collection. It is specially referred to by Sir Joshua Reynolds in his Notes on his Tour through Flanders and Holland. Q. M. was on intimate terms with Erasmus, Sir Thomas More, and Petrus Ægidius. Many elaborate specimens of ornamental iron-work are attributed to this artist; but from the facts connected with his career as a painter, it may be inferred that he merely furnished designs for the works in iron referred to.

QUINTIN, or QUINTAINE, was an instrument used in the ancient practice of tilting on horseback with the lance. It consisted of an upright post,

Ancient Quintin at Offham, Kent.

surmounted by a cross-bar turning on a pivot, which had at one end a flat board, at the other a bag of sand. The object of the tilter was to strike the board at such speed that the rider was past before the bag of sand, as it whirled round, could hit him on the back.

QUINTUPLET, in Music, a rhythmical group of five notes, formed of a note divided into five instead of its proper complement of four parts; the five notes having collectively the value usually expressed by four such notes. Thus, the five semi

equivalent in value to one crotchet, or four ordinary semiquavers.

QUINTUS CURTIUS RU'FUS, the Roman historian, flourished probably in the time of Vespasian; while a less plausible conjecture represents him as having lived in the reign of Constantine. Nothing further is known, or can even be fairly surmised regarding his life. His work entitled De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni Regis Macedonum, consisted of ten books; but of these the first two are lost, and the other eight are occasionally imperfect. Its style is flowing and ornate, but it wants the pure Latinity of Cicero, and the simplicity of Cæsar. Along with the Greek history of Arrian, it forms our most valuable source of information respecting the

military career of Alexander the Great, although it is not entirely free from geographical, chronological, and strategical blunders. The best edition is that of Zumpt (Brunswick, 1849).

QUIRE (Fr. cahier), of paper, consists of twentyfour sheets, each doubled once, and one placed within the other.

QUIRI'NUS was, among the Sabines (and according to Mommsen, among the Latins also), a surname of Mars, and is probably derived from the Latin word quiris, a spear. It is therefore equivalent to the Spear-bearer.' According to the ancient legend, the name was first given to Romulus (q. v.), as the son of Mars, after his apotheosis, and the festival instituted in his honour was called the Quirinalia. The QUIRINAL (Lat. Collis Quirinalis), is one of the seven hills on which ancient Rome stood, and, next to the Palatine and Capitoline, the oldest and most famous quarter of the city. It lies due north of the Palatine, and its western slope looks down on the Campus Martius, which stretches from its base to the banks of the Tiber. According to the ancient legend, it was the seat of the Sabine portion of the mixed population of early Rome; but this idea is strongly combated by Mommsen, who rejects as a baseless speculation' the etymologico-historical hypothesis started by Varro, and, as usual, unanimously echoed by Latin writers, that the Latin quiris and Quirinus are akin to the Sabine town Cures, and that the Quirinal Hill accordingly had been peopled from Cures' (History of Rome, vol. i.). The most notable structures on the Quirinal were The Temple of Quirinus, said to have been built by Numa in honour of Romulus, The Temples of Flora, Salus, Fortuna, and Sol. Here, also, were the famous

Gardens of Sallust (Horti Sallustiani), the Circus Flora, the Circus Sallustii, the Baths of Diocletian, and the Prætorian Camp.

QUI'SCALUS, a genus of birds of the family Sturnida, having the tail longer than in the starlings (Sturnus), and graduated the middle feathers longest-its sides turned up. From this last character, some of the species are often called BOAT-TAIL. The Great Boat-tail, or Great Crow Blackbird (Q. major), a bird about 16 or 17 inches long, is common in the southern parts of North America.-More common, and indeed abundant in all parts of the United States, is the PURPLE GRAKLE, or CROW BLACKBIRD (2. versicolor), a bird about twelve inches in length, tail included; black, with reflections of blue, violet, &c. Vast flocks of this species are to be seen at the seasons of migration in some parts of North America. Its migrations extend to very northern regions in summer. It is to be found in Louisiana at all seasons. Its depredations in fields of maize and other kinds of grain, make it an object of especial dislike to North American farmers. Its flesh is dry and coarse, although often used for food; but its eggs are esteemed a delicacy.

QUITCH. See COUCH GRASS.

QUI TAM actions are actions so called in the law of England from the first words of the old form of declaration by which informers sue for penalties, the plaintiff describing himself as suing as well for the crown as for himself, the penalty being divided between himself and the crown.

