Ring

4002

Rio

fitted into each other and formed one. Con-
sult Jones' Finger-ring Lore.

Ring Dove, Wood Pigeon, or Cushat

(Columba palumbus), a wild pigeon of
Western Europe, so called on account of the
white feathers which partly encircle the neck;
there is also a white band on the wings, and
the tail feathers are nearly black.

Ringed Plover, or Ringneck (/£ kiati-
cula), the popular name for any member of
the genus ^Egialitis, one of whose distinguish-
ing marks is a dark line or band around the
neck. See PLOVEK.

James Whitcomb Riley.

Ring Money, a medium of exchange used
in early commerce, before the invention of
coinage, but after the inconveniences of di-
rect barter became evident. Precious metals
were made into the form of rings and were
used as currency in this form among the
early Egyptians. Caesar mentions that in Gaul
and Britain gold and silver rings were used
as money.

Ring-Ouzel (Turdus torquatus), a thrush
which breeds in mountainous regions through-
out Europe, eastward as far as the Urals.

Ring Snake, a popular name in different
countries for several distinct species of snake.
In the United States it is a small harmless
snake of the Southern States, bluish black in
color, with a whitish collar band.

Ringworm, a parasitic skin disease, highly
contagious, and due to either of two para-
sitic fungi, Microsporon andouini or a va-
riety of Trichophyton. It affects cattle, horses,
sheep, dogs, guinea-pigs, and cats, and may be
communicated to man from any of these.
When found on the surface of the body the
fungus grows in the epidermis; but on the
scalp, where it is most common, it is chiefly
seated in the interior of the hair roots. The

term Porrigo is often used for this disease,
although it designates also other diseases of
the scalp.

Riobamba, or Cajabamba, town, Ecua-
dor, capital of Chimborazo province, near
the Riobamba River; 85 m. n.e. of Guaya-
quil, at an altitude of 9,000 ft. It is the resi-
dence of a bishop, and contains a cathedral,
a seminary, and a national college; p. 20,000.

Rio Colorado, a river of the Argentine
Republic, rises in the Andes, under the name
of Rio Grande, and after a generally s.e.
course for about 500 m. as the Rio Colorado,
enters the Atlantic Ocean through Bahia
Blanca.

Rio Cuarto, town, Argentine Republic, in
Cordoba province; 170 m. s. of Cordoba. It
is a place of strategical importance. The lead-
ing industries are flour milling, breweries and
tanneries; p. 18,000.

Rio de Janeiro, state, Brazil, on the east
coast, bounded by the states of Esperito San-
tos, Minas Geraes, and Sao Paulo, and by the
Atlantic Ocean; area, 26,634 scl- m- The cli-
mate is delightful and the soil generally fertile.
The inland portion is mountainous, while the
land along the coast is low. The principal
river is the Parahyba do Sul. The chief min-
erals are iron, kaolin, and marble and the
chief agricultural products are coffee, cot-
ton, rice, sugar, tobacco, fruit, rubber, and
cattle. The capital is Nictheroy (p. 108,000);
p. 2,000,000.

Rio de Janeiro, city, capital of Brazil,
and second largest city of South America, is
situated in a Federal District (area, 431 sq.
m.), bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the
state of Rio de Janeiro, and the bay of the
same name. The bay gradually widens from
Y$ m. at the entrance to 15 m. at the head,
16 m. inland. The city is defended by forts
on either side of the harbor entrance. The
climate is healthy, though hot for about two
months of the year. Rio de Janeiro is di-
vided into sections by many ridges, the most
famous heights being Sugar Loaf (Pao de
Azucar, 1,260 ft.) and Corcovado (2,300 ft.);
but the sections are connected by broad
avenues. The commercial section and the
poorer quarters are built on the flat land.
The capital has several fine parks and squares,
as well as Botanical and Zoological Gardens.

The educational institutions of the city in-
clude the National Library containing many
valuable collections, the University formed
in 1920 by the consolidation of the Medical,
Polytechnic, and Law Schools, Municipal Li-
brary, Observatory, Botanical Garden, His-