Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/885

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MOSTAR ual of the Botany of the Northern United/ States" (1856) Mr. Sullivant gave descriptions of all the species known eastward of the Mis- sissippi river ; but in subsequent editions of the "Manual" these are omitted, and they have been published in a separate volume as " The Musoi and Hepaticae of the United States east of the Mississippi River." A most important aid to the student is "The Icones Muscorum, or Figures and Descriptions of most of those Mosses peculiar to Eastern North America which have not heretofore been figured." This, also by Mr. Sullivant, is a handsome volume, with 129 copperplates, each illustrating several species. A description of the mosses and liver- worts found on the United States Pacific rail- road expeditions and surveys, with figures of the rarer and new species by Mr. Sullivant, can be found in the fourth volume of the exec- utive documents (senate) of the 33d congress, second session (Washington, 1856}. Other val- uable contributions in this branch of botany from the same pen are to be seen in the " Me- moirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences" (Boston, 1848, &c.). The species found in Wisconsin are given by I. A. Lap- ham, in the fifth volume of the " Transactions of the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society " (1860). Many novelties likewise have been brought to notice through the labors of 0. C. Frost of Brattleboro, Vt., and by Prof. D. 0. Eaton of New Haven, who have minutely examined that region. Mr. 0. F. Austin, of Closter, N. J., has published named collections of mosses. The "Bulletin of the Torrey Bo- tanical Club " (monthly, New York) contains "important contributions to our bryology by Mr. Austin, and, especially with reference to southern and far western species, by Dr. Carl Miiller of Halle, Germany. MOSTAR, a town of European Turkey, in the vilayet of Bosnia, capital of Herzegovina, on both sides of the river Narenta, 38 m. S. W. of Bosna-Serai, in lat. 43 20' N., Ion. 17 58' E. ; pop. about 18,000. The buildings of the town are scattered over a plain through which the river runs, and the only noteworthy ones are the governor's palace and a few of the mosques, of which there are more than 30. There is also a Greek church, and the town is the residence of the Greek metropolitan of the district. There are two bazaars, and an extensive trade is carried on in agricultural products and silk. Mostar was founded about 1440, and named after the bridge crossing the Narenta at this point (Most Star, old bridge), which was probably built in the time of Trajan or Ha- drian, and still connects the two portions of the town. It consists of a single Roman arch, 95 ft. in span and about 80 ft. above the stream in summer. MOSUL, or Mossnl, a town of Asiatic Turkey, capital of a district of the same name in the vilayet of Diarbekir, on the right bank of the Tigris, 220 m. N. N. W. of Bagdad ; pop. about 40,000, of whom 9,000 are Christians, 1,500 MOTH 867 Jews, and the rest Arabs, Turks, and Kurds. Its fortifications are dilapidated. The streets are narrow and irregular ; the houses, mostly built of a composition of pebbles, lime, and clay, have flat roofs surrounded by parapets, and the stairs are always on the outside. It is one of the chief centres of the Jacobites, their bishop, next in rank to the patriarch, residing in a neighboring convent; there are also United Syrian and Chaldean bishops, and the Chaldean patriarch of Babylon usually re- sides here. It once had considerable com- merce, and it is still a thoroughfare for the trade between Bagdad, Syria, and Constanti- nople. Its manufactures are chiefly coarse cottons and shawls. In the middle ages it was noted for its muslin, with which it supplied Europe, and which derived its name from this place. The climate is very hot in summer, but the winters are mild and agreeable. In the vi- cinity are several hot sulphur springs which are much frequented. Mosul is chiefly interesting as being near the site of Nineveh, whose re- mains exist in great mounds on the opposite side of the river, excavated by Botta and Layard. MOTAGUA, Rio. See GUATEMALA, vol. viii., p. 289. MOTH (phalcena, Linn.), the common name of the third and last section of the order lepi- doptera, the other two having been described under BUTTERFLY and HAWK MOTH. This sec- tion includes a great number of nocturnal in- sects, also called night butterflies and millers, including all that cannot be arranged under the other sections. They vary greatly in size, color, and form ; while those with gilded wings are very minute, the atlas moth of China (atta- cus atlas) covers a space 9 by 6 in. with its expanded wings, and the owl moth of Brazil (erebus strix) expands 11 in. The antennae are usually tapering, either naked or feathered, varying according to sex, and amplest in the males ; the wings are bridled by bristles and hooks, the first pair covering the posterior, and sloping when at rest; some females have very small wings or none at all ; the hind legs have two pairs of spurs. The tongue in most con- sists of a sucking tube formed of two hollow threads, rolled up when not in use ; in some it is very short or wanting; there are generally two feelers, curving upward from the lower lip. The legs in the larvae vary from 10 to 16 ; some in this condition are smooth and naked, others hairy uniformly or in tufts, others warty or spiny; some enclose themselves in silken cocoons (as the silkworm), others enter the ground, or undergo their change in the inte- rior of plants ; the chrysalids are oval without angular elevations. Most moths conceal them- selves by day, flying only at night and during the warm season; a few, as some lomlyces, fly by day and in the brightest sunlight. Modern entomologists generally recognize seven groups, as follows : I. Bombyces or spinners, including Latreille's four sections of hepialites, lomby- cites, pseudo-lombyces, and aposura. This, the