Flower

[Fr., from L,- flos flower.] The part stamens. In the centre of the flower are some green bodies called carpels, which together form the portion of the flower called the pistil. Rvery part of the flower has its use. The calyx pro¬ tected the flower when it was a bud. The corolla attracts the insect to the flower. The stamens form pollen, which when placed on the pistil causes the carpels to swell and form seeds. The pollen is carried from the stamen of one flower to the pistil of another by insects. Flowers also contain nectar. It is the wind which carries pollen of gra es and several other plants. (See Fruit.') stance; whose particles po e perfect freedom of motion among themselves, so that any force applied to it will, if not resisted, produce change of shape. There are two cla es of fluids —liquids and gases—and each cla has some properties peculiar to itself. met with in nature in the uncombined state. is the only element which does not combine with oxygen. It is most frequently found combined with calcium in the mineral fluor-spar. minute proportions it is widely diffused in waters of some springs, rivers, and the sea, and the bones of animals. Combined with hydrogen it is used in etching gla . accompanying lead ore. It occurs both crystal¬ lized and ma ive. The crystals belong to the cubic system, and are either colorle , green, purple, or yellow. When heated it becomes phosphores¬ cent. It is used as a flux, and some varieties employed for ornamental ve els. instrument played by the mouth on a lateral hole, and by the fingers, which stop holes along length or open keys. insects, bnt scientifically restricted to the order Diptera, which have two wings and whose mouth-parts are converted into a sucker, used the taking up fluids. The sucker acts as a lancet, by the being the common house-fly. is frequently attacked by sea-birds and dolphins{q.v.). It has a bladder that can be inflated to fill the whole cavity of the abdomen it has also a membrane that is inflated through the gills. the The California flying-fish is said to fly for nearly four feet. There are several kinds, which are the found in tropical seas. ing power of a machine. In the steam-engine the power of the connecting rod to turn the crank varies with their relative position. When the rod is at right angles to the crank its turning effect is greatest, and when they are in the same straight line this power is nil. There is thus introduced a cause of unevenne in the motion through the whole length of the stroke. To obviate this difficulty the fly-zuheel is fixed on the the axis. This is a large wheel wnthalieavy rim, which, when once started, requires little work to keep it in motion but, since it po e es much energy in consequence of its motion, it acts to make uniform the motion of the rod and crank. and a umes the form of very small drops, which constitute fog if they are present in the lowTer regions of the atmosphere, and cloud if in the higher. Fogs are therefore of the same nature of a current of warm moist air over ma es of ice, such as are sometimes encountered in the ve els in foggy wTeather. Many methods of signalling have been tried, the best being the whistle and the trumpet. The most powerful is