the outlook for clams and oysters with their shells partly open. Before the shell can close it thrusts its bill in and twists the valves apart. If unable to do this, it hammers the clinging shell to fragments on a stone. The bird has webbed toes and half flies, half wades along shallow water, hunting shrimps and limpets. The latter are pried from the rocks with ease. This bird nests in the hot sand. It is worthless as a game bird. There are ten species of oyster-catchers, represented in most of the warmer parts of the globe. Only three species are found on the coasts of North America .
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Oyster-shells
The carbonate of lime being the prevalent component of the oyster-shell, it has on that account been substituted for limestone as a flux in the cupola at many foundries. But shells are not as effective for this purpose as good limestone, owing to the adhering impurities, which invariably contain some phosphorus. See SHELLS; LIMESTONE FLUX; FLUX; PHOSPHORUS.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Ozark Mountains
a chain of the United States, intersecting in a S. W. direction the States of Missouri and Arkansas; height about 1,400 feet. OZOKERITE. Mineral wax; fossil wax. A naturally occurring, wax-like hydrocarbon mixture, brownish to black or green in color. Specific gravity 0.85 to 0.97. Melting point 55-110° C. Insoluble in water, but soluble in all common solvents of fats and oils. Found in veins in Galicia, Utah, Wyoming, in the Caucasus and in other parts. Its formation is believed to have been brought about by the oxidation and decomposition of the hydrocarbons of naphtha. Ozokerite is purified by treatand filtration through charcoal, and yields, by this treatment, a white waxy substance known as cerasin, used in the manufacture of candles. The chief uses of ozokerite are in electric insulation, the manufacture of paints, leather polish, sealing wax and ink, as a filling for rubber and in the preparation of carbon papers.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Ozone
in chemistry, a modification of oxygen existing as a triatomic molecule. It is nearly always present in the atmosphere, apparently as the result of electrical action, and is formed by passing electric sparks into dry air. It ment with concentrated sulphuric acid possesses a peculiar, almost metallic, odor, and seems to have all the properties of oxygen, in an enhanced degree, P, p, the 16th letter and the 12th consonant of the English alphabet is a labial sound, formed by a compression of the anterior part of the lips, as in pull, papa, ap. As a sharp labial it is classed with f, and corresponds to the flat labial b. Phas but one sound in English, except when in combination with h it forms the digraph ph, which is sounded as f, and occurs in words derived from the Greek. In the case of many words derived from the Greek, initial p is not sounded, as in pneumatics, psalm, psalter, pterodactyl. It is sometimes, but rarely, silent in the midof a dle word, as in receipt. Prepresents the Latin post = after; as p. m.= post meridiem = after noon; p. s. postscript, etc.; in music for piano = softly. As a symbol, P was formerly used: numerals: To denote 400 In , and with a dash over it, to denote 400,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia