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CORONIS 158 CORPS ty in England. In the United States the coroner is an elective county officer. His duties are similar to those of a coroner in England. CORONIS, the daughter of King Phoroneus, whom Neptune loved, and who was changed into a crow by Minerva. CORONITE, an explosive, consisting of a mixture of nitroglycerin, nitro-cel- lulose, ammonium nitrate, potassium ni- trate, aluminum stearate, rye flour, wood meal, and liquid paraffin. COROT, JEAN-BAPTISTE-CAMILLE (ko-rO), a French artist; born in Paris, July 28, 1796; studied under Michallon and Victor Bertin and afterward in Italy. He exhibited for the first time in the Salon in 1827, but some years elapsed before the high qualities of his _ work were recognized. The fortune which he COROT inherited from his father enabled him, however, to follow out the bent of his genius, and the last 25 years of his life were a continuous triumph. He fre- quently painted figure subjects, includ- ing the large sacred pictures, the "Flight Into Egypt" and the "Baptism of Christ"; but his most characeristic and successful work was in landscape. Few artists have been so successful in paint- ing light and air, or in infusing work manifestly closely studied from nature v-ith an ideal charm. He died in Paris, Feb. 23, 1875. COROZO NUT, the seed of a palm, phytelephas macrocurpa, a native of tropical America, the hardened albumen of which is used by turners under the name of vegetable ivory. CORPORAL, formerly a kind of bri- gade-major, who commanded skirmish- ing parties detached from the other forces. As now used it means a petty non-commissioned officer ranking imme- diately under a sergeant, and just above the ordinary rank and file. He has charge of one of the squads of the com- pany, places and relieves sentinels, and keeps good order in the guard. CORPORAL, a name given to the linen cloth, also called pall and chalice-veil, with which the celebrant covers what is left of the consecrated elements in the Holy Communion till the service is con- cluded. CORPORATION, a corporate body legally empowered to act as a single in- dividual, and having a common seal. A corporation may be either aggregate or sole. Corporations aggregate consist of two or more persons legally incorpo- rated in a society, which is kept up by a succession of members, either in per- petuity or till the corporation is dis- solved. A corporation sole consists of a single individual and his successors, the intention being to perpetuate a function or office, which cannot be done in any man in his personal or bodily capacity. To render valid a transfer of lands to such a corporation, the phraseology must always include the words "and his successors." In England the king or a bishop is a corporation sole, as the off.ce is immortal though the man may die. Corporations are liable to the ordinary laws and treaties of the country, but are not citizens in the sense of exercising a political or municipal franchise. United States law has also had occasion to em- phasize the distinction between a public corporation which may be affected by legislation, and a private corporation. Further, according to United ^ States law, the franchises of a corporation are treated as realizable assets for creditors. The amount of property which may be held by a corporation in the United States is frequently limited in the act or charter. In the United States less nn- portance is attached to the use of the common seal of a corporation than in Great Britain. In Oregon, Delaware, District of Columbia, South Dakota, and Porto Rico the laws affecting corpora- tions are more liberal and the fees smaller than in most other States. CORPS (kor), a body; a word often used as a military and a political term.