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APSLEY STRAIT 214 AQUATIC ANIMALS and Mercury, from perturbations caused by other heavenly bodies. APSLEY STRAIT, a narrow channel between Melville and Bathurst Islands, off the N. coast of Australia. It is about 40 miles in length, with a breadth vary- ing from 2 to 5 miles. APTERYX, a genus of birds, the typ- ical one of the family apierygidse. Two species are known — the A. australis and A. mantelli, both from New Zealand. The natives call the former Kiwikiwi, which is an imitation of their peculiar cry. The A. australis is somewhat less in size than an ordinary goose. It runs when pur- sued, shelters itself in holes, and defends itself vdth its long bill; but unable as it is to fly, it is destined to become extinct. APULEIUS, LUCIUS (ap-u-le'us), a famous Latin satirist and writer of fic- tion; lived in the 2d century, and was a native of northern Africa. Having in- herited an ample fortune, he devoted him- self to study and travel; attending first the schools of Carthage, then the Athe- nian schools of philosophy. His principal work is "Metamorphosis" or "The Golden Ass," which includes the charming epi- logue of "Cupid and Psyche"; well known also is his witty "Apology," a de- fense against a charge of sorcery brought by the sons of a widow twice his age whom he married. APULIA (ap-ii'le-a), a region of an- cient Italy along the Adriatic. In most ancient times, three distinct nations dwelt here — the Messapians, or Sallentines, the Peucetians and the Dauni, or Apulians. The old Latin traditions speak of Daunus, a King of the Apulians, who was expelled from Illyria, and retired to this part of Italy. According to the tra- dition which conducts the wandering he- roes of the Trojan war to Italy, Diomed settled in Apulia, was supported by Daunus in a war with the Messapians, whom he subdued, and was afterward treacherously killed by his ally. Aufidus, a river of Apulia, has been celebrated by Horace, born at Venusia, in this terri- tory. The second Funic War was carried on in Apulia. Cannae, famous for the defeat of the Romans, is in this region. The modern department of Apulia con- sists of three provinces: Bari delle Puglie, Foggia, and Lecce. The chief oc- cupation of its inhabitants is the raising of domestic animals. Chief towns: Bari, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce. Area, 7,376 square miles; pop. about 2',500,000. APURE (a-po'ra), a navigable river of Venezuela, formed by the junction of sev- eral streams which rise in the Andes of Colombia; it falls into the Orinoco. APURIMAC (a-po-re-mak'), a river of South America, which rises in the Andes of Peru; and being augmented by the Pampes and other streams forms the Ucayale which, after it is joined by the Maranon, forms the Amazon. From it a department of Peru receives its name. Area, 8,187 square miles; pop. about 200,- 000. Capital, Abancay. It produces cof- fee, cocoa, rubber and sugar, and has gold and silver mines. APUS, in zoology, a genus of entomos- tracans, the typical one of the family apodidss. They have the carapace of one piece, and completely enveloping the an- terior part of the animal. They have about 60 pairs of feet. AQUA, a word much used in pharmacy and old chemistry. Aqua fortis (^strong water), a weak and impure nitric acid. It has the power of eating into steel and copper, and hence is used by engravers, etchers, etc. Aqua regia, or aqua regalis, a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids with the power of dissolving gold and other noble metals. AQUAMARINE, a name given to some of the finest varieties of beryl of a sea-green oi pale blue color. Varieties of topaz are also so called. AQUARIUM, an artificial tank, pond, or vessel, filled with salt or fresh water, and used, in the former case chiefly for the purpose of keeping alive marine ani- mals in circumstances which render it easy to study their habits, and in the latter for cultivating aquatic plants. AQUARIUS, in astronomy, the 11th of the 12 ancient zodiacal constellations, now generally called signs of the Zodiac. It is generally quoted as "Aquarius, the Water-bearer." AQUATIC ANIMALS, animals living in or about water. It is worth noting that the home of almost all the simpler animals is distinctly and necessarily aquatic. While a few of the protozoa, such as one of the amoebae, occur in damp places on land, or within other organ- isms, the vast majority live freely in the water, and the same is true of the sponges, ccelenterates, and echinoderms. Although the great majority of crusta- ceans are aquatic, a few, such as the wood-louse and land crab, are modified for life ashore. The crowd of insects, spiders, and myriapods are of course terrestrial or aerial, though here also the habits of some adult forms, and the life of some of the young are distinctly aquatic. Among mollusks also there is an equally familiar occurrence of both aquatic and terrestrial habit, while nu-