Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/245

* MAYERS. 217 MAYHEW. China (18(37). He procured for the Britisli Mu- seum one of the few extant copies of the great Imperial eydopadia of Chinese literature in 50:iO voliinii's. MAYFAIR. One of the most fashionable sections of l.ondon. It lies east of Hyde Park, between Park Laiie and Pond Street, and derives its name from a fair formerly held in the locality during Jlay. MAY'FIELD. A city and the county-seat of (Jraves L'nunty, Ky., 25 miles south of Paducah; on the Illinois Central Kailroad (Map: Ken- tuck}', C 4). It is the seat of West Kentucky College. It controls a large trade in tobacco, having large warehouses and a number of re- handling concerns; and there are flouring, plan- ing, and woolen mills, tobacco and clothing fac- tories, etc. Settleil about 1820. .Mayficid was in- corporated some thirty years later. The govern- ment is administered under a charter of 1893, by a mayor, chosen every four years, and a uni- cameral council. Population, in 1890, 2909; in 1900, 4081. MAYFISH. The most common of American killifish {Fundtilus majalis). See KiLLiFiSH. MAYFLOWER. See Arbutus, Tkailixg. MAYFLOWER, The. A ship of 180 tons burden, liired to take the Pilgrims from South- ampton, England, to the New World in 1620. Some had sailed from Delft Haven in the Speed- well, which started with the May/loircr, but put back after several dajs. The ilayfloicer arrived at Plymouth December Ilth, or 21st. New Style (anniversary celebrated December 22d). MAYFLOWER DESCENDANTS, Society OF. A patriotic hereditary society, organized in New York City on December 22, 1894. It admits to membership any lineal descendant of any passenger of the voyage of the Min/flotcer which terminated at Plymouth Kock, ilass., in Decem- ber, 1020, The badge of the society is a round medallion of gold with a representation of the Mayflower in relief surrounded by a wreath composed of the blossoms of the maytiower connected at the bottom bv a scroll on which is the legend "1020, Plymouth, 1897," There are many State societies, from which repre- sentatives meet triennially, usually in Ply- mouth, Mass., at the general society, which was organized on .January 12, 1897, A general register was published in 1901, showing nearly 2000 members, and the various .State societies have issued books containing historical infor- mation. MAY FLY. An insect of the order Epheme- rida, sometimes also called 'shad-fly' and 'day- fl}',' the latter, like the scientific name, derived from the ephemeral life of the adult. They have short antenme, very large fore wings, very small hind wings, absolutely trophied mouth-parts, and two or three long, slender filaments at the end of the abdomen. The transformations are com- plete, and the early stages are passed in the water. The larviT are active, possess long and strong legs, and lireathe by means of tracheal gills. They are found under stones in running streams or swimming among water plants in quiet waters, or they may live at the bottom, more or less covered with slime or mud ; some forms also burrow into the sand banks of rivers. They both swim and crawl, and they feed largely upon vegetable matter. The pupa or nymph is also active and feeds. It lias small wing-pads, and when ready to transform it floats at the surface of the water and the subimago issues through the skin of the thorax. The emergence is very rapid, and the subimago Hies away almost immediately after the skin cracks. The existence of a subimago stage is peculiar to this order of insects, and there is a si:bsequent molt after the subimago reaches the shore, the true imago issuing from the skin of the subimago. The ilay flies differ from all other insects not only in this additional transformation, but also in jiossessing paired sexual organs which open to the exterior by separate orifices. The life of the adult insect is very short, but the popular idea that they live but a day is erroneous. Curtis kept one alive three weeks. Most species couple during flight, and egg-laying is usually performed in fresh water, where the egg clusters disintegrate and the eggs sink to the beds of the rivers and streams. The larval life lasts from one to three years, and the larvse form a favorite food for many food-fishes. The adults are also eagerly sought for by fish, and man}' of the artificial flies, especially those forms known as 'duns,' 'drakes,' and 'spinners' (see Fly-Castixg), are imitations of Jlay flies. About .300 species have been described — 85 from temperate North Amer- ica. They are strongly attracted to light and fly in enormous numliers, so that they sometimes half fill the globes of electric street lamps with their bodies in a single evening, and greatly trouble lighthouse keepers, especially along the Great Lakes, by swarming about the lantern in such crowds as to obscure the light. MAYHEM (archaic form of maim, from OF. mahair/iier. mcliaif/iief, to maim). At common law, the offense of so maiming another, or doing such violence to his members, as to render him the less able in fighting either to defend himself or to annoy his adversary. It rendered the wrongdoer liable to a civil action for damages by the injured person and also to a criminal prosecution as "an atrocious breach of the King's peace, and as tending to deprive him of the aid < and assistance of his subjects." Destroying or disabling an arm or leg. hand or foot, putting out an eye, or breaking a front tooth, was a mayhem. MAYHEW, maliu, Augustus Septimus (1820-75), An English journalist and author, born in London, He wrote in collaboration with his brother Henry such works as The (Irentest Plague of Life, or the Adventures of a Lady in Search of a Good Servant (1847, illustrated by George Cruikshank). and he joined H. S. Ed- wards in the production of stich farces as The Goose and the Golden Egqs (Strand Theatre, 18.59) : Christmas Boxes "("Strand. 18G0) : and The Four Cousins (Globe Theatre, 1871 ) . From 1848 to 1850 he edited The Comic Almanac, to which lie had been a contributor since 1845, and his individual productions include Pared with Gold, or the Romance and Peality of the London Streets (1857), and Faces for Fortunes (3 vols,, 1865). MAYHEW, Experience (1073-17.581. A New England divine. He was born in Martha's Vineyard, Mass,, the oldest son of Rev, .John Mavhew. and great-grandson of Gov. Thomas JIayhew. He began to preach to the Indians at