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Swordfish (Xiphias velifer).

prepared for the market by the New England States annually. See ACANTHOPTERI.

Xiphisternum. Posterior end of the breast bone.
Xiphoid Whale. See ODONTOCETI.

Xiphosura. See PŒCILOPODA.

X-Rays. See ROENTGEN RAYS.

Xylem. Woody portion of a fibro-vascular bundle. Xylem-Plate. Portion of xylem included between two medullary rays.

Xylenes. C,H(CH,), Dimethylbenzenes; liquid hydrocarbons, known in three forms, all present in coal-tar, from which commercial xylene is prepared. Orthoxylene boils at 142° C., metaxylene at 137° C., and paraxylene at 137° C. They are used as solvents for rubber, and for making the xylidines. Xylenols. C,H,:,OH,(CH,),. Phenols derived from the xylenes; made by fusing the xylene sulphonic acids with caustic potash.

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Xylophone.

is of such dimensions as to sound with a known pitch. They are then arranged in a row, with the lowest notes at one end and the highest at the other. By striking the pieces in the proper order, melodies and other musical effects may be produced.

class Angiospermae and sub-class Monocotyledons, comprising Xyridaceæ. Natural family of flowering plants, of the 2 genera and 50 species, widely distributed throughout the warmer parts of the earth; called the Yellow-Eyed-Grass family.

Xysythrus, or XISUTHRUS. Name given by Berosus to the hero of the Deluge, in the Babylonian version of the story.

X. Y. Z. Correspondence. Name given to the dispatches of Marshall, Pinckney and Gerry, who were sent to France as commissioners 1797, which contained the insulting demands of Talleyrand and the other Directors. In the congressional copies X. Y. and Z. were substituted by President Adams for the names of Talleyrand's emissaries.

Y

Y, AXIS OF. Axis of ordinates in the bilinear systems; so called because measurements on or parallel to it are indicated by y's.

Yablonoi Mountains. Range of e. Siberia, offshoot from the great elevated region of central Asia, separating the basin of the Amoor from that of the Lena. Some peaks are 7,000 ft. high.

Yacht. Pleasure vessel, with more or less deck, with sail, steam, naphtha, electricity or other motive power, in size from the small sailboat up to the large steam-yacht 250 ft. in length. Of sailing boats the American Catboat is the simplest. It is a broad, shallow boat, with a centerboard, a single inast in the bow, with a large sail on a boom and gaff. The centerboard is made of wood or metal, pivoted at one end, and projects through the bottom of the boat on the center line, affording stiffness and retarding drift to the leeward; it was patented as a lee-board by Jacox Swain of N. J. 1811. The Sloop is of Dutch origin and usually has a centerboard. The Fin-keel has a fixed metallic fin attached to the keel. The Cutter is a keel boat, the name, however, applying to the rig; much used since 1885. These are all single-masted. Of two-masted vessels, the Yawl has sloop rig on the foremast and a triangular or sometimes a lug-sail on a smaller mast abaft the rudderhead. The Ketch has a higher mizzenmast than the yawl, set forward of the rudder-head, with a larger sail. The Topsail Ketch has a square sail on the mainmast. The Lugger has the sail on a yard, slung at the middle to the mast. The Sharpie has a flat bottom, a centerboard, triangular or leg-o'mutton sails. extended by a sprit across the masts. The CatYawl has a double-cat rig. The schooner rig is used on larger yachts, 60 ft. and upward in length.

Previous to the present century no time allowances were made in races of yachts of different sizes and area of sails. Subsequently, a modification of the Builders' Old Measurement tonnage was adopted, as the Thames rule, in Great Britain. This takes into consideration the length and breadth of the hull, the depth being considered to bear a fixed relation to the breadth. This led to the building of narrow, deep yachts with large keels of lead for stiffness and large sails, which competed equally with broader and shallower vessels and smaller sail areas, to the disadvantage of the latter. In 1880 it was proposed by Dixon Kamp to combine length of water-line with sail area in square feet in rating, and in 1887 the present rule was adopted as follows:

LXSA 6,000

=-R.

