RHYMER 28 RIBBON FISH Latin poetry of the Christian Church. It is found used as early as the 4th century. The early English, German, and Scandinavian poems are distinguished by alliteration instead of rhymes. RHYMER, THOMAS, of Erceldoune, or Earlston, Berwickshire, England, oth- erwise called Thomas the Rhymer; a half-legendary Scotch poet or romancer of the 13th century. He is mentioned by Barbour, Blind Harry, and Wyntoun, was credited with prophetical powers, and his "Prophecies," a collection of oracular rhymes, were long popular in Scotch folk lore. The old metrical ro- mance of "Sir Tristram" is doubtfully ascribed to him. RHYNCHONELLA, in zoology, the typical genus of Rhynchonellidse. Shell trigonal, acutely beaked, usually plaited; dorsal valve elevated in front; ventral flattened, or hollowed along the center. Known recent species four, from the North Polar regions and New Zealand. Known species 332, from the Lower Si- lurian onward. Found in Europe, Asia, and North and South America. RHYOLITE, also known as Liparite and Nevadite, a group of volcanic rocks, containing a high percentage of silica, and possessing in many cases a vitreous character. The name Liparite is de- rived from the Lipari Islands, where quantities of Rhyolites are found. RHYS, ERNEST, an English editor and writer, born in London, in 1859. He was educated in the public schools in Wales and England, and became a mining engineer in 1877. He aban- doned this career in 1885 to engage in writing and lecturing on literary sub- jects. He several times visited the United States, delivering lectures. He was the editor of the "Camelot Series" of reprints and translations, and also edited several of the Elizabethan dra- matists. He was also editor of the "Everyman's Library" series. His writ- ings include "Welsh Ballads and Other Poems" (1898) ; "The Fiddler of Carne" (1896); "The Whistling Maid" (1900); "Lvric Poetry" (1913) ; and "Rabindra- nath Tagore" (1915). RHYS, JOHN (ris), a Celtic philol- ogist; born in Abercaero, Cardiganshire, Wales, June 21, 1840. He was Profes- sor of Celtic in Oxford from 1877 and principal of Jesus College from 1895. He published "Lectures on Welsh Phi- lology" (1877) ; "Celtic Britain" (1882) ; "Studies in the Arthurian Legends" (1891); "The Welsh People" (1901). He died in 1915. RHYTHM, in general a measured succession of divisions or intervals in written composition, music, or dancing. The rhythm of poetry is the regular succession of accent, emphasis, or voice stress; or a certain succession of long and short (heavy and light) syllables in a verse. Prose also has its rhythm, and the only difference (so far as sound is concerned) between verse and prose is, that the former consists of a regular succession of similar cadences, divided by grammatical pauses and emphases into proportional clauses, so as to pre- sent sensible responses to the ear at reg- ular proportioned distances. In music, rhythm is the disposition of the notes of a composition in respect of time and measure ; the measured beat which marks the character and expression of the music. RIAZAN, or RYAZAN, Russia, capital of the province of the same name, 120 miles S. E. of Moscow, situated on the Trubezh river. It was noted before the World War for the excellent cutlery produced in its factories and was also an important center of the textile in- dustry. The population is about 48,000. The province of Riazan is drained by the Oka river, has an area of 16,254 square miles and a population of about 2,700,000. RIB, in anatomy, one of the long curved bones which form the walls of the chest. They extend in an oblique direc- tion from the vertebrae of the back to the sternum in front. There are usually 12 on each side; but in some rare cases 13 have been found, in others only 11. They are distinguished into "true" and "false"; the former being the seven up- per ribs, which are articulated to the sternum; the latter the five lower ones, which are not immediately attached to that bone. The use of the ribs is to cover and defend the lungs and heart; and their articulations with the verte- bra? and sternum admitting of a slight motion, they assist in respiration. See Anatomy: Thorax. In shipbuilding, one of the timbers of a ship, which have their base in the keel as a backbone, and serve to maintain generally the cav- ity of the vessel. In architecture, one of the curvilinear timbers to which, in an arched or covered plaster ceiling, the laths are nailed. In botany, the princi- pal vein or nervure which proceeds from the petiole into the blade of a leaf. In mining, a pillar of coal left for the sup- port of the roof of a mine. RIBBON FISH, the Regalecus banksii, known also as the oar-fish. Its length is about 12 feet; color, silvery, with irreg-
