Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/356

* WARNERIA. 298 WARRANTY. WARNERIA. A popular name for plants of the genus Hydrastis (q.v.). WARNING COLORATION. Certain ani- mals are protected from the attacks of other kinds bv secreting a repugnant fluid which is either ejected from special repugnatorial glands or which, in the case of insects, gives them a bad taste, so that they are not eaten by monkeys, birds, lizards, or by other insects. Such inedible species are often" conspicuously marked with bright colors, spots, or bands, and such colors are said to warn. off intruders, which after their first experience recognize them as unfit to eat. A familiar example is the skunk, whose con- spicuous black and white markings render it visible even in a rather dark night. Warning coloration is especially common in insects, es- pecially gailv colored caterpillars and butter- flies, like our milkweed butterfly {Anosia ar- chippus). The brightly colored caterpillars, like the currant worm and a number of others, when fed to birds are rejected by them with disgust. Hence they enjoy an immunity from the at- tacks of birds. Wallace, who first suggested the theory of warning colors, called attention to the fact that while most caterpillars are edible and also protectively marked (see Protectuts CoLORATibN AXD Resemblakcb), the gaily colored ones are distasteful to birds; and this has since been experimentally proved. Wliether, however, the colors have been actually acquired, as Wallace supposes, "for the purpose of serving as a warn- ing of inedibility," still remains to be proved. It should be remembered tiiat the bright red and blue colors of caterpillars and of butter- flies are deep-seated and formed from the waste products of the blood, and that their deposition is a chemico-physical or physiological process quite independent of the visits or attacks of birds, etc. WARNSDORF, viirns'dorf. A town in Bo- hemia, Austria, 59 miles north by east of Prague. It is especially known for its large cotton manufactures. Woolen and linen goods, velvet, cement, and machinery are also produced. Population, in lOOO, 21,150. WAR OF 1812, The. See United States. WAR OF 1812, Military Soctett of the. A patriotic society instituted in New York City on January 3, 1820, by officers of the War of 1812, and consolidated with the Veteran Corps of Artillery (organized in New York City as an independent military organization on November 25, 1790, by officers and soldiers of the War of the Revolution), on January 8. 1848. This so- ciety was incorporated as a military society on Jan'uary 8, 1892. Its insignia consists of a Maltese cross of gold and blue enamel, super- imposed by an eagle in gold, on the breast of which is an anclior in Idack and the legend 1812, pendant from a ribbon of red and blue. The society admits to membership acceptalile male descendants of any commissioned officer of honorable record in the War of 1812. The membership is about 100. and the annual meet- ing is held on January 8th, the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans. WAR OF 1812, Ge.nerai, Society of the. An licn-ilitary patriotic .society organized in Phila- <l<lphia, Pa., January 8, 1891, by representatives of the Association of the Defenders of Baltimore in 1814 (organized in 1842), which became the State Society of Maryland, and by representa- tives of the Pennsylvania Association of the De- fenders of the Country in the War of 1812 (or- ganized in 1852). it has for its object the preservation of the memories and victories of the War of 1812. It admits to membership any lineal descendant of one who served in the War of 1812, in the army, navy, revenue marine, or privateer service of the United States. Since the formation of the national societj-, State organizations have been established in Massa- chusetts, Connecticut, Ohio, District of Colum- bia, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, dis- tributed among which is a total membership of about 700. WARPING (from warp. AS. iceorpan, Goth. icairpan. OHG. ircrfnii, Ger. u-erfen, to throw; connected with OChurch Slav, vriiti, Skt. larj, to throw, and possibly with Gk. plTTetv^ rluptcin, to throw). A mode of improving land by flooding, practiced where rivers bring down large quantities of mud, or where mud is brought up from estuaries by the tide. It is practiced in some of the valleys of the Alps, the rich soil brought down from the mountains being arrested and made to increase the fertility of fields. Warp- ing has also been practiced in England and other countries, but is perhaps less common now than formerly. The process is considered most bene- ficial on sandy and peaty soils. WARRANT (OF. icarant. guarant, garant, warrant, protector, from OHG. giicercn, Ger. geinihrrn. to grant). A writ issued by a judicial officer, directed to a sheriff', a constable, or other executive oflicer, requiring him to arrest a per- son named therein and bring him before the official who issued it. A warrant is usually is- sued only upon the oath of a comjilaining wit- ness as to the probable or actual guilt of the per- son to be apprehended. The matter of the ar- rest of a person suspected of crime is regulated by statute in each State ; but. in general, where a" crime does not come to the actual notice of a peace officer a warrant should be issued for the arrest of a suspected person. In some States a person who is thus arrested may demand to see the warrant. See Search Warrant; Arre.st; Habea.s CoRPrs, etc. ; also consult the authori- ties referred to luidcr CRIMINAL Law. WARRANT OFFICER. A non-commissioned officer in the United States Army or Navy. In the army the company non-commissioned officers, corporals and sergeants, are appointed by the regimental or battalion commander on the rec- ommendation of the company couunander. The regimental non-commissioned stall i-; aiqiointed by the regimental commander on the recommenda- tion of the battalion coiimuinder. Each non-com- missioned officer receives a certificate or warrant of rank signed by the ajipointing officer and countersigned by the adjutant. In the na'y a warrant officer holds his position by virtue of a warrant issued by the Secretary of the ^avy. Warrant officers rank next below midshipmen and consist of boatswains, gunners, carpenters, sail- makers, warrant machinists, and pharmacists. See CoHi'OHAL; Sehheant: Boat.swain; Gunner ; etc. WARRANTY (OF. wnranlic. garmitie. from icanntlir. ij'iunuitii; garantir, Fr. garantir, to