This gave greater latitude in the modeling of yachts. In U. S. the tonnage rule was not adopted, but various rules, involving displacement, sail area, deck length, etc., were in use from 1850. The yachts built were broad and shallow, with square ends. In 1882 the Seawanhaka-Corinthian Yacht Club of New York formulated a rule for rating yachts, based on water-line length and sail area, which was somewhat altered in 1883 and which has been adopted by American clubs. This is length of water-line plus squareL+ √SA-R. root of sail area, divided by 2, 2

The change of rating rules has modified the form of yachts; moderate beam has been supplemented by great depth. not of hull proper, but of a portion of the hull, which may be regarded as a fixed centerboard or a fin-keel. The application of the wave-line theory has modified the water-lines of the boats, and the plans are now first worked out on paper by professional designers.

Yachts are built of wood, iron, or steel; also composite, wood and iron. Those of wood are sometimes sheathed with sheet copper. The "Vigilant" had a steel frame with Tobinbronze plates. Previous to 1846 stone ballast was used; lead

was then introduced. In 1870 lead keels were used; that of the "Galatea" weighed 78 tons.

The dimensions of a few yachts are appended: 1820.-80 tons, 55 ft. water-line, 18 ft. beam, 10 ft. draught. 1847.-American centerboard sioop "Maria," 92 ft. water-line, 26 ft. beam, 5 ft. draught, 7,890 sq. ft. sail area, besides a topsail. 1851.-American keel schooner "America," 170 tons, 83 ft. water-line, 224 ft. beam, 11 ft. draught.

1873.- English yawl "Florinda," 125 tons, 85 ft. water-line, 19 ft. beam, 11 ft. draught, 54 tons ballast, 8 tons on keel. 1885.-English cutter "Galatea," 90 tons. 87 ft. water-line, 15 ft. beam, 13 ft. draught, 78 tons ballast on trough keel. 1891.-American cutter "Gloriana,” 45 ft. water-line, 13 ft. beam, 10 ft. draught, 4,000 sq. ft. sail area. 1893.-American centerboard, fin-keel type yacht "Vigilant," 87 ft. water-line, 127 ft. over all, 26 ft. beam, 14 ft. draught, steel frame, Tobin-bronze plates. 11.312 sq. ft. sail area. 1893.-English cutter "Valkyrie II.," 86.8 ft. water-line, 23 ft. beam, 17 ft. draught, composite build.

1895.-American cutter, fin-keel type, "Defender," 90 ft. water-line, 23 ft. beam, 19 ft. draught.

1895.-English cutter, fin-keel type, "Valkyrie III.," 90 ft. water-line, 26 ft. beam. 20 ft. draught.

See CUTTER, HALF-RATER, ICE-BOATING, SCHOONER, and SLOOP.

Yachting. Pleasure boats were used in early times. True yachting originated in the seventeenth century and became an established sport in the nineteenth century. Charles II. of England gave inuch attention to the sport, and the first recorded race was between this king and his brother, Duke of York, 1662. The first sailing club was the Cork Harbor Water Club founded 1720; the Yacht Club at Cowes, Isle of Wight, founded 1812, became the Royal Yacht Club 1817 and the Royal Yacht Squadron 1833. The first yacht club in U.S. was the New York Yacht Club, founded by John C. and Edwin Stevens 1844. In 1850 there were not more than five steam yachts afloat. In Lloyd's Yacht Register, 1891, there were recorded 6,179 vessels of all nations; Great Britain 2,428 sailing yachts, 59,795 tons, and 788 steam yachts, 78,000 tons; British colonies 253, mostly sailing, 7,193 tons; France 296 sailers, 6,358 tons, and 180 steamers, 10,020 tons; Germany and Austria 303 sailers, 3,070 tons, and 24 steamers, 2,825 tons; America 1,164 vessels In 1851 George Steers built the schooner yacht "America" for John C. Stevens, and five other members of the N.Y.Yacht Club. This yacht was a great advance both as to form and proportions of hull and flat set of sails. Aug. 22, 1851, this yacht won a race around the Isle of Wight, in a fleet of nine cutters and eight schooners, and won the Queen's Cup, offered by the Royal Yacht Squadron. In 1857 this cup was intrusted to the N. Y. Yacht Club for international conipetition. There have since been nine international contests for the America's Cup, the last in 1895 between the American boat "Defender" and the English boat "Valkyrie III.," both being keel cutters. The first race was won by the American boat, in the second the English boat was disqualified, and the third her owner refused to sail. The eight preceding contests were won by American yachts.

