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POLYP 299 POLYTHEISM pelago), etc., being classed together as Melanesia, whereas the Carolines, La- drones, Marshall Islands, etc., form Micronesia. The islands may be divided into two chief classes, volcanic and coral islands. Some of the former rise to a great height, the highest peak in the Pacific, Mauna Loa, in Hawaii, reaching 13, COO feet. The principal groups of these are the Friendly, the Sandwich, the Marquesas, and the Navigator Islands. The coral islands comprise the Carolines, Gilbert, and Marshall Islands on the N. W., and the Society Islands and Low Archipelago in the S. E. Polynesia has a comparatively mod- erate temperature, and the climate is de- lightful and salubrious. The predomi- nating race, occupying the central and E. portion of Polynesia, is of Malay origin, with oval faces, wide nostrils, and large ears. Their language is split up into numerous dialects. The other lead- ing race is of negroid or Papuan origin, with negro-like features and crisp mop- like hair. They are confined to Western Polynesia, and speak numerous distinct dialects. Christianity has been intro- duced into a great many of the islands, and a large number of them are under the control of one or other of the Euro- pean powers. The commercial products consist chiefly of cocoanuts, cotton, coffee, sugar, fruits, pearls, and tre- pang. The Ladrones were discovered by Magellan in 1521, the Marquesas by Mandaiia in 1595, but it was not till 1767 that Wallis, and subsequently Cook, explored and described the chief islands. Since the natives came in contact with the whites their numbers have greatly decreased. POLYP, a name usually applied to an animal like the fresh-water hydra or like the sea anemone, having a tubular body and a wreath of many tentacles around the mouth. The name is equally appli- cable to an isolated individual or to a member (zooid or "person") of a colony. Thus, the individuals which make up a zoophyte or a coral colony are called polyps, and the term is seldom used ex- cept in reference to ccelentrate animals. POLYPHEMUS, in mythology, the king of all the Cyclops in Sicily, and son of Neptune and Thoosa. He is rep- resented as a monster of immense strength, and with one eye in the middle of the forehead. He fed on human flesh, and kept his flocks on the coasts of Sicily, when Ulysses, at his return from the Trojan War, was driven there. POLYPHONE, a musical instrument of the music-box type, used principally in connection with the graphophone. Also a character or vocal sign which repre- sents more than one sound. POLYPHONIC, having, or consisting of many sounds or voices. In music, consisting of several tone series or parts, progi-essing simultaneously according to the rules of counterpoint; contrapuntal. POLYPLECTRON, or POLYPLEC- TRXJM, in music, a musical instrument in which the tones were produced by the friction of numerous slips of leather act- ing on strings, and moved by pressing or striking keys, as in the pianoforte. In ornithology, a genus of Phasi- aninx, from the Oriental region. Bill rather slender, sides compressed, tip curved, nostrils lateral; longitudinal opening partly hidden by a membrane. Wings rounded, tail long, rounded. Tarsi long, those of the male with two or more spurs. Toes long and slender. There are five species. POLYPODIACE^, in botany, ferns proper; an order of acrogens, alliance Filicales. Known genera 183, species 2,000. POLYPUS, a morbid growth attached to the interior of any of the mucous ca- nals. It is generally a fleshy tumor with many branches. Polypi sometimes grow in the nose, larynx, heart, rectum, uterus and vagina. In zoology, in the plural, a class of radiated animals defined as hav- ing many prehensile organs radiating from around the mouth only. POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, an edu- cational non-sectarian institute in Brook- lyn, N. Y.; founded in 1854; reported at the close of 1919 : Professors and in- structors, 45; students, 981; presiden**- F. W. Atkinson, Ph. D. POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL, an educa- tional establishment in which instruction is given in many arts and sciences, more especially with reference to their prac- tical application. The first polytechnic school was established by a decree of the French Convention, on Feb. 13, 1794, and was of great service to the country. ^ Nu- merous schools of this class now exist in all parts of the United States, among: them the Brooklyn Polytechnic, Drexel Institute in Philadelphia, etc. POLYTHALAMIA, a group of Proto- zoa occupying compound chambered cells of microscopic size. POLYTHEISM, the worship of many gods. It is not necessarily the same as idolatry, for gods may be adored with- out any image of them being made. In Sir John Lubbock's classification of I'e- ligious beliefs, fetishism and totemisra are polytheistic; the next stage in the