QUITO, the capital of Ecuador (q. v.), and of a province of the same name, stands between two parallel ranges of the Andes, on the east side of the volcano of Pichincha (q. v.), at an elevation of 9492 feet above the sea, and in lat. 0° 15' S., long. 78° 45′ W. Its site, in the midst of mountains, is very uneven; its appearance, however, is picturesque, and its beautiful environment of mountains, together with its clear, healthy, and temperate climate, averaging 60° Fahr., and described as an eternal spring, make it one of the most charming cities of South America. From the hills in the vicinity, a beautiful panoramic view, embracing eight icy peaks of the Andes, may be obtained; and to the south of the city extends the lovely valley of Chillo, laid out in gardens. The chief edifices are built of stone, the others of adobes, or sun-dried bricks, covered with tiles. Q. contains many churches, monasteries, convents, two hospitals, two colleges, and several plazas or squares. By the earthquake of March 1859, most of the then existing churches, convents, and government buildings, as well as many private residences, were thrown down, property to the value of 3,000,000 dollars was destroyed, and many lives lost. From this calamity, the city has in great part recovered. Q. is the seat of the only archbishop in the country, and of the government. Coarse cotton and woollen goods and jewellery are manufactured, and the trade in grain, indigo, metals, and liquors is extensive. Pop. 80,000.

The most important events in the history of Q. are mentioned in the articles ECUADOR and PERU (q. v.).

QUIT RENT is the small rent which is payable by the tenants of old manors, by which they go quiet and free. In old records, it is called white rent, because it was paid in silver money, as distinguished from corn rents.

=

QUOIN (Fr. coigne, from Lat. cuneus Gr. gonia) is generally a wedge or an angle. In artillery, the quoin is a wedge inserted beneath the breech of a gun, for raising or depressing the muzzle. The Armstrong gun is elevated by a screw instead of a quoin; but considering the rough service of actual warfare, it is doubtful whether the clumsier quoin is not more to be depended on. Quoins on shipboard are wedges used to prevent casks from damaging each other.

QUOIN, in Architecture, is one of the stones forming the solid corner of a building. Where the work is of brick or small materials, the quoins are usually of ashlar. They sometimes project, and are moulded, when they are called 'Rustic Quoins.' See RUSTICATION.

QUOITS, a game much practised by the working classes in the mining districts of Great Britain, seems to have been derived from the ancient game of 'throwing the discus,' which was such a favourite amusement of the Greeks and Romans. The discus was a circular plate of stone or metal, 10-12 inches in diameter, and was held by its further edge with the right hand, so as to lean upon the fore-arm, and was cast with a swing of the arm, aided by a twist of the whole body. It was generally thrown edge foremost, and upwards at an angle of 45°, so as to give it as great a range as possible, and the player who threw it furthest was the winner. Similar to this game was the 'throwing of the solos, a heavy spherical mass of stone or iron, perforated through the centre, to admit a rope or thong, by the aid of which it was thrown. In this

68

O

Quoit.

game also, the furthest throw was the successful one. It is still practised by the mountaineers of the Appenzell, in Switzerland. The game of quoits differs very considerably from both of these. A quoit is a flattish ring of iron, generally from 8 to 9 inches in external diameter, and between 1 and 2 inches in breadth. It is convex on the upper side, and slightly concave on the under, so that the outer edge curves downwards, and is sharp enough to stick into the ground. The mode of playing is as follows: Two pins, called 'hobs,' are driven into the ground from 18 to 24 yards apart; and the players, who are divided into two parties, stand at one hob, and in regular succession throw their quoits (of which each player has two) as near to the other hob as they can. The points are counted as in bowls or in curling. To facilitate the sticking of the quoits at the point where they strike the ground, a 'clay end'-that is, a flat circle of clay, about 1 or 2 inches in thickness, and 1 feet in radius-is placed round each hob. This requires to be kept moist, and should have sawdust strewed over it. The quoit, when to be thrown, is grasped with the Hob. right hand by one side, and pitched with an upward and forward jerk of the hand and arm, which give it a whirling motion, and cause it to strike the ground with its edge. Professional players acquire such dexterity in this game, that they can very frequently ring' their quoit--that is, land it so that the quoit surrounds the hob.

QUO'RRA. See NIGER.

In

QUO'RUM (Lat. quorum, of whom) is a legal term, denoting a certain specified number out of a larger number as entitled or bound to act for certain purposes. Thus, in statutes appointing commissioners or trustees of a public work, it was usual to name a certain number of the whole body as sufficient to discharge the business, when it may be inconvenient for all to attend. In Scotland, the word is commonly used in reference to trustees appointed under trust settlements, when one or two individuals, either in point of number, or for some personal reason, must concur in formal acts. England, the word is now seldom used except in regard to justices of the peace. It was an ancient practice of the crown to select a few of the justices, generally the most skilled in the law, and designate them as of the quorum,' so as to secure their presence on certain occasions when peculiar business requiring skill was to be done. This selection, however, by degrees came to be considered invidious; and by statutes of George II. and George III., it was expressly enacted that things which formerly required to be done only by justices of the quorum, might be done by ordinary justices. And latterly, the crown has made all the justices justices of the quorum, so as to put them all on the same footing. QUOTIDIAN FEVER. See AGUE.

QUO' WA'RRANTO is a writ or information issued from the Court of Queen's Bench in Westminster, calling upon a person or body of persons to shew by what warrant they exercise a public office or privilege. It is the legal mode of remedying any usurpation of privilege or of office.