Yak (Bos, or PPHAGUS GRUNNIENS). Species of Bovida of the highlands of central Asia, size of a small ox, and having long horns that curve outward, then forward, and at the tips turn backward. It has a heavy fringe or mane of hair that nearly reaches the ground, growing on the shoulders and sides and including the bushy tail. The wild Yaks keep within the snow line and range to 20,000 ft. elevation. Curiously, they are black, but the domesticated varieties are of various colors,

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even white, or black with the mane white. They are useful for their milk and hair, and are trained for plowing and riding.

Yak (Bos grunniens).

Yakuts. Turkish tribes of the Lena valley of Siberia, numbering ab. 200,000. They have strong Mongolian features, and great powers of endurance, practice stock-raising, but are mainly nomadic hunters. They are nominally Christians, but polygamy prevails extensively.

Yakutsk. Capital of the province of Y. in e. Siberia, 1,800 m. n.e. of Irkutsk, on a left bank branch of the Lena, Khatystakh. It has a great fair from June 22 to Aug. 18 (new style) with returns amounting to ab. 24 million dollars. It was founded as a Cossack station 1632, and is now the center of the fish, tallow and fur trade of n. Siberia.

Yale, ELIHU, 1649-1721. Anglo-Indian merchant, b. in Mass.; benefactor 1715-21 of the college which took his name.

Yale, LINUS, 1821-1868. American inventor of combination locks.

Yale University. Chartered 1701 as the collegiate school of Conn.; in 1716 removed from Saybrook to New Haven; named Yale College 1718, taking the name of a liberal benefactor; rechartered 1745; title changed 1887. It is organized in four departments: Philosophy and Arts (including the scientific school). Theology, Medicine, and Law. The theological school was founded 1822; degrees in theology were first conferred 1867. The medical school, organized 1812. came under the complete control of the corporation 1884. The scientific school, begun 1847 as a school of chemistry, was endowed by J. E. Sheffield 1860, and received the income of Conn. "landgrant" college 1863-92. There are, 1897. 122 professors, 115 assistants, and 2,495 students, of whom 227 are graduates, 1,237

in the college proper, 553 in the scientific departments, 104 in divinity, 138 a in medicine, and 213 in law: the library contains 200,000 vols., with special collections aggregating 45,000 more. Women are admitted to the courses for the Ph.D. degree, and to the school of fine arts, founded 1864.

Yam (Dioscorea sativa):

a, a flower; b, root.

Yam. Vines of the genus Dioscorea, natural family Dioscoreaceae, natives of India, bearing large, starchy roots; much cultivated in tropical countries as food-plants. The N. American D. villosa has also a large root.

Yama. Hindu god of the dead, and king of the infernal regions.

Yamagata, ARITOMO. MARQUIS, b. 1838. Japanese general and reformer; Premier 1889-91, Minister of Justice 1891-93; Count 1894. Marquis 1895; prominent in the war of 1894-95.

Yamaji, MOTOHARU, b. ab.1840. Japanese general, active in the Satsuma rebellion 1877; in command at Port Arthur 1894; Viscount 1895.

Yamaska River. River of the province of Quebec, Canada, rising in Brome Lake and emptying into Lake St. Peter, an expansion of the St. Lawrence. Length 100 m.

Yana. River of Siberia, e. of the Lena, flowing ab. 1,000 m., mostly n., to the Arctic Ocean.

Yancey, WILLIAM LOWNDES, 1814-1863. M. C. from Ala.

1844-47; zealous promoter of secession; Commissioner to Europe 1861, Confederate Senator 1862.

Yangtse-Kiang. Largest river of China. It heads in the Niu Shan Mountains in n. Tibet. and after a very circuitous course of 3,200 m. flows into the Pacific. Drainage area ab. 690,000 sq. m.

Yankee. Inhabitant of New England; term now applied by Europeans to a resident of the U. S.

