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LEFT CLOUD, ST. 26 CLOVIS I. cloud of loose or fibrous structure, feathery in appearance and of great va- riety — said to have been seen at an alti- tude of 10 miles. Its particles are sup- posed to be frozen and crystallized, which give rise to halos, coronae, and other op- tical appearances. Cirrus is said to be often the precursor of windy weather or changes. Their movement is generally different from that of the lower clouds. Cumulo-stratus — A modification of cumu- lus; flat-topped, mushroom-shaped mass- es; have a tendency to spread and over- cast the sky, and indicate coming rainy weather. Cirro-stratus — A fibrous cirrus cloud in close horizontal arrangement. Sky mottled with these clouds is known as mackerel sky. Often precedes wind and rain. Cirro-cumulus — Small, round masses, disposed with more or less regu- larity; usually a high level cloud, though below that of cirrus. They appear most frequently in dry and warm weather. Nivibus — A low cloud, from which rain is falling, the masses so blended together as to form no definite outline. Sciid — A term referring to low, detached clouds, drifting rapidly before the wind. Precipitation, or rain, is one of the most irregular of all meteorological phe- nomena, there being places of habitual dryness throughout the year with but oc- casional sprinklings. Tropical countries generally have a dry and a wet season, and there are other localities where rain may fall irregularly at all seasons. There are places where the annual rain-fall amounts to several hundred inches. Fifty inches per annum may be regarded as a moderate rain-fall, and below 20 inches a very light one, and generally insuffi- cient for agricultural purposes unless it should fall in the right season. The study of clouds and their move- ments has, in recent years, been greatly extended through international agree- ments and co-operation. The development of aeronautics has greatly advanced our knowledge regarding clouds and, on the other hand, has made more accurate and extensive knowledge regarding them a matter of practical necessity rather than theoretical interest. CLOUD, ST., a town of France, in the department of Seine-et-Oise, a few miles from and S. W. of Paris. The his- torical associations of this place are in- timately connected with the royalty of France. Its palace, which is very beauti- ful, was originally the property of the Dukes of Orleans, and, for a long period, was a summer residence of the kings of France. Its fountains are extremely ele- gant, and its park extensive. Here, in 1799, Napoleon I. dismissed the Assem- bly of Five Hundred, and caused himself to be proclaimed first consul; and here, in 1830, Charles X. put his signature to the ordinances which cost him his throne. CLOUGH, ABTHUE, HUGH (klof), an English poet; born in Liverpool, Jan. 1, 1819. He studied under Dr. Arnold at Rugby, and then at Oxford, where he highly distinguished himself. On his re- turn from a tour in the United States (1852) he was appointed an examiner at- tached to the educational branch of the privy-council office. He died in Florence, Nov. 13, 1861, while returning from a journey to Greece. His poems, of which the best known are "Bothie of Tober-na- Vuolich," "Amours de Voyage," and the "Tragedy of Dipsychus," were published, with a memoir, by F. T. Palgrave, in 1862. CLOVES, a very pungent aromatic spice, the dried flower-buds of Cary- ophylhis aromaticus, a native of the Mo- lucca Islands, belonging to the myrtle tribe, now cultivated in Sumatra, Mauri- tius, Malacca, Jamaica, etc. The tree is a handsome evergreen from 15 to 30 feet high, with large elliptic smooth leaves and numerous purplish flowers on jointed stalks. Every part of the plant abounds in the volatile oil for which the flower- buds are prized. The spice yields a very fragrant odor, and has a bitterish, pun- gent, and warm taste. It is sometimes employed as a hot and stimulating medi- cine, but is more frequently used in culinary preparations. CLOVIS I., King of the Franks, usually called the founder of the French mon- archy; born in 466. He was the son of Childeric I., and succeeded him in 481. During his reign he recovered from the Romans all their possessions in Gaul. He defeated Siagrius, near Soissons, in 486, compelled Alaric, King of the Visigoths, to surrender himself, and had him put to death. Clovis I. married Clotilda (q, v.), niece of Gundebald, King of the Burgundians, and through her influence was gradually led to renounce paganism, and profess Christianity. His final de- cision was made after his great victory over the Alemanni, at Tolbiac, in 496; and he was baptized by St. Remi, with 3,000 of his subjects. Clovis I. pursued a crafty policy with the King of the Burgundians and his brother, on the principle "divide and conquer." In 507 he made war on Alaric II., King of the Visigoths, and totally defeated him at the battle of Vougle, killing him with his own hand. Clovis I. thus added the whole S. W. part of Gaul to his domin- ions. At Tours he soon afterward re- ceived ambassadors from Anastasius, Emperor of the East, who gave him the