FINGAL'S CAVE 



2175 



FINLAND 



acteristic of the Greek and Roman periods. 

 Painting, music and poetry were the romantic 

 arts, appropriate to ages of complicated and 

 overmastering ideas, and characteristic of mod- 

 ern humanity in general. 



Related Subjects. The reader is referred to 

 the following articles in these volumes : 

 Architecture tf Painting 



Arts and Crafts Poetry 



Music Sculpture 



FIN 'GAL'S CAVE, an interesting natural 

 grotto in the island of Staffa, seven miles west 

 of Mull, Scotland, which is supposed to have 

 been hollowed out by the action of the waves 

 on volcanic deposits of lava. It is formed of 



ENTRANCE TO FINGAL'S CAVE 



basaltic columns, extends 227 feet inward, and 

 its entrance arch is 66 feet high. It is con- 

 sidered one of the most picturesque natural 

 formations in the world, and is believed to have 

 been named after Fingal, a legendary Gaelic 

 hero. 



FINGER PRINT IDENTIFICATION. In the 

 art of identification of criminals sure meth- 

 ods have long been sought. The Bertillon 

 System (which see) is not absolutely perfect, 

 as there is a chance of error which may lead 



FINGER PRINTS 



At left, double, or twinned loops ; in center, a 

 whorl ; at right, simple loop. In all the world 

 there are no other thumb impressions which will 

 register exactly the same forms as the above. 



to the punishment of the innocent. The meas- 

 urements which formed the basis of the Ber- 

 tillon method have been supplemented by 



finger prints in such a way that a record may 

 be kept which renders it difficult for a crim- 

 inal, once his finger print has been taken, to 

 escape later identification, if captured. 



The use of finger prints was common among 

 Eastern nations several centuries before the 

 Christian Era. The lines on the fingers and 

 thumb vary in different individuals, but these 

 lines on any one individual do not change in 

 their general pattern during lifetime, and once 

 recorded, can always be compared with fresh 

 impressions. It is believed to-day that no two 

 finger prints are exactly alike. In making a 

 record for preservation the impression, or finger 

 print, is taken by placing the fingers or thumbs 

 on a sheet of glass covered with India ink. 

 The fingers are then pressed upon white paper. 

 If a criminal leaves a finger print on glass, or 

 any other smooth surface on which the heat 

 and natural moisture of the hand would cause 

 such impression, it may be photographed and 

 compared with those on record. Finger print 

 identification is now largely relied on by the 

 police of all countries. 



FINIAL, fin'ial, in architecture, from the 

 Latin finis, meaning end, is a finishing orna- 

 ment at the top of pinnacles, spires, gables 

 or other pointed structures. Finials are found 

 in Greek architecture and are still extensively 

 employed. In ecclesiastical architecture an 

 elaborate finial of metal work surmounted by 

 a cross is commonly used. In Mohammedan 

 countries it forms a foundation for the crescent. 

 Finials reached their most artistic stage in the 

 latter part of the twelfth century. Many old 

 English churches contain splendid examples in 

 the decorations of the ends of pews. 



FIN 'LAND, a new republic carved out of 

 Russia in 1918, called by its people "the land 

 of lakes and fens." With good reason is it 

 thus named, for over eleven per cent of its 

 surface is covered with lakes, and an even 

 larger proportion with bog and marsh. It 

 has Norwegian Lapland on the north, Russia 

 proper on the east, the Gulf of Finland on the 

 south, and the Gulf of Bothnia and Sweden on 

 the west. Within its borders is included a large 

 part of Russian Lapland, and its total area 

 is 144,255 square miles, almost that of the state 

 of Montana. 



The People. The population, which is in- 

 creasing steadily and in 1911 numbered 3,154,- 

 284, is largely made up of Finns, although 

 about twelve per cent are Swedes, and there 

 are a few Russians and Lapps. The Finns are 

 a strong, well-built people, distinguished by 