Yankee Doodle. English tune of uncertain origin, probably ab. 1750, popular in the U. S. since ab 1776; first printed in Samuel Arnold's Opera, Two to One, London. 1784. The words of the American song were written 1755 by Dr. Schuckburgh, a surgeon in the army of Gen. Amherst, in the French and Indian war. The etymology and history of the word Yankee are doubtful. See NATIONAL HYMNS.

Yantic River. Stream of Conn., affording large waterpower and uniting with the Shetucket at Norwich and forming the Thames.

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Yapura. See JAPURA.

Yard. British standard of length or Imperial yard was fixed by act of Parliament 1855. It was enacted "that the straight line, or distance between the centers of the transverse lines, in the two gold plugs in the bronze bar deposited in the office of the Exchequer shall be the genuine standard yard at 62° F., and if lost it shall be replaced by means of its copies." This length is equal, as nearly as possible, to that of the best standards formerly used in England. Authorized copies have been deposited at the Royal Mint, under the care of the Royal Society, at the Observatory at Greenwich, and at the New Palace at Westminster. Should all these copies ever become unavailable, the standard yard can be reproduced from the length of a seconds pendulum which has been accurately determined at a station near London to be 99.413 cm., equal to 39.139 in. The yard is subdivided into three feet, and the foot into twelve inches. The American standard yard is a copy of the British, and is preserved in the Coast Survey Office, Washington, D.C. Yard-Grass. See CRAB-GRASS.

Yards. Spars on which a vessel's sails are spread.

Yard's Off. Variety of Hide-and-Seek, in which the chaser stands at a certain spot where a stick is placed upon some support, and counts a certain number while the other players run off and conceal themselves. He then seeks them, and when he spies one calls out and runs to his yard. If he reaches it first, the player who has been discovered becomes a prisoner there; if the discovered one reaches it first, he throws it as far as he can and runs off again. The chaser must replace the stick or yard before he can resume his search for the others. At any time while he is searching, one of the hiders may rush in, and, reaching the yard, throw it, thus liberating all the prisoners who may have been caught. When all are discovered and made prisoners, the first one taken becomes the searcher.

Yarmouth. Town of Norfolk, Eng., on the Yare, near the North Sea; important from its herring fisheries. The estuary of the Yare, bordered on both sides by quays with a total length

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of 4 m., forms the harbor. It is one of the most frequented watering-places in Eng., having an excellent sandy beach and a handsome parade along the shore. Pop., 1891, 49,318.

Yarmuk. River of Syria; chief tributary of the Jordan, formed by the union of three head streams, one from the n. and two from the e. It enters the Jordan 4 m. below the Lake of Tiberias, and is the Hieromax of the ancient Greeks. Length 115 m.

YARN-YELLOW PIGMENTS

Yarn. Spun thread, used in the weaving of cloth of different kinds. It varies in the material and the fineness to which it is spun. In order that uniformity may be insured, a pound of the material is taken as the standard, and this is divided into hanks or cuts. A hank of wool or cotton consists of 840 yards. A hank of linen yarn consists of 300 yards; and if it takes 25 of these hanks to make 1 pound: the yarn is called 25s. Grège yarn is spun of wool and silk, and combines the greatest strength with the utmost fineness.

Yaroslav, or JAROSLAV. Old town of Russia, on the Volga, 173 m. n.e. of Moscow. It has manufactures of linen, cotton, and silk. Pop., 1891, 80,336.

Yarrell, WILLIAM, 1784-1856. English zoologist. Hist. British Fishes, 1835-36; Birds, 1839-43.

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World from 1874. Black Sheep, 1866; Recollections, 1884.

Yates, JOSEPH CHRISTOPHER, 1768-1837. Judge N. Y. Supreme Court 1808-22; Gov. 1823-25.

Yates, RICHARD, 1818-1873. M.C. 1851-55: Gov. of Ill. 186064; U. S. Senator 1865-71. From him came U. S. Grant's commission as Colonel.

Yates, ROBERT, 1738-1801. Judge N. Y. Supreme Court 1776; Chief-justice 1790-98; member U. S. Constitutional Convention 1787. His son, JOHN VAN NESS, 1779-1839, was N. Y. Sec. of State 1818-26, and pub. Cases Adjudged, 1811, and Pleadings and Precedents, 1837.

