Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/139

* MUNGOOS. MTJNGOOS, or MONGOOSE {Teluj,'li maii- gisiij. Tlio imiiij^oos (//tc/jcs^i-.')' yriscus) is ;i species of iclineuiuon (q.v.), a native of liulia, but introduced into other countries, notably Jamaica, for the ])urpose of deslroyinjr rats and other vermin, upon which it feeds. In India it is often kept about the houses to reduce the number of lizards, mice, rats, and snakes. It kills and eats the most ])oisonous snakes, such as the cobra, the bite of which is either avoided by the animal's af;ility or else is not fatal to it. The muiiLiOos was introiluced into Jamaica in 1ST2. when nine specimens were imported to de- stroy the rats on a sugar plantation. At first they were highly beneficial, reducing the stated annual loss from rats from .'foOfl.OOO to one-half that, but in less than twenty years the island was almost overrun with them. Not only (lid they kill rats and mice, however, but snakes, lizards, gronmlbirds. and even poultry. At one time snakes had become so rare that they were regarded as practically exterminated, but since ISiU) they are apparently on the increase. The ground-doves and other terrestrial birds, partly at least by change of habit, are also adapting themselves to this new enemy and their exter- mination is no longer to be feared. At the pres- ent time the mungoos is common and very tame in most parts of the island and in many other islands, and is generally looked on with favor. The mungoos is from l.") to 18 inches long, and has a tail 1-t to If) inches in length, very thick at the base and tapering to a point. The fur is rather long and grizzly reddish-gray. A very full ace<iunt of its habits is given in the Royal yatinrtl IJistori/. For the details of its history in the West Indies, consult: Morris, The Mungoose on Hugar Estates in the West indies (London, 1882); The Field (London) for July l.-i, I8!1.j. MUNICH, mu'nik (Ger. Miinchen). The capital of Bavaria, and the third largest city in Germany, situated at an elevation of 1700 feet, mostly on the left bank of the Isar, on the south- ern border of a ]iartly swampy and partly fertile forested plateau, 2!t0 miles by rail south of Leip- zig (Jlap: Germany, D 4) ;' latitude 48° 9' N.. longitude' 11° 3:5' E. The city is only about 25 miles north of the Bavarian Alps, and is subject to a somewhat raw climate characterized by abrupt changes of tem])eratnre, which are at times trying. Mean annual temperature, 4G° F. Munich is comparatively modern. It is pro- gressive and handsomely equipped with the latest municipal improvements, having, in fact, been mostly relmilt since about 1830. It owes its artisti<! and regal appearance to the art- loving Louis I. and his successors. The very wide avenues and the many buildings constructed in all the leading styles of architecture lend great dignity to the metropolis. The streets arc generally regular, and the city is lavishly adorned by numerous squares and pleasure parks and gardens. The largest park is the beautiful Eng- lish Garden. It contains over 500 acres, watered by branches of the Isar and adorned with small temples, towers, etc. JIagnificent thorouglifares are the Maximilianstrasse, lined by public luiild- ings, and the I'rinzregentenstrasse. both leading across the river to the ihiximilian pleasure groimds on the opposite side. The Ludwigstrasse, stretching northward from the royal palace, is 109 MUNICH. aKo a splendid street. Hanked with impressive Kenaissanee edifices. The Max-Jose])li-Platz, together with the Marienjilatz, represents the centre of life in ilunich. The former c<mnects the old and new sections, and is embellished by Raueh's huge bronze statue of King Max Joseph. The Alte Kcsidenz — one of the three parts of the royal palace — extends liere along the north side of the square and has in the rear the Court gardens, with their open arcades and frescoes. This struc- ture dales from 1590 and contains four court.s, but is of little architectural worth. Its apart- ments, however, are a source of great interest to sightseers, being luxuriously furnished in the seventeenth century style and rich in historical associations. The throne room was at one time occupied by Napoleon. The royal chapel and the treasury possess numerous objects of in- trinsic and historic value. The other two parts of the palace are the fine Festsaalbau and the Kiinigsbau. The latter, fin- ished in 1833, and fashioned after the Pitti Palace, is notable for its splendid Nibelungen frescoes by Schnorr (1801). The former is ,a handsome edifice, completed in 1842 in the late Italian Renaissance. It is enriched with Ionic pillars and with allegorical figures of the Bava- rian provinces. Several apartments contain Hil- tensperger's frescoes from the Odyssey. Beauti- ful salons are also the throne room, with striking bronze statues by Schwanthaler ; the Ilapsburg room, with paintings; the Barbarossa Hall, with reliefs by Schwanthaler; and the Hall of Charle- magne, containing ambitious decorations descrip- tive of scenes from the Emperor's life. But the best known of these apartments are those con- taining Stieler's thirty-six portraits of beautiful women, painted from various types of Bavaria's fairest womanhood. Connected with these royal edifices are the great Hof und National Theater dating from 1823, with an attractive portico borne by Corin- thian columns, and containing seats for 2200 per- sons, and the artistic and impressive Court chapel — a structure dating from 1837, in the Byzantine-Komanesque, and having sumptuous decorations. Still another feature in connection with this royal residence arc the coach houses and harness rooms, with a collection of historic carriages, sleighs, and sledges. Adjacent also are a valuable ethnographical museum, an Art Union, with works of living artists, and an instructive museum of plaster casts. Other palaces in the city are the palace of Prince Charles, the palace of Prince Regent Luil|iold, the jialace of Duke ilax, with good decorations, and the royal Wit- telsbach palace, an artistic red structure begun in 1843. Munich has no churches of great fame. The Ludwigskirche is a rather attractive example of Italian Renaissance, and contains a noteworthy Last .ludgment by Cornelius. The Saint Boniface basilica, dating from 1850. with some three score of gray marble colunuis, is also worthy of men- tion, as are the cathedral — the Frauenkirche — the Gothic Mariahilfkirche, and the Gothic Gie- singer Church. The synagogue is one of the larg- est and finest in Germany. .Ml these churches, except the cathedral, lielong to the nineteenth century. AuKUig the impressive secular build- ings are the War Ofiice, the Post Office, and the