Each of these 13 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.
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-
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
John (1628-1705), an English botanist. A graduate and fellow of Cambridge. He established the ascent of sap, and divided plants into flowering and non-flowering; the flowering plants he divided into one-leafed or two-leafed plants; this was the beginning of a right system of plant classification. See Linnaeus ; Jussieu
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
in Turkey, a person not a Mohammedan, who pays the capitation tax, called the haratch.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
JOHN STRUTT, 3rd , BARON an English scientist; born in Essex, England , Nov. 12, 1842; was graduated, as senior wrangler, at Cambridge, in 1865; succeeded to the title of baron in 1873; in 1884 was president of the British Association; successor to Professor Tyndall as Professor of Natural Philosophy , in the Royal Institution, London, in 1887; Professor of Experimental Physics in the University of Cambridge (1879-1884 ). Columbia College, New York, bestowed on him the Barnard medal for "meritorious service to science " since he shares with Ramsay the merit of discovering the element ARGON (q. v.). He published scientific papers of great value; also "The Theory of Sound " (1877-1878). Awarded Nobel prize for physics (1904); Lord Chancellor of Cambridge , 1908. He died in 1919.
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GUILLAUME FRANÇOIS, known as the ABBE RAYNAL, THOMAS a French historian and political writer; born in St. Geniez, France, April 12, 1713. He acquired a European reputation by his "Philosophical History of the 'Two Indies." He died in Paris, March 6, 1796.
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FRANÇOIS JUSTE MARIE, a French poet and philologist; born in Brignolles, Provence, France, Sept. 18, 1761. He studied at Aix, and became a prosperous advocate, and in 1791 was sent to the Legislative Assembly, where he joined the Girondins. Flung into prison, he was fortunately forgotten till the fall of Robespierre brought release. His poems and tragedies were successful, and in 1807 he was elected to the Academy, of which he became perpetual secretary in 1817. A member of the imperial legislative body from 1806, he continued to produce dramas, but toward the fall of the empire turned his attention to linguistic and particularly Provençal studies. Raynouard died in Passy, near Paris, Oct. 27, 1836.
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a species of fish with a compressed body, much prized for the table. It is the Coryphæna novacula.
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a genus of lamellibranchiate mollusca, forming the type of the family Solenidæ. They are common on both sides of the Atlantic; the shells are sub-cylindrical in shape; the hingeteeth number two on each valve; and the ligament for opening the shells is long and external in position. The mantle is open in front, to give exit to the powerful muscular "foot," used by these mollusks for burrowing swiftly into the sandy coasts which they inhabit. These curious mollusks always live buried in the sand in an upright position, leaving only an opening shaped like a keyhole, which corresponds with the two siphon tubes. They are generally found at a depth of one or two feet, and when they make their burrows, as they are often in the habit of doing, among the rocks, not even the hooked iron can draw them from their retreat. The familiar species are the Solen siliqua, S. ensis, S. vagina, S. marginatus, and S. pellucidus. RÉ, ÎLE DE, a small, low-lying island off the coast of the French department of Charente-Inférieure, opposite the city of La Rochelle, from which it is separated by the Pertuis Breton. It is about 18 miles long and 3 broad, measures 28 square miles, and its inhabitants are chiefly engaged in the preparation of salt. Oyster farming has of late become an important branch of industry. Wine is made and exported. Pop. about 15,000.
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one of the largest species of the whale tribe, the Balænoptera or Rorqualus borealis, the great rorqual (see RORQUAL). Also a name given to a kind of hog, especially in the S. part of the United States.
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in ornithology, the Alca torda, the sole species of the genus Alca impennis, the great auk, being extinct. It is about a foot and a half long, plumage of head, neck, and upper surface brilliant black, under surface pure white. They make no nest, but lay a single white or yellowish egg blotched and streaked with dark-brown, on the bare rock. Called also the black-billed auk and murre.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
in law, the resuming or retaking the possession of lands lately lost. A proviso for re-entry is a clause usually inserted in leases, that upon nonpayment of rent, etc., the term shall cease.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
GEORGE BRONSON, an American electrical engineer; born in Brooklyn, N. Y., Aug. 28, 1869. He practiced his profession in Cuba till the beginning of the revolution; accompanied the insurgent forces of Gomez and Maceo as special correspondent of the "New York Herald"; was present at 80 engagements between Cubans and Spaniards, and was wounded in the action at La Portela. He was present at the bombardment of San Juan, Porto Rico, and in the operation before Santiago. In the early part of the Porto Rico campaign he traveled through the island as an agent in the secret service of the United States Government. He is the author of "Facts and Fancies about Cuba."
SAMUEL, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad; born at Hollidaysburg, Pa., in 1855. At an early age he entered the engineering department of the Pennsylvania railroad. Some years later he directed the work of constructing the tunnels for the Baltimore and Ohio under the city of Baltimore. In 1892 he became assistant to the president of the Pennsylvania, and in 1899 his first assistant. Appointed in that year fourth vice-president of the road he rose continually until in 1913 he was chosen president. Perhaps his greatest engineering exploit was the construction of the tunnels under the Hudson and East rivers.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
in chemistry, the chemical change or effect produced by bringing at least two elements or compounds together whereby one or more new bodies are formed, which may consist either of a gas, liquid, or solid, or a mixture of these; as when sulphuric acid is added to chalk, the products of the reaction are sulphate of lime, water, and carbonic acid gas. In pathology, action of one kind in antagonism with action of another; action immediately following on action of a directly contrary character; or a state succeeding to a directly contrary one, as the exhaustion consequent on a paroxysm of fever. In physics, the action of one body on another one acting on it in the opposite direction. Reaction period, in physiology, the time that elapses between the application of a stimulus to the nerves, and the contraction of the muscles, following it in consequence. Roughly speaking, it is for feeling one-seventh, for hearing one-sixth, and for sight onefifth of a second.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia