26 LAC 



KUKUI OXXi. An oil expressed from the seeds of the Aleuritcs triloba, or candle- 

 nut tree. It is tised as an artist's oil. 



KUSS-KUSS. This is the tough fibrous rhizome of an Indian grass. It is woven 

 into a fabric called tatty in India ; it has an extensive use in the manufacture of 

 awnings, blinds, and sunshades ; these are often sprinkled with water during tho hot 

 seasons, which, by evaporation, cools the air in the apartment, and at the same time 

 imparts an agreeable odour. 



KYANXTE. A stone, which is sometimes blue and transparent. It is then em- 

 ployed as a gem ; it resembles sapphire. Its chemical composition is, silica, 37'0 ; 

 alumina, 63'0. 



K.YATCIZING. A process for preserving wood, successfully carried out by tho 

 late Mr. Kyan of New York. A solution of corrosive sublimate is forced into tho 

 pores of the timber. This chloride of mercury combines with, and coagulates the 

 vegetable albumen, and thus renders the wood impervious to air or moisture. 



XYAHTOIf. The old name of aniline. It was applied by Kunge to the base from 

 coal-tar. 



KYROSITE. A sulphide of copper containing traces of arsenic, from Briccius, 

 near Annaberg, in Saxony. 



FLUID. A solution of chloride of soda, occasionally used 

 in bleaching. See CHIOHIDE OF LIME. 



XtAXIDAXffUnc. A resin found on the leaves of the Cistus Creticus, in Candia. 

 It is used in perfumery and for pastiles. 



IiABRADQRITZ:, or LABRADOR FELSPAR, is a beautiful mineral, with 

 brilliant changing colours, blue, red, and green, &c. Spec. grav. 2'70 to 2 - 75. 

 Scratches glass ; affords no water by calcination ; fusible at the blowpipe into a 

 frothy bead; soluble in muriatic acid; solution affords a copious precipitate with 

 oxalate of ammonia. Cleavages of 93 and 86J ; one of which is brilliant and 

 pearly. Its constituents are, silica, 5575 ; alumina, 26'5 ; lime, 11 ; soda, 4; oxide 

 of iron, l - 25; water, - 5. 



Labradorite receives a fine polish, and the beaiity of its chatoyant reflections re- 

 commends it as an article of ornament. H.W.B. 



In addition to the play of iridescent colours exhibited on the brachydiagonal 

 cleavage-plane of labradorite, the mineral usually presents an aventurine-like appear- 

 ance due to the enclosure of microscopic scales and crystals (microliths). The minute 

 structure of labradorite has recently been studied by Schrauf, of Vienna, and other 

 microscopists. See FELSPAR. 



LABRADOR TEA. An infusion of the leaves of Ledum palustre and L. lati- 

 folium, drunk in parts of North America. 



LABITRCTAIW. Cytisus Laburnam. (Arbois commun, Fr. ; Goldregen, Ger.) 

 The wood of the laburnam-treo is sometimes used in ornamental cabinet-work and 

 in marquetry. ' In the laburnam there is this peculiarity, namely, that the me- 

 dullary plates, which are large and very distinct, are white, whereas the fibres 

 are a dark brown a circumstance which gives an extraordinary appearance to this 

 wood.' Ailcin. 



LABYRINTH, in Metallurgy, means a series of canals distributed from tho lead 

 of a stamping-mill ; through which canals a stream of water is transmitted for sus- 

 pending, carrying off, and depositing, at different distances, the ground ores. See 

 DKESSING OF OEES. 



XiAC. (Laque, Fr. ; Lack, LacJcfarben, Ger.) A resinous substance produced 

 by tho puncture of a peculiar female insect, called Coccus lacca or fens, upon the 

 branches of several plants ; as the Ficus rdlgiosa or the pepel tree, the F. Indica, tho 

 Bhamnusjujuba, tho Crotonlacciferum or bihar tree, and the Buteafrondosa, tho Dhak, 

 which grow in Siam, Assam, Pegu, Bengal, and Malabar. The twig becomes thereby 

 incrusted with a reddish mammillated resin, having a crystalline-looking fracture. 



The female lac-insect is of the size of a louse; rod, round, flat, with 12 abdominal 

 circles, a bifurcated tail, antennae, and 6 claws, half the length of tho body. Tho male 

 is twice the above size, and has 4 wings ; there is one of them to 5,000 females. In 

 November or December the yoxing brood makes its escape from the eggs, lying be- 

 neath the dead body of tho mother ; they crawl about a little way, and fasten them- 

 selves to the bark of the shrubs. About this period the branches often swarm to 

 such a degree with this vermin, that they seem covered with a red dust ; in this case, 

 they are apt to dry up, by being exhausted of their juices. Many of these insects. 



