ORNITHOLOGY 



4415 



ORRIS ROOT 



which was destroyed by Caesar. Under the 

 Merovingian kings and in the early history of 

 France it was a place of importance. It suf- 

 fered much in the wars of the Huguenots, and 

 several battles of the Franco-German War of 

 1870 were fought in the vicinity of Orleans. 

 Population, 1911, 72,000. 



ORNITHOLOGY, awrnithol' o ji, the branch 

 of zoology that relates to the scientific study 

 of birds, their habits, description and relation 

 :uan. The study of ornithology is com- 

 monly said to date from the time of Aristotle, 

 but the foundations of the modern scientific 

 development of the subject began near the end 

 of the seventeenth century. Audubon greatly 

 aided in this science by his standard work on 

 It oj America. Of recent years photography 

 h;t- been so perfected that it is possible to pho- 

 tograph birds in all their life functions, which 

 has aided greatly in reaching a better under- 

 ling of our feathered friends. An Orni- 

 thologists' Union was organized in 1883, which 

 has for its object the advancement of its mem- 

 bers in ornithological science. See BIRD; Ar- 

 Dt HON SOCIKTY, subhead John James Audubon. 



ORONHYATEKHA, o ronhya tc'kah (1841- 

 1907), u full-blooded Indian who became one of 

 Canada's best-known physicians. Oronhyate- 

 kh:i is perhaps even more famous as an organ- 

 and advocate of fraternal orders, and was 

 for many years Chief Ranger of the Independ- 

 ent Order of Foresters. He was bora near 

 Brantford, Ont., and after some study in indus- 

 trial schools attended Kenyon College (at Gain- 

 bier, Ohio) and the University of Toronto. As 

 a student Oronhyatrkhu won such standing that 

 he was selected by the chiefs of the Six Na- 

 tions, of which he was a member, to deliver an 

 address to the Prince of Wales (later King F.d- 

 1 VII), on the occasion of the hitter's visit 

 to Canada in 1860. Although only a boy of 

 nineteen, he made so strong an impression on 

 tin- prinee that he wa.s invited to continue his 

 studies at Oxford University. This he did, 

 studying medicine under the direction of Sn 

 Hy Acland, the prince's phyni 



On completing his studies Oronhyatckh.i re- 

 turned to Canada, and began to practice m< di- 

 it 1 -Yankford, Ont. Later he removed to 

 London, Ont., and after 1889 made his home in 

 Toronto, where he practiced with conspicuous 

 success. In 1863 he married Miss Ellen Hill. 

 a great-granddaughter of Joseph Brant (which 

 see), the great of the Mohawks. 



ORPHEUS, mrr'jnsc, a famous musician and 

 poet mentioned often in Greek myths, and sup- 



posed to be the son of Apollo and Calliope. 

 His musical powers were marvelous, and any- 

 one who had a heavy task to perform was for- 

 tunate in securing the aid of Orpheus, for all 

 things, even inanimate objects, were influenced 

 by his playing. On the voyage of the Argo- 

 nauts the music of his lyre made the good ship 

 glide smoothly through the water and was of 

 great service in securing the Golden Fleece. 



ORPHKIS AXD EURYDICE 

 From a painting by Leighton. 



When he descended into Hades in search of his 

 wife r.t'.rydice, Cerberus forgot to growl, the 



wheel <;f I::ion stopped, Tantalus ceased trying 

 to slake his burning thirst. Sisyphus rested on his 

 rock, and Pluto and Prox-rpina were charmed 

 into lettin-r F.urydice >:o. By looking back 

 when he had been warned not to do SO he lost 



his wife a second time, and then in despair he 

 cast away his lyre and vowed never to look 

 at women a i 11 One day, as he wandered dis- 

 consolately in the win ids. he was met by a 

 group of Bacchante-. \\ho demanded that he 

 should play for them to dance, and when he 

 refused they killed him and threw him into the 

 river I M >:.:-. 1 1> soul joined that of i 



I ! : 



ORRIS, nlir'i*. ROOT, a corruption of iris 



mot. the name of the underground rtcnu of 

 the Kiiropeaii in-. The plant is cultivated for 

 cominercral J :eJly ill Florence. Italy. 



In Aui:u>t the underground stems arc dug, 



packed. On the market orris root appears in 

 ilar. kn.il-U -ticks four inches or less in 



l a faint odor 1 



and is UM d m the manufacture of sachets and 

 tooth powders. 