Yates, WILLIAM, D.D., 1792-1845. English Baptist, Missionary in India from 1815. Sanskrit Grammar, 1820, and Dictionary, 1846; Hindustani Dictionary, 1830.

Yavari. See JAVARY.

Yawl. Ship of war's boat, nearly of the same form as the pinnace, but smaller, and used to land men, etc. It is generally rowed with six oars.

Yawning. Modified respiratory movement which frequently accompanies a sensation of drowsiness. It consists of a deep inspiration drawn through a widely opened mouth, followed by a pronounced, often markedly audible, respiration.

Yaws. Contagious disease of the skin peculiar to the tropics. It is chronic in its nature, and characterized by dirty or bright red raspberry-like tubercles.

Yazoo Fraud. In 1795 Ga. sold some 35,000,000 acres to four companies for $200,000. The sale was soon nullified, and the lands ceded to the U. S. 1802; but purchasers brought suit, the U. S. Supreme Court decided in their favor 1810, and Congress voted $5,000,000 in 1814 to discharge these claims.

Yazoo River. In Miss., branch of the Mississippi, draining an extent of low, marshy, fertile land known as the Yazoo bottoms. Length 500 m., drainage area 13,936 sq. m., average flow 35,166 cu. ft. per sec.

Yeaman, GEORGE HELM, b. 1829. M.C. from Ky. 1862-65; U. S. Minister to Denmark 1865-70. Government, 1870. Yeamans, SIR JOHN, ab. 1605-ab.1676. Leader of emigrants from Barbadoes to Carolina; Gov. 1665-67 and 1672-74.

Year and a Day. Period fixed by common law for various purposes; e.g., one assaulted must die within such period, or the killing was not murder; the owner of a wreck or an estray must claim it within such period; execution on a judgment must issue within such time.

Year Books. Oldest English law reports, pub. annually. The first includes 1292-1307, in the reign of Edward I.

Yeardley, SIR GEORGE, ab.1580-1627. Gov. of Va. 1619-21 and 1626-27.

Year of Confusion. That preceding the adoption of the Julian Calendar, 45 B.C., when the beginning of the year was changed from March to January 1, making the year preceding 445 days in length.

Year of Release. In Israel, every seventh year, in which tillage was to be suspended and debts remitted. Only two are known to have been actually observed, 164-163 and 136-135 B.C. Yeast. Minute unicellular plants of the class Saccharomy

1687

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Bakers' and Brewers' Yeast (S. cerevisiae) A, Single cell, one
with two vacuoles; B, Chain of cells budding; C, Cell con-
taining spores.

sac averaging in. in diameter. They reproduce by buds, and under special conditions by endospores. There are 25 species. See BREAD, BEER, FERMENT, FERMENTATION, and WINE.

Yeast Powders. Mixtures of sodium bicarbonate with acid calcium phosphate, or with potassium bitartrate, or with burnt alum, in the form of powders, used as a substitute for yeast in leavening bread. They set free carbon dioxide. Yeates, JASPER, 1745-1817. Judge Pa. Supreme Court from 1791. Reports, 1817-19.

Yeats, WILLIAM BUTLER, b.1865. Irish poet and novelist. Secret Rose, 1897.

Yedo. See TOKIO.

Yekaterinburg. See EKATERINBURG.

Yelk. See YOLK.

Yell, ARCHIBALD. 1797-1847. M.C. from Ark. 1835-39 and 1845-46; Gov. 1840-44; Col. 1846; killed at Buena Vista.

Viva and ab. 100 m. from its mouth.
Yellata Falls. The last falls on the Congo, 25 m. above

Yellow-Cells, OF RADIOLARIA. Alga-like cells that apparently live parasitically or symbiotically (see SYMBIOSIS) in the outer layers of the protoplasm of Radiolarians.

Yellow Fever. Highly communicable fever of the subtropical regions, which formerly was occasionally epidemic further north in the late summer or early autumn. The poison of the disease is killed by frost. It is highly contagious, severe in its attack, and has a high mortality rate. It is dreaded in the Southern States, where it is frequently imported from the W. Indies or Central America. Sanitation can do much to prevent its spread, as has been demonstrated in several Southern cities where the introduction of a satisfactory sewage system and the employment of care in the prompt removal of garbage has prevented its spread in an epidemic form even when cases have been imported.

