Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 08.djvu/534

SNAITH 470 SNORRI SNAITH, JOHN COLLIS, an English writer of fiction. He brought out his first work, "Broke of Covenden," in 1904, and this was followed two years later by "Henry Northcote." Since then his pub- lished works have included: "William Jordan, Junior," "Araminta," "Fortune," "Mrs. Fitz," "The Principal Girl," "An Affair of State," "The Great Age," "The Sailor," "Mary Plantagenet." SNAKE, a serpent, any species of the order Ophidia. The best-known harmless snake is probably the common snake, known also as the ringed or grass snake. The black snake, of which there are two species, is also very common in the United States. The common snake has no poison fangs, but is furnished with scent glands which secrete a volatile substance of of- fensive and penetrating odor. Snakes are partial to damp situations and enter water readily, swimming with ease. They are very voracious and swallow their prey — frogs, mice, and small birds — alive and entire, their teeth, which are in two rows on each side of the jaws and directed backward, being too weak to tear or mas- ticate. See Serpent. SNAKEROOT, the popular name of numerous American plants of different species and genera, most of which are, or formerly were, reputed to be efficacious as remedies for snake bites. SNEEHATTEN (sna-het'en; "Snow- hat"), a mountain in Norway with an altitude of 7,566 feet. It rises from the midst of the Dovrefield, an extensive tract of country, from 40 to 50 miles in extent in every direction, and between 3,000 and 4,000 feet above the sea-level. SNIDER, JACOB, inventor of a method for converting Enfield muzzle-loading ri- fles into breechloaders, originally a Phil- adelphia wine merchant! busied himself in inventions connected with dyeing, brew- ing, coach wheels, the sheathing of ships, etc., and went to England in 1859 to in- duce the British Government to adopt his system of breech loading or converting. In this he succeeded, but' for one reason or another found himself unable to obtain the expected remuneration. He died Oct. 25, 1866, without having received the re- ward of his labors, worn out by delays, lawsuits, poverty, and debts. SNIPE, the common name of the birds composing the family Scolopacidss. There are many genuses, of which the genus Gallinago may be taken as the type. The common snipe of Europe (G. media), is about 11 inches in entire length, the bill almost 3 inches. The general color of the upper parts is a blackish-brown, finely mixed with pale-brown and a rich buff- color; three pale-brown streaks along the head; the neck and breast pale-rust color mottled with black; the belly white. The snipe makes a nest of a little dry herbage in a depression of the ground, or some- times in a tuft of grass or rushes. The eggs are four in number, pale-yellowish or greenish-white, the larger end spotted '^Lr^- %6Q SNIPE with brown. This species of snipe is plentiful in all the moory and marshy places throughout Europe, also in some parts of Asia, and it is found in the N. of Africa. The snipe is capable of being tamed. The common American snipe (G. Wilsonii) is about equal in size to the common snipe of Europe, and much re- sembles it also in plumage. This species is abundant in summer in the N. parts of the United States and in Canada, in the more southern States in winter. It is much in request for the table, and is often caught in snares. SNIZORT, LOCH, a large inlet of the sea on the N. W. of Skye, between Vater- nish and Trotternish, picturesquely stud- ded with islands in its upper part. Length 16 miles; greatest breadth about 9. SNORRI, STTTRLASON, an Icelandic poet and historian ; born in Hvami, in the Dala district of Iceland, in 1178; was the son of Sturla Thordsson, the founder of the powerful family of the Sturlungs. At three years of age he became a foster -son of Jon Loptsson, grandson of Saemund, author of the "Elder Edda," then the most influential and gifted man in Ice- land, and after his death (1197), Snorri remained at Odda with his son Saemund, and by his marriage, first with Herdys (1199), and after her death with Hallveg Ormsdatter, gained great possessions, sometimes appearing at the Althing with a following of 800 to 900 men. Twice was he appointed "Langmand" (1219- 1223, and 1226-1236). In 1218 he trav- eled to Norway, where he gained great favor with Duke Skuli, returning to Ice-