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FLAO-OF-TRUCE

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FLAMMARION

of stripes and stars agreeing with the number of states. There are many theories of the origin of our flag, but none is satisfactory. Washington's arms contain the stars and stripes, but they are neither blue, red nor white. It will never be known who designed the union of stars. It is claimed that in 1776 Mrs. John Ross of Philadelphia, at the suggestion of Washington and George Ross, made and partially designed the first national flag combining stars and stripes. It was first displayed at Fort Stanwix, now Rome, N. Y., on Aug. 2, 1777, and Paul Jones asserted that he was the first to display it at sea, but it was slow to get into general use. In 1818 it was enacted that the stripes should continue to be 13, that the stars should be 20 in number, there being then 20 states, and that a star should be added for every new state coming into the Union. In 1907 the number of stars had increased to 46. The flag of Great Britain has the insignia of England, Scotland and Ireland on a quartered field, two quarters red, one yellow and one blue. The naval flag, called the Union Jack, has a blue ground, crossed by the crosses of Saints George, Andrew and Patrick. The French flag, called the tricolor, has three broad, perpendicular stripes of blue, white and red. The German imperial standard is yellow, divided by the iron cross into quarters, on each of which are three black eagles and the crown, with the imperial arms on a gold shield in the center. The German merchant-flag is of red, black and white in horizontal stripes. The Russian flag is yellow, with the Russian arms. The flag of Denmark probably is the oldest in existence, dating from the i3th century, and is red, with a white cross. The flag of Turkey is red, with a white crescent moon and eight-pointed star. By the consent of all nations a flag of truce is white; striking the flag denotes surrender and placing the flag of one country over that of another indicates victory; flags at half-mast mean mourning; the red flag mutiny; the black flag a pirate; and the yellow flag quarantine.

Flag=of=Truce. A white flag raised by one party in time of war to indicate to the opposing party their desire to communicate with them, as, for example, concerning terms of settlement or capitulation. There are certain rules in connection with the use of the flag-of-truce, the observance of which has come to be considered by nations as morally obligatory. While it is not at all necessary that hostilities should be suspended, or firing stopped, upon the erection of a flag-of-truce, the deliberate shooting of the bearer of a flag-of-truce is considered to be a very disgraceful and unjustifiable act. On the other hand, to use a flag-of-truce as a means for spying upon

the resources of the enemy or other such

illegitimate purpose, is considered especially dishonorable. The bearer of a flag of truce may be held by the enemy, if deemed advisable. Flag-of-truce proceedings, to be regular, must be conducted by the senior officers of the respective forces. In naval engagements the vessel bearing the flag-of-truce is usually kept off by the recipients at a safe distance, unless her harmless character is clearly apparent, in order to avoid the possibility of treacherous use of torpedo-boats, etc.

Flamin'go, a bird with very long legs, a long neck and very singular bill. Formerly the flamingo was classed as a wading bird, but now it is frequently united with the ducks, or placed in a group by itself between ducks and geese, and herons and storks. It is the long legs and neck that made the true relationships obscure. The lower part

FLAMINGO

of the bill forms a deep, broad box, into which the upper part fits like a cover, and the whole is bent abruptly downward in the middle. The margins are provided with ridges arranged crosswise as in the duck's bill. Much mud is taken with the food (small Crustacea, mollusks, vegetables), and is afterward strained out between the furrows on the bill. There are about eight species living (they were more numerous in geological times) in tropical and subtropical countries. Only one species is found in the United States, in the marshes of Florida and Louisiana. It is rose-colored and deep red; the young are white. In zoological gardens flamingoes lose their bright colors. The nests are of mud, from a few inches to a foot and a half high, and the birds sit with legs folded under the body, not, as was formerly supposed, astride the n "ist.

Flammarion (fla'ma're'on'}, Camille, French astronomer, was born at Montigny-le-Roi (Haute Marne), on Feb. 25, 1842 and educated at Langres and under Lever-rier in Paris, In 1862 he founded a monthly