to Georg Ohm, the German mathematician, the remarkably simple description of the manner in which electric currents flow through conductors, now known as Ohm's law. Fourier was quite as remarkable for breadth of culture as for special attainments in mathematics. At the same time with Cuvier he was perpetual secretary of the French Academy of Science.
Fowl. See Poultry.
Fox, an animal closely related to the dog and jackal, but distinguished by the sharp muzzle, erect ears, vertical pupil of the eye and long, bushy tail. There are several kinds, common in different parts of the world, with the exception of South America. The one most widely distributed
|
| Cross Fox (a Variety of the Red Fox) |
in this country is the red fox, which resembles the common fox of Europe and Great Britain, but is distinguished by slight differences. This animal is about thirty inches in the body and head, and the tail is about a foot and one half long. Its fur is a reddish-yellow, with the tips of the ears and tail black and a white line on the belly. There are several slight varieties differing in details of color. It is a clever and cunning animal, being often able to elude the hounds in the chase. The Arctic fox, which ranges southward to Labrador and Newfoundland, has beautiful silky fur, bluish or brown in summer and pure white in winter. The black fox or silver fox holds first place among fur-bearers; in London a single skin brought $2,784, and in this country skins not infrequently sell at from $600 to $1,200. The animal is jet-black, save for snow-white tip of tail and a few scattered white hairs low on its back.
Fox, Charles James, the son of the first Lord Holland, was a British statesman, born on Jan. 24, 1749. He was educated at Eton and Oxford and at nineteen was elected to Parliament. He became an active supporter of the administration of Lord North, and was made an admiralty-lord. This office he resigned in 1772, and was next year appointed a commissioner of the treasury, from which he was dismissed when he went over to the ranks of the Opposition. During the American Revolutionary War, he was an opponent of the coercive measures toward the colonies adopted by the government, and was a strenuous advocate of the claims of the colonists. After occupying various other high offices of state, he died on Sept. 13, 1806, and his remains were interred in Westminster Abbey near those of Pitt. Burke called him "the greatest debater the world ever saw." See Early History of C. J. Fox by Sir George Trevelyan.
Fox, George, was the founder, of the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers, and was born at Dray ton, in Leicestershire, England, in July, 1624. At nineteen his religious convictions forced him into the belief that he was the subject of a special divine call, and, leaving home, Bible in hand, he wandered over the country, holding meetings. He not only was a great religious, but a great social, reformer. His dress, mode of speech and manners were different from others. He took off his hat to no one; addressed men and women as thee and thou; and opposed all unnecessary form in religious observance. He was persecuted and arrested, but the sincerity of his views was admitted. He visited America with Penn, Barclay and Keith. Fox died on Nov. 13, 1690. He was known as a lovable and Christlike man, with a heart full of love for his fellow-beings. See George Fox and the Early Quakers by A. C. Bickley.
France, the most westerly portion of Europe, lying between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. France in its present limits covers 207,054 square miles, or one nineteenth of Europe, with a coast-line of 1,760 miles (1,304 on the Atlantic and 456 on the Mediterranean). It is bounded on the north by the English Channel and the Strait of Dover; on the northeast by Belgium and the grand-duchy of Luxemburg; on the east by Lorraine, Alsace, Switzerland and Italy; on the south by the Mediterranean and Spain; and on the west by the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic. Its greatest length from north to south is 606 miles and from east to west 556 miles. Its land-frontier extends over 1,575 miles, of which 1,156 miles are along the Belgian, German, Swiss and Italian frontiers and 419 miles along the Spanish frontier.
Surface and Drainage. The country is divided between the lowlands in the northwest and a large tableland which covers the southeastern half, and on the south and southeast borders the slopes of the Pyrenees and Alps. The tableland rises in its highest parts from 3,000 to 4,000 feet, with deep river-valleys and mountain-chains, reaching 5,000 or 6,000 feet in height. The plain slopes toward the Rhône and the Mediterranean, fringed by the Cevennes Mountains, the highest peak being Mont Mezenc (5,754 feet). This chain of mountains separates two widely different regions: the fertile, sunny and warm plains