Yellow Fever Microbe. Prof. Giuseppe Sanarelli, an alumnus of the University of Siena, Italy, and Director of the Institute of Experimental Hygiene, Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1896 discovered the microbe of yellow fever, which he named Bacillus Icteroides. It has the form of a rod, with round ends, is .002-.004 mm. long and to this in diameter, and occurs in groups in the tissues and in pairs in cultures. It is an energetic poison and produces disease in most domestic animals excepting birds. It enters by every channel, even by respiration, and is found in the circulation and the tissues. effecting degeneration of the liver and uræmia. By repeated inoculation with the icteroid toxin, he has obtained serum, giving immunization, against experimental yellow fever, to animals. Injected into the thigh or forearm of man during the first period of yellow fever, it is fatal to the Bacillus Icteroides, but impotent against toxins produced by that microbe. Thus far it has been successful only in the early stages of the disease. The treatment is yet in the experimental stage.

Yellow Hammer (EMBERIZA CITRINELLA). Bunting found in Europe and w. Asia. It is fattened and eaten in Italy. The name is given to the flicker in the U. S.

Yellow Metal. See MUNTZ METAL.

Yellow Pigments. Yellow lakes, prepared from Persian

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berries and quercitron bark are fugitive colors. Gamboge, and Indian yellow, prepared in India from camels' urine, are used in water-color painting, but have a tendency to fade. Ochers, cadmium yellow (cadmium sulphide), lemon yellow (barium chromate), and Naples yellow (basic lead antimoniate), are all permanent. All can be used as water-colors except the last named.

Yellow Prussiate of Potash. See POTASSIUM FERROCYANIDE.

Yellow-Rattle. Yellow-flowered herbs of the genus Rhinanthus, natural family Scrophulariaceae, natives of cooler parts of n. temperate zone.

Yellow River. See HOANG-HO.

Yellow-Root, SHRUBBY. Xanthorhiza apiifolia. Low shrub of the natural family Ranunculaceae, with pinnate leaves and a deep yellow root. native of e. and s.e. U. S.

Yellows. Disease of peach trees, communicable from tree to tree. by what means is not known. The foliage is yellowish green, the fruit is spotted red, the new shoots are stiff-leaved, and bunched growths appear on the larger branches. The tree dies in 3 to 6 years. The cause is not known and there is no

cure. Some States require the diseased trees to be destroyed. Arm of the Pacific, between China and

Yellow Sea.

Corea.

Yellowstone Lake. In the National Park; on the Yellowstone, near its head. Elevation 7,741 ft., area 130 sq. m. Yellowstone National Park. Reservation in n.w. Wyo., which has been set apart from settlement by the U. S. government. Its area is 3,312 sq. m. It is a volcanic region, the

fires of which have not vet been entirely extinguished. It contains the most extensive collection of hot springs (ab. 3,000) and geysers (71) in the known world. Its surface consists mainly of an elevated plateau ab.8,000 ft. above sea level. Along its e. border extends a rugged range of mountains, whose highest peaks exceed 11,000 ft. In the n.w. another range enters the Park, and within its area are two groups of mountains 9,000 to 10,000 ft. in height. Nine-tenths of its area is covered with forests. Within it heads the Snake, which flows to the Columbia, and the Madison, Gallatin, and Yellowstone, which flow to the Missouri. Many of its streams have cut gorges in the volcanic plateau, the greatest of which is that of the

Yellowstone, which has a depth of from 600 to 1,200 ft. and a length of 24 m. As hunting is prohibited in this area, it is rapidly becoming stocked with buffalo, elk, antelope, deer, and other wild game. It was first thoroughly explored 1870, and set apart by Congress as a public pleasure-ground 1872. It has several hotels connected by good roads.

Yellowstone River. Right-hand branch of the Missouri. It heads in n. w. Wyo., flows n. into Mont., then e. and n.e. to the border of N. D. Length ab.1,300 m., drainage area 71.747 sq. m. It is navigable for small vessels at high water to Livingston, Mont.

