Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 10.djvu/252

LEFT VICUNA 214 VIELE margin circular, its diameter from 6 to 12 feet, the edge so turned up as to make the leaves floating in tranquil water look like a number of large trays. The leaves are green above, and cov- ered with small bosses, below they are deep purple or violet; the undeveloped flowers are pyriform, the sepals four, each about seven inches long by four broad, purple externally, whitish inter- nally; the petals numerous, in several rows, passing insensibly into stamens, fragrant, the outer ones white, the VICTORIA REGIA inner ones roseate; stamens numerous, the outer fertile, the inner sterile; ovary many celled, cup-shaped above, with many small stigmas along its upper margin; fruit a prickly berry. A na- tive of South American rivers, especi- ally the tributaries of the Amazon. The seeds are said to be eatable, and the plant is in consequence called water maize by the natives of the region where it grows. VICUNA, in zoology, the auchenia vicugna, a native of the most elevated localities of Bolivia and northern Chile. It is very wild, and has resisted all at- tempts to reduce it to a state of domes- tication. It is the smallest species of the genus, standing only about 30 inches at the shoulder. Coloration nearly uni- form lion-brovm, tinged with yellow on the back and fading into gray on the abdomen. It is extremely active and sure-footed, and is seldom taken alive. In habit it somewhat resembles the chamois, as it lives in herds in the re- gions of perpetual snow. The soft, silky fur is in much request for making deli- cate fabrics, and many thousands of these animals are slaughtered annually for the sake of their skins. VICUNA-MACKENNA, BENJAMIN, a Chilean historian; born in Santiago, Chile, in 1831. He was concerned in many revolutions, traveled extensively, and held many political positions. In 1870 he acted as war correspondent dur- ing the Franco-German War; later as correspondent of the "Mercurio" in Berlin and Paris. At the opening of the war with Peru he became editor of "El Nuevo Ferrocarril"; and after the conclusion of the war his description of it became well known for its impartial- ity. He wrote "The Siegje of Chile in 1818"; (1849); "History of Santi- ago' (2vols. 1868) ; "Francisco Moyen; or. What the Inquisition in America Meant" (1868) ; several books on the mineral riches of Chile (1883); "Album of the Glory of Chile" (1883) ; "Dolores" (1883); "The Isles of Juan Fernandez" (1884); "At a Gallop" (1885); "The War in Spain" (1887) ; and many others. He died in Santa Rosa del Colmo, Jan. 25, 1886. VIELE, EGBERT LUDOVIKUS, an American civil engineer; born in Water- ford, N. Y., June 17, 1825; was gradu- ated at the United States Military Academy in 1847; took part in the Mex- ican War in 1847-1848 and in the cam- paign against the Indians in 1848-1852; served as State Engineer of New Jersey in 1854-1856, and was chief engineer and designer of Central Park in New York, and of Prospect Park in Brook- lyn in 1856-1860. During the Civil War he commanded the land forces at the capture of Port Royal; directed the in- vestment of Fort Pulaski, Ga, ; planned" and led the march on and capture of Norfolk, Va., and was military governor of that city. May to Nov., 1863. Subse- S**!;c^ VICUNA quently he was park commissioner of New York City, a Democratic member of Congress, and vice-president of the American Geographical Society. In 1896 he appeared before the commission of the British House of Lords on the subject of municipal administration. His Dublications include "Handbook of Ac-