THE eighteenth letter in the English and other Western alphabets, is one of the group of liquids. See LETTERS. Its name in Hebrew was Resh, meaning forehead, and the rude outline of a head is thought to be yet recognisable in the Phoenician form of the letter. Of all the consonants, R approaches most nearly to the vowels. In Sanscrit, there is an R-vowel, distinguished from the R-consonant by a different character. The Greek also had two varieties of R, one with the 'spiritus asper' (), or rough breathing, at the beginning of words, and when following another R; and another with the weaker breathing () in other positions. The Romans in spelling Greek words represented the former by rh, and hence we still write Rhodes, rheumatism, catarrh. This rh was probably of the guttural kind commonly called a burr. This pronunciation of r occurs as a peculiarity of individuals everywhere, but it is universal in Northumberland and Durham, and characterises the pronunciation of the letter in certain positions throughout Germany and Scandinavia. The normal pronunciation of R in English and in the Romanic tongues (and it appears to have been the same in Latin) is a vibratory sound produced by applying the tip of the tongue near the roots of the upper fore-teeth. From the resemblance to the growl of an angry dog, R was called by the ancients the dog's letter. In modern English, there is an increasing tendency to smooth down the roughness of the vibration, until, in such words as far, serf, world, ther has dwindled to a kind of nondescript vowel, modifying the preceding vowel. This emasculating process-for such it undoubtedly is-is in so far only the operation of the universal law of phonetic decay, arising from the natural tendency to spend as little energy as possible; but it has been accelerated in this case by a fashion which is apt to mistake languor and indifference for refinement. This affectation goes so far as to turn words like very, rare, into vewy, waaw. R is one of the most difficult articulations; children are long in learning it, and some individuals never can pronounce it. Whole nations (e. g., the Chinese and some Polynesian tribes) have no such consonant in their language, using instead. The interchanges of

with are noticed under L. A more remarkable substitution is that of r for d, which was very prevalent in early Latin, as we learn from Priscian and from inscriptions. Ex. arvocatos for advocatos. The Latin of the literary period had returned from this corruption, except in arbiter (from an old verb, adbitere, to go to, to intervene), arcesso, and meridies (for medidies, from medius). The substitution is easily accounted for, when we consider that in both sounds the tongue is applied to the same part of the palate; only in the one it is applied firmly; in the other, loosely, so as to

vibrate.

A very common phenomenon, especially in Latin,

is the sinking or degradation of an original between two vowels into r. On inscriptions, we find Lases, asas, esum, for what at a later period was written Lares, aras, eram. Jus, mos, became in the genitive juris, moris, instead of jusis, mosis. Even final s was sometimes degraded to r, as in the double forms, arbor = arbos, honor = honos. Curiously, we know the date when the tendency to changes between two vowels into r set in; for Cicero remarks that L. Papirius Crassus, who was consul 336 B. C., was the first that was called Papirius, the ancestral name having been Papisius. The interchange in question occurs also to some extent in the Teutonic tongues. Compare Eng. forlorn with lose (Ger. verlieren), was with were; Ger. wesen (to be) with war (was); Goth. hausjan with Ger. hören (to hear); Eng. hare with Ger. hase. The unstable nature of this articulation is manifested in its frequently changing its place with regard to an adjoining vowel; compare board with broad; bird with old brid; grass with A.-S. gærs. RA. See EGYPT.

RAAB (Hung. Györ), a town of Hungary, stands on a marshy plain at the confluence of the Raab and the Little Danube, a branch of the great river of that name, 67 miles west-north-west of Buda. It consists of an inner and outer town-the former well defended-is well built, but suffers from an insufficient supply of drinking-water. It contains numerous religious edifices-among which is a beautiful cathedral. The manufactures are chiefly tobacco and cutlery; and the trade of the town, favoured by its position on the highway between Vienna and Buda, is important both by land and by steamers on the river. Pop. 16,300.

RAA'LTE, a cantonal town of the Netherlands, in the province of Overyssel, 11 miles north-northeast of Deventer. Pop. 5570, of whom one-fourth belong to the Reformed Church, and the remainder, excepting 50 Jews, to the Roman Catholic. The trade is chiefly in agricultural produce, cattle, wool, wood, and bark for tanning. R. is one of the prettiest places in the province, having many beautiful houses, and in the neighbourhood, seats of the nobility. Hans Willem, Baron van Bentinck, the founder of the ducal house of Portland, was born at R. in 1651.

RAA'SAY, one of the Western Isles, belongs to the group of the Inner Hebrides, and lies between the Isle of Skye and the mainland; the sound of Raasay separating it from the former, and Applecross Sound from the latter. It is 13 miles in length by 24 miles in greatest breadth. Pop., which is gradually decreasing, was, in 1861, 388. The western side of the island is bare and uninteresting. On the eastern and more sheltered side, there are numerous farms, some patches of plantation, and bold and striking scenery. Brochel Castle, on the east shore-now a mere ruin-is the chief object of interest in the island. It is perched on the summit of a lofty cliff, which beetles over the sea,