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PLAID 267 PLANE ranges from the coast of France to Ice- land, frequenting sandy banks, some- times met with on mud banks. It is not in great repute as a food fish, as its flesh is soft and watery. PLAID, goods of any quality or ma- terial of a tartan or checked pattern. Also, a garment of tartan or checked woolen cloth of various colors, worn by both sexes of the natives of Scotland, of which country it is an important part of the national costume. PLAIN, an expanse of low-lying terri- tory as distinguished from a table-land or plateau. Speaking broadly, the Western Hemisphere is the region of plains, and the Eastern of table-lands. Also, a nickname for the level floor of the hall in which the first French Na- tional Convention was held in 1792. By metonomy it was applied also to the Girondist party whose seats were there. PLAINFIELD, a town of Connecticut in Windham co. It includes several vil- lages. It is on the Quinebaug and Moosup rivers and on the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad. In the town are public libraries, and in the village is the Plainfield Academy, one of the oldest institutions of the kind in New England. There are cotton and woolen mills and yarn factories, found- ries and other industries. Pop. (1910) 6,719; (1920) 7,926. PLAINFIELD, a city in Union co., N. J., on the Central of New Jersey rail- road; 24 miles W. of New York. It is a suburban place of residence for New York business men. It contains private schools, public library, Muhlenberg Hos- pital, street railroad and electric light plants, banks, and weekly newspapers. It has manufactories of hats, clothing, silk and cotton goods, machinery, print- ing presses, etc. Pop. (1910) 20,550; (1920) 27,700. PLAIN SONG, ^ Cantus planus, the most ancient and simple form of church music, consisting of easy progressions in one of the church modes, suitable for use by priests or a congregation; it is opposed to cantus figuratus, or figurate song, containing more ornate progres- sions of a later period. When counter- point was introduced, it was customary to compose parts above or below a por- tion of ancient plain song, hence, the term plain song is often synonymous with Canto fermo, or the fixed melody to which counterpoint is added. The term as used in these days includes roughly, ancient chants, inflections, and melodies of the church. Called also plain chant and sometimes plain singing. Also the simple, plain notes of an air without ornament or variation. PLAINTIFF, one who enters or lodges a complaint in a court of law; one who commences a suit in law against another; opposed to defendant. PLAN, properly a map, representa- tion, or delineation of a building, ma- chine, etc., on a plane surface. More exactly, the plan of a building is a hor- izontal section supposed to be taken on the level of the floor through the solid walls, columns, etc., so as to show their various thicknesses and situations, the dimensions of the several spaces or rooms, the position of the doors, etc. The term is also commonly extended to a map or representation of a projected or finished work on a plane surface; as, the plan of a town, of a harbor, etc. PLANARIDA, a sub-order of TurbeU laria, flat, soft-bodied, hermaphrodite animals, of ovoid or elliptic form; their integument with vibratile cilia and cells; the former used in locomotion. They have a proboscis, and two pigment spots serving for eyes. PLANCHETTE, a piece of board generally heart-shaped, mounted on thin supports, two of which are casters, and one a pencil which makes marks as the board is pushed under the hands of the person or persons whose fingers rest upon it. The exact cause of its motions is not clearly understood. PLANgON, POL, a French basso, born in 1854 in the Ardennes and at the wish of his parents entered business in Paris. By means of a friend he was able to study music at the Ecole Duprey and made his debut in Grand Opera at Lyons. ^ In 1883 he appeared as Me- phisto in "Faust" and his success in this role and in that of Ramfis in "Aida" made him world renowned. From 1893 to 1904 he was a member of the Metro- politan Opera House in New York. He died in Paris in 191'4. PLANE, in joinery, a cari)€nter's cut- ting and surface smoothing tool, of which there are many varieties, named from some peculiarity of construction or purpose. In geometry, a surface such that, if any two points be taken at pleasure and joined by a straight line, that line will lie wholly in the surface. A plane is supposed to extend indefinitely in all directions, the term is also frequently used, especially in astronomy, to denote an ideal surface supposed to cut or pass through a solid body, or in various direc- tions; as, the plane of the ecliptic, the plane of a planet's orbit.