Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 05.djvu/136

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ICONOGRAPHY
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IDAHO

views, were stigmatized by the orthodox party under the same name.

ICONOGRAPHY, in an extended sense, the description of any figures found in paintings and sculpture, as well as monumental records of ancient date; but in its restricted signification this word is confined to descriptions and drawings of any sculptured images or paintings of the human form, animals, and inanimate objects, that are found in buildings and appurtenances, and furniture devoted to ecclesiastical purposes.

ICTERIA (ik-ter′ē-ä), a genus of birds placed by Swainson under his sub-family Braohypodiæ (short-footed thrushes). I. virens, or viridis (I. polyglotta of Wilson) the yellow-breasted chat, is found in the United States. It has great powers of imitating the sounds which it hears.

ICTERIDÆ (ik-ter′ē-dē), a name for orioles; a family of Passeres, insessorial birds. The bill has the commissure angulated, with no notch; the primaries nine; the legs stout; the plumage usually brilliant; the notes sharp, often melodious, in other cases harsh. Subfamilies three, Agelainæ, Icterinæ, and Quiscalinæ. About 20 genera and 100 species are known, all American. The Baltimore oriole or hang-nest is the Icterus galbula. It is a favorite bird in the eastern part of North America and is a migratory bird, arriving in late spring and leaving again in midsummer or up to early fall. Its plumage is black and orange.

IDA, a high mountain range in Asia Minor, extending from Phrygia through Mysia into Troas. The city of Troy was situated at its base. It is the scene of many ancient legends. The S. part of the range was called Gargarus, the highest peak of which is about 4,700 feet above sea. Here there was a temple of Cybele. From Ida flow several famous streams, as the Granicus, Simois, and Scamander. There is another Ida in Crete, now called Psiloriti.

IDAHO, a State in the Western division of the North American Union; bounded by Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia; admitted to the Union July 3, 1890; number of counties, 41; capital, Boisé; area 84,800 square miles; pop. (1900) 161,772; (1910) 325,594; (1920) 431,866.

Topography.—The surface of the State is exceedingly mountainous. The Rocky Mountains form the N. E. boundary separating Montana from Idaho, and send out spurs in a W. direction extending to the Sierra Nevadas. The principal ranges are the Salmon, Bitter Root, Bear River, and Saw Tooth. The Salmon range extends along the Salmon river and reaches an altitude of 12,000 feet; the summits being rugged and several being covered with snow. The Goose Creek and Bear River mountains extend along the S. portion of the State. Three-fourths of the State — the S. portion — is arid, agriculture being practiced only by means of irrigation. The soil is very fertile and the water supply abundant. The principal irrigated sections of the State are in the Bear, Snake, Boisé, Payette and Weiser river valleys. These valleys lie at an altitude of from 700 to 5,000 feet. The Snake river, a tributary of the Columbia, and the Wood, Bruneau, Boisé, Payette, Weiser and Salmon rivers, its principal branches, form the drainage system of the S. portion of the State; the principal rivers of the N. part are the Spokane, St. Joe, St. Mary's, Clearwater, Cœur d'Alêne, Priest, and North Fork of the Columbia. The entire State drains into the Columbia with the exception of a small portion in the S. E., which is drained by Bear river into the Salt Lake basin. A large area in the S. portion is drained by streams which sink a short distance from the mountains (the lost river drainage system) and find an outlet to the Snake river by subterranean channels. There are numerous lakes, including the Pend d'Oreille, Cœur d'Alêne, Bear, Henry, and Payette lakes. There are many beautiful waterfalls in the State, the Snake river having four important ones, namely, Shoshone, a 210-foot fall, Twin, Salmon, and American Falls. The mean elevation of the State is about 4,700 feet.

Geology.—Most of the State is covered with Azoic, Eozoic, and Tertiary formations. Numerous fossils have been found, including the remains of the mastodon, elephant, tapir, monkey, alligator, and saurian families. Large portions of the State are of recent volcanic formation, and the whole region is noted for its geysers, steam and soda springs and natural hot baths.

Soil.—The soil is largely of volcanic origin, and is very fertile when water is applied. The mountains are for the most part covered with forests, which are largely evergreen. The S. counties are covered with sage plains which, under irrigation, are well adapted to agriculture. The N. portion of the State and the upper portions of the Boisé, Weiser, and Payette valleys are covered with dense forests, the principal