BONA 107 BOOK responding to the description of the tomb of Romulus alluded to by Varro as "Lapis Niger." This stone differs from ordinary Roman silicium, and comes from Cape Tenarium, in Greece, thus proving that communication existed be- tween Rome and Greece in the most remote period. For many centuries, till the fall of the Roman empire, the tomb of Romulus was considered a sacred shrine by the Romans. The discovery is incalculably valuable to historians and archaeologists, proving the fact, often doubted and ridiculed, especially by the German school, that a black stone, sur- rounded by a marble inclosure one me- ter high, was missing from the E. side of the Rostra Julia. BONA, an island with a lighthouse in the Inner Hebrides, between Skye and the mainland of Scotland, 4% miles long, 1 broad. It is extremely barren and of unattractive aspect. Also the name of a small island with remains of an ancient oratory, 44 miles N. E. of the Butt of Lewis. RONDEAU, or RONDO, a kind of poetry which returns, as it were, to the same point, or in which part is repeated, thus containing a refrain. In French poetry, the rondeau is a little composi- tion of 13 verses, divided into three un- equal strophes, with two rhymes (five lines masculine and five feminine, or vice versa). The first two or three words of the first verse serve as the burden, and recur in that shape after the 8th and 13th verses. There are also double rondeaux and single rondeaux; the lat- ter an obsolete but easier kind of verse. In music, a light form of composition, in which the subject or theme returns frequently; it usually forms the last movement of a symphony or sonata. RONSABD, PIERRE DE, a French poet; born in Vendomois, France, Sept. 11, 1524. At the age of 12 he became page to the Due d'Orleans; and in 1537 he accompanied James V. of Scotland and his bride, Madeleine of France, back to their kingdom. He also spent six months at the English court, and after his return to France in 1540 was em- ployed in a diplomatic capacity in Ger- many, Piedmont, Flanders, and Scotland. He was compelled, however, by deafness to abandon the diplomatic career; and he devoted himself to literary studies and became the chief of the band of seven poets afterward known as the "Pleiade." Ronsard's popularity and prosperity dur- ing his life were very great. Henry II., Francis II., and Charles IX. es- teemed him, and the last bestowed sev- eral abbacies and priories on the poet. His writings consist of sonnets, odes, hymns, eclogues, elegies, satires, and a fragment of an epic poem, "La Fran- ciade." He died at Tours, in December, 1585. ROOD, a cross or crucifix; specifically, a representation of the crucified Saviour, or, more generally, of the Trinity, placed in Catholic churches over the altar screen, hence termed the rood screen. The cross displayed the three persons of the Trinity, the Son being represented as crucified. Generally figures of the Virgin and St. John were placed at a slight distance on each side of the prin- cipal group, in reference to John xix: 26. See Rod. ROOD, HENRY, an essayist and edi- tor, born in Philadelphia, 1867. From 1900 to 1910 he was assistant editor of "Harper's Magazine." He contributed short stories and essays on literary and economic topics to many of the leading magazines and was special correspon- dent for the New York "Sun," "Times," "Herald," and "Evening Post." He wrote, together with Colonel W. H. Crook, "Memories of the White House" (1911). ROOF, the external covering on the top of a building; sometimes of stone, but usually of wood overlaid with slates, tiles, lead, etc. The form and construc- tion of the timber work of roofs differ materially according to the nature of the building on which it is to be placed, and any attempt to notice all the varieties would far exceed the limits of this work. The main parts of the framing, which in most cases are placed at regular in- tervals, are each called a truss, princi- pal, or pair of principals; these, in or- namental open roofs, are the leading features, and in some ancient roofs are contrived with an especial view to ap- pearance. A king-post roof has one vertical post in each truss, a queen-post roof has two. Since the introduction of iron in the construction of roofs, spaces of almost any width can be roofed over. Also that which resembles, or corre- sponds with, the cover of a building; as, the roof of the mouth, the roof of the firmament, etc. ROOF OF THE WORLD, the Pamirs; an extensive table-land of Central Asia, so named by its natives. A part of the plateau is said to be 15,000 feet above the sea. ROOK, a European species of crow (Corvus frugilegus, Linn.), resembling in size and color the carrion crow, but differing in having the base of the bill whitish and scurfy, and bare of feathers. The rook is gregarious at all seasons, resorting constantly to the same trees
