FLORISMART. 749 FLOUNDER. FLORISMART, flares -mart. One of Charle- magne's peers, a friend of Roland, in I lingian cycle of i omi FLORIS'TICS (from l.at. ftos, Bower)-. The division of phytogeography which treats 'if plant distribution from the standpoint oi classification (taxonomy), rathei than from the standpoint oi environment (ecology). See Distbibi nos 01 Plants; Ecoloqt; Taxonomy. FLOR'IZEL. The Prince oi Bohemia, in Shakespeare's Winter's Tale. He finds Perdita, the daughter of his father's enemy, living near the palace as a shepherdess, and falls in love with her. FLORIZEL, or FLORISEL, DE NIQUEA. A supplement by Feliciano de Silva to the mediaeval romance Amadis of Gaul. The title character is the son of Amadis of Greece and Niquea. FLORIZEL AND PER'DITA. The name given by Garrick to his revision fur the stage of Shakespeare's Winter's Tale, which was pro duceel January 21. 17~><i. at the Drury Lane, adapter played Leontes in the performance. FLO'RTJS. A Roman historian, who flourished in the reign of Trajan or Hadrian, lie is gen- erally, but on insufficient evidence, called L. Annoeus Florus, and of his life we know abso- lutely nothing. He wrote an epitome of Roman history (Epitomw de Tito Livio Libri Dim) from the foundation of the city to the time of Augus- tus. This work, which is still extant, is care fully and intelligently composed, tint is disfigured by an inflated and metaphorical style. It is based, as its title shows, on the history of Livy. The best edition is by Halm (Leipzig, 1879). FLOSS SILK (from OF. flosche, It. floseia, floss, from T.at. Ilnxiis. soft, flaccid, from /'ion. to flow). Silk fibre from the finest part of the cocoon, after all that can be reeled otT has been removed. It is carded and spun, but not twisted, so that its texture is soft, downy, and lustrous. It is used chiefly for embroidery. Sec Silk. FLOTATION. See Hydrostatics. FLOTOW, flf/to. Fbtedrich von (1812-83). A German composer of light opera, lie was born at Teutendorf, Mecklenburg, the son of a minor landed nobleman. He was at first, educated for the diplomatic service, but early decided to de- vote himself entirely to music. A period of study in composition under Reicha. at Paris, was brought to a termination by the Revolution of July, 1830; whereupon he returned to Mecklen- burg, and devoted himself to composition. He was unfortunate with his earlier operas, which were refused by the managers of the important Paris theatres: but his success was compen- satingly great upon the production of Lc nau- frage de hi Miduse, in 1839, at the Theatre de la Renaissance. /,< forestier, L'esclavi de Gamoens, A Icssandro Stradella, L'dme i n peine, were among his universally successful operas; while Riibezahl and Hilda had their greatest vogue in France and fiermany. Of his compositions that have lasting value, but two arc generally known: Alessandro Stradella and Martha. His operas were in- variably characterized by easy and lively drama tic action, readiness of invention, facility of expression, pleasing melodies, and graceful in ftrumentation. In 18.~>n he received the appoint nient of intendant of the Court theatre at Schwerin, and wa - electi d ■< mi mbi i of 1 he He di.-. I ai Darmstadt. FLOTSAM. Goods wl -id for t lc -a fit of i he ship and which are afterwards found ail. .at. 'I i..- term wreck is. in the legal t ptation of tin- term, confined to ich have floated i i "in ion ol « re. tin- guished t hose know n to t lie a m, i< /.s.i.,/, .in. I ligan. 'I I.. I > : i here t he float ing on tl ' he waves; the second is where, being cast into the sea, t beg -ml, and i ema in under water ; the where they are Bunk in the sea. bul are tied to a i. holder, or buoy, in order that they may be .-red. If no owner appears to claim them, in these various positions go to the Crown, thai by a royal grant to a man of wrecks, things flotsam, jetsam, or ligan will not | The usually accepted dial inct ion bt I m en flol in- and jetsam is that flotsam is applied to such good - as are cast out of a of the wind or sea, while jetsam is the term. given to goods intentionally thrown ..veil... aril. A- to third partir-. the law makes no distinction. Admiralty Law; Salvage; Debeliot. FLOTTE, Hot. or FLOTE, PrEBBE (c.1250- 1302) i luii.vllor of France. Little is km of him. He was born in Auvergne; was -.ait on important missions by the King in 1293; and was at Court in 1296. About two wards he was sent to Rome to consult with the Pope on the canonization of Louis IX. . and went to England as ambassador. He was in the thick of the quarrels between Philip the Fair and Pope, and was the first layman to be Chancellor of France. He was killed at Courtrai. FLOUNDER (Ger. Plunder, from ODan. flun- dra, OSwed. flundrce, flounder). A nam.- for any of the many marine fishes of the family l'l.Min me. tid;e I sec FLATFISH ) . which includes the halibut, dab, plaice, fluke, etc. The bodj is more i.r less elongate, always much compressed, and with the dorsal and anal fins extending for the greater length of the body; the scales may be ab sent. The flounders possess the remarkable charac- ter (unique among vertebrates i of swimming, not with the back, but with one side uppermost. The peculiarly twisted structure of the head is adapt ed to tlii- mode of life, both eyes being on same side of the head. When young the eyes, a other fishes, arc on each side of the head, and thej swim erect: hut as the fish grows older one eye moves to the other side, either around the ■ or right through the head. The sid body which, i- uppermost is normally colored, the |>ar ticular coloration usually corresponding strongly to the color of the bottom on which it dwell-, while the side which habitually lies downward is white or faintly colored. Flounders abound chiefly where the bottom i- smooth, either sandy or muddy. The family is a very large one, in- cluding al». nt fifty-five genera and live hundred species. They are found in all oceans them living in brackish waters and even entering rivers. Some of the species grow to an enormous size — 500 pounds. Thej are very important food fishes. (See Fisheries.) The family i- di- vided into three trihes. namely: ill Hipp, since, the halibuts, having a large, symmetrical mouth and the ventral tin- symmetl Halibut); (2) Pleuronectit ndera