Yellow-Wood. Cladrastis lutea. Large white-flowered tree of the natural family Leguminosae, with pinnate leaves and yellow wood, native of the s.e. U. S.

Yemen. S. w. province of Arabia, on the Red Sea. ab. 75,000 sq. m.

Area

Yenesei. River of Siberia. It heads in the mountains bordering n. Mongolia, and flows n. ab. 3,200 m. to the Arctic Ocean. Drainage area 1,041,000 sq. m.

Yenesei, GULF OF. Inlet from the Arctic Ocean, in n.w. Siberia.

Yenikale, STRAITS OF. Body of water connecting the Sea of Azov (q.v.) with the Black Sea. The s. part is called Strait of Kertch. Length 19 m., width 3 m.

Yeo, SIR JAMES LUCAS, R.N., 1782-1819. Captain 1809; active on Lake Ontario 1813-15.

Yeoman. Small farmer in England during the Mediæval and early modern period, holding land from the lord of the manor in fee simple, on lease at a money rent, or by copyhold, i.e., at a customary rent with security of tenure.

Yeomanry. British volunteer force, formed 1797 as infantry, but cavalry since 1815; liable for home duty. They number ab. 12,000.

Yeomen of the Guard. Company of British veterans, formed 1485 as a bodyguard for the king or queen.

Yerkes Observatory. At Lake Geneva, Wis.: dedicated 1897 by C. T. Yerkes for Univ. Chicago. It possesses the largest refracting telescope in the world; object-glass 40 in. aperture, tube 624 ft. long, focal distance 61 ft., cost of lens $100,000, cost of the whole $500,000.

Yesdigerd III., 617-651. Persian king 632. He was the last of the Sassanidæ. He warred with the Mussulmans, and was defeated at Cadesiah 636, and at Nehavend 641. Yesso. See YEZO.

Yew. Taxus baccata. Evergreen shrub or tree of the Pine family, bearing red berry-like cones; native of the n. hemisphere. The east American yew is a low straggling bush, commonly called Ground Hemlock.

Yezd. Town of Persia 165 m. e.s.e. of Ispahan, situated in an oasis of mulberries in a sandy plain between two ranges of heights. The snow water from these hills is collected in underground reservoirs and used for irrigation. It is the center of the Persian silk industry, and contains nearly all of the 9,000 or so adherents of Zoroastrianism. Pop., 1870, 1,000,000. Yezidis. Kurdish tribe near the Tigris, numbering some 200,000; worshipers of Satan, whom they regard as once chief in the creation, and to be hereafter restored.

Yezo, or YESSO. Second in size of the islands of Japan, lying n. of Nippon. Its surface is mountainous, and in the interior imperfectly known. Area ab. 30,000 sq. m.; pop., 1894, 339,445, including the remnant of the Ainos.

Yggdrasil. Ash-tree under which the Norse gods meet in council. Its three roots reach to Asgard, Niflheim, and the realm of Hela; beneath them springs up Mimir's Well, the well of wisdom.

Y Level, or WYE-LEVEL. Leveling instrument in which the telescope with its attached bubble rests in Y bearings, out

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Y Level.

of which it can be lifted and reversed. The telescope can be rotated at pleasure. It has been superseded to a certain extent by the DUMPY-LEVEL (q.v.).

Yoga Philosophy. See YOGI.

Yogi. Hindu ascetic who practices the Yoga philosophy, one of the six orthodox systems of India. Such persons are believed to acquire supernatural powers and knowledge which leads to salvation. They live a mendicant life, professing absolute indifference to the world of sense, and devoted to contemplation.

Yokohama. Seaport of Japan, on the e. coast of Nippon; of recent development; headquarters of foreign commerce. Pop. ab. 165,000.

Yolk, or YELK. Food material stored up in the form of granules in egg cells, to feed the cells of the developing embryo. Hence the size of the egg is in relation to the amount of yolk, and this is in proportion to the complexity and size of the embryo at the time of hatching. The yolk itself is transformed chromatin granules, derived either from the egg nucleus or the nuclei of follicle cells. It is simply formed or plastic

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