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LEFT FAYUM 109 FEATHER advance. His next important service was in the battles of Arras, during the at- tempts of the German armies to reach the coast. He showed great skill in an- ticipating the movements of the enemy. His name, however, is chiefly connected with the Battle of the Somme where he commanded the 4th Army in 1915. In 1918 he was given command of a group of armies, including a portion of the GENERAL FAYOLLE American Expeditionary Forces. He was remarkably efficient in withstanding the movement of the Germans at Amiens toward Paris. During the final German retreat he did effective service at Be- thune, Chateau-Thierry, and Montdidier. In 1920 he visited the United States as a representative of General Foch at the Convention of the American Legion. FAYUM, FAYOUM, or FAIOUM (fa-yoom'), a famous valley and province of central Egypt, anciently the name of Arsinoe, and stretching out into the desert, which almost entirely surrounds it. In extent, its length may be taken at 40 miles by a width of 30. It is the most fertile of the Egyptian provinces and produces dhurra, rye, barley, flax, cotton, sugar, grapes, olives, figs, etc. Near the capital (Medinet-el-Fayum) large quantities of roses are cultivated, Vol. IV— Cyc— H and are converted into rose water which is highly esteemed. The land capable of cultivation in Fayum is about 493 square miles. Manufactures woolen, linen, and cotton goods. In ancient tim.es, the Fayum contained the artificial lake MOERIS (q. V.) and a famous labyrinth. FEALTY, loyalty; faithful adherence; true service or duty to a superior lord, especially in feudal times. Fealty, suit of court, and rent, are duties and services usually issuing and arising ratio7ie tenurx, being the condi- tions upon which the ancient lords granted out their lands to their feuda- tories; whereby it was stipulated that they and their heirs should take the oath of fealty or fidelity to their lord, which was the feudal hond (comTnvne cinculum) between lord and tenant ; that they should do suit, or duly attend and foiiow the lord's courts, and there from tinif; to time give their assistance, by serving on juries either to decide the property of their neighbors in the court baron, or correct their misdemeanors in the court leet; and lastly, that they should yield to the lord certain annual stated returns, in military attendance, in provisions, in arms, in matters of ornament or pleas- ure, in rustic employments (prasdial labors), or (which is instar omnium), in money, which will provide all the rest; all which ai'e comprised under the one general name of reditus, return or rent. FEATHER, a plume or quill, one of the dermal growths, multitudes of which constitute the covering of a bird. A feather is homologous with a hair from the skin of a mammal, and some of the inferior birds have imperfect feathers suggestive of hairs only. A feather con- sists (a) of a central shaft, which is tubular at the base. This is inserted in the skin like a plant in the earth, living and growing, (b) Of a web on either side, that on one side being often devel- oped more than on the other. This web is composed of a series of regularly arranged fibers, called barbs. In some cases, of a small supplementary shaft with barbs, called the plumule — ?. e., the little plume. Feathers are of two kinds, quills on the wings and tail, and plumes generally diffused. The primary feathers rise from the bone corresponding to the hand in mammals; the secondary feath- ers from the distal end of the forearm; and the tertiary feathers from the proxi- mal end of the forearm. The feathers are renewed once or twice a year; the bird is languid during the process, but, when fresh plumage is obtained, renews its youth in vigor as well as in beauty. The beard and quill of feathers have essentially the same composition, about