Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 07.djvu/656

* FIG. 598 FIGUEIRA. sented by numerous fossil remains, consisting al- most entirely, however, of the leaves. The genua Ficus itself appears first in the Lower Cretaceous rocks, and it has been recognized in the Cre- losits of Greenland, of Moravia, and in those of Kansas and Nebraska in the United States. Numerous species have been found in the Tertiary rocks, especially in the Eocene and Miocene deposits of Europe and North America. Few fossil remains of the genus Ficus have been found in the rocks of those regions where the now grows in its native condition. Consult Solms-Laubach, Herlcunft, Yerbreitung, Domes- tication der gevxhnlichen Feigeribaume (GBttin- gen, 1882). FIGARO, fe'ga'rd'. ill A famous dramatic character, central figure in Beaumarehais's come- dies Le In nl, a r il, Seville and Le mariage de Figm,,. a clever, witty, nonchalant rogue. Mozart made an opera of The Marriage of Figaro; Pai- siello, and afterwards Rossini, of The Barber of He. (2) In 1S26 the name 'Figaro' was chosen for a Parisian journal, since famous, that counted among its contributors George Sand, Jules Sandeau, Alphonse Karr, Jules Janin, and other men of literary mark. It suspended in 1833, to be revived in even greater brilliancy in 1854 by its great editor, Villemessant (q.v.), whose Memovres (1S67) are a most valuable con- tribution to the history of French journalism. See Mariage de Figaro; Nozze di Figaro. FIGEAC, fe'zhak' (Lat. Figiaeum). The cap- ital of an arrondissement in the Department of Lot, France, situated in a wooded valley on the right bank of the Selle, 32 miles east-northeast of Cahors (Map: France, J 7). It is irregularly built, but contains some interesting ancient build- ings, including the churches of Saint Sauveur and Notre Dame du Puy, dating from the twelfth and fourteenth centuries. There i- a fine obelisk to the memory of J. J. Champolion-Figeac, who was a native of the town. It has some cotton manu- factures, and a trade in wine and cattle. Popula- tion of the commune, in 1901, 5861. The town arose around a Benedictine monastery founded in 755. It was captured by the Huguenots in 1576, and was one of their strongholds. FIG-EATER, or JUNE-BEETLE. An in- jurious beetle of the genu- Allorhina, especially Mlorliitm iiiiiiln, of fiie Southern I nited States. It is gnin and brown in metallic lines, render- ing it nearly as beautiful as the tropical beetles used as ornaments. It takes iis name from doing some injury to figs, as well as to certain other plants. Several other beetles, some scale- insects, i'ii'.. are also pernicious to this fruit. See Jrxi: r.i i i ii FIG FOR MOTYEUS. A. A volume of poetical satires bj Lodge (1595), dedicated to the Earl i by. FIGHTING-FISH. A small climbing-perch (Ctenops pugnax) of southeastern Asia, and par- ticularly of Siam, where it i- very com nl kepi captive for the amusement of its owners by its Pwo of these creat ores « hen brought u-li immediately to combat, or il] .ii tack it s own image in a mirroi Fish light- are a favi rite amusement of the Siamese; the license to ej hibil them j ields a con liderable ii I ii venue ; and in i < < tot dina 1 1 amount of gambling takes place in connection with them. The fighting-fish has the anal and dorsal fins pro- longed into tapering points. When the fish is quiet, its colors are dull; but when it is excited, thiN glow with metallic splendor, and the pro- ject.',) gill-membrane waves like a black frill around the throat. FIGHTING JOE HOOKER. A nickname given to General Joseph Hooker (q.v.). FIGHTING PARSON, The. A nickname given to W. G. Brownlow (q.v.). FIGHTING PRELATE, The. A name given to Henry Spenser, Bishop of Norwich, who fought against the insurgents in the rebellion of Wat Tiler, and later led an army into FlandeTS. FIGHTING TEMERAIRE, ti'ma'rar', The. See Temeraire. FIGIG, fe-geg'. An oasis in the northern part of Africa, near the eastern boundary of Morocco, covering an area of about six square miles, well watered, and containing large groves of date palms i. Map: Africa, D 1). It has about 15,000 inhabitants, dwelling among ten villages, the chief of which is Senaga. The inhabitants nominally recognize the sovereignty of Morocco, but are independent in their internal affairs. The chief industries are fruit-raising and cloth- weaving. FIGLINE, fe-lyc'na. A city in central Italy, 25 miles southeast of Florence, on the left bank of the Arno, in the valley of which near here have been found many fossil mastodons, hippo- potami, tigers, etc. (Map: Italy, F4). The town markets silk. wine, and oil. and manufactures straw ^oods and knives. Population, in 1901, 11,478. FIG-SHELL. Any of various tropical gastro- pod shells, of the genera Ficula, 1'yrula. etc., so called from their shape. One of the best known is Pyrula oentrieosa, of Oriental waters, which A FIO-911KLI. (PYRULA VENTIIIIils.il, l. Dorsal view of the shell and expanded muscnlai 'i. Ventral riew, showing the extended siphon, head, witn two short tenia, 'lea. and the oblong creeping muscle or ■loot.' i.i i >,i, extensive fool, like its relatives the loo hells (q.v.). anil the mantle hi rge lulled, re Hexed upon t lie shell and profusely spotted. The shell i- pear-shaped, lias a long siphon canal, and the surface is transversely ridged. Several other CM belong lo the genus, which goes back to I lie I hall, am) Terl iarv periods. FIGUEIRA, l, -a'cni. A seapori town in the District of Coimbra, Portugal, situate) ai