FMantain

[Sp. plant a no.'] A plant or tree and its fruit, of the genus Musa, found in the countries OF COMMON THINGS 117 the torrid zone. The plantain attains a height from 15 to 20 feet, with leaves often more 6 feet long and nearly 2 feet broad. Its is extensively used as food. (See Banana.) [R. emplastrum, with ein dropped.] A of lime, sand, and water, employed in the interior and exterior faces of Plaster of Paris, sulphate of lime—a extensively employed in making casts of A fine kind of gla (q. v.), cast in used for looking-gla es, etc. [Span., from plat a, silver.] A com¬ paratively rare metal, found only in the native commonly in grains, scales, or nuggets, generally alloyed with five other metals— namely, palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium, and ruthenium. It is obtained chiefly from the Ural Mountains, and in smaller quantities in brazil, California, Ceylon, and Borneo. Platinum po e es a dull white color, and does not tarnish under any circumstances in the air. It is heavier than gold, as soft as copper, and may be hammered into thin plates and drawn out into fine wire. It is very infusible, and can only be melted by the heat of the oxy-hydrogen blow¬ pipe. It is used for electrical and chemical apparatus, and since the introduction of platinotype proce es in photography the metal has very much increased in price. [Fr., the rain-bird from R. pluvia,; rain.] A genus of wading birds, which are found in every quarter of the globe. Many of them are birds of pa age, and Ihey are prized as game birds. Among the more important species are the black-breasted plover and the golden plover of Europe and America, the ringed plover, Wil¬ son’s plover, the stilt plover, and the lapwing. (See Lapwing.) [AS., from R. primus.] The name given to a tree or shrub and its fruit. It belongs to the genus Prunus, of which there are several species. From 200 to 300 varieties of plums are derived from the Prunus domestic a species. Among the best known are the green gage, the Orleans, the damson, the purple gage, and the German Plums are much used for de ert, and are made into preserves and prunes. [R. plumbum, lead.] A little weight of lead attached to a line, and used by builders, etc., to indicate a vertical direction. Plumb-line, the cord by which a plumb-bob is suspended. [R. plumbum, lead.] Native carbon in hexagonal crystals, of black color and metallic lustre, and so soft as to leave a trace on paper. It is used for pencils, for crucibles, and as a lubri¬ cat or. A piece of lead attached to a line, used in sounding the depth of water. Plummet¬ line, a line with a plummet. [Fr., from R. pilus, hair.] A kind of cloth with a nap or shag on one side, longer and softer than the nap of velvet. A breed of hunting dogs which, when they scent game, stop and stand motionle until 693