Rhynchops 
are cranial peculiarities, conformable to the shape of the 
mandibles: thus, the lower jaw-lume has the shape of n 
black Skimmer (RltJHChofs niffra). 
Bhort-handled pitchfork. There are 3 species, R. nigra 
of America, and R. Jlavirostris and It. albicolli* of Asia. 
See skimmer. Also called Anisorhamphus. 
Rhynchopsitta (ring-kop-sit'a), n. [NL. (Bona- 
parte, 18i>4), < Gr. pvyxS, snout, + ^irra(K6f), 
a parrot.] A Mexican genus of Psittacidee; the 
beaked parrots. The thick-billed parrot is R. pachy- 
rhyiicha, found on or near the Mexican border of the United 
States, probably to be added to the fauna of the latter. 
rhynchosaurian (ring-ko-sa'ri-an), a. and n. 
I. a. Pertaining to the genus tfhynehosaurus. 
II. 11. A member of the Rhynchosaitridx. 
Rhynchosauridae (ring-ko-sa'ri-de), n. pi. 
[NL., < KhimchosaurHS + -idee.] A family of 
fossil rhynchocephalian reptiles, typified by the 
genus Rhynchosaurus. 
Rhynchosaurus (ring-ko-sa'rus), . [NL. 
(Owen), < Gr. pi'y^of, snout, + aavpof, lizard.] 
SI 91 
Rhynchota (ring-ko'ta), K./I/. [XL.: see r 
fliitte.] An order of JiMMto, or true hexapod 
insects, named by Fabricius in the form liliyii- 
ijotu, otherwise called Henriptern. 
rhynchote(ring'k6t),a. [< M>. rliyiiflintiin, <Gr. 
/"/.V'-"> snout, beak: see BliyneJiaea.~\ Beaked, 
as a hemipterous insect; specifically, relat- 
ing or belonging to the Rliynehotn ; hemipte- 
rous. 
Rhynchoteuthist (ring-ko-tu'this), n. [NL., 
< Gr. piyxof, snout, + n-vSif, a cuttlefish.] A 
pseudogenus of fossil cephalopods, based by 
D'Orbigny on certain rhyncholites. 
rhynchotous (ring-ko'tus), a. [< rliyncliote, 
Rnyncliota, + -oils.] Of or pertaining to the 
; hemipterous. 
Descriptions will be appended relating to the curious 
organs possessed by some species, and other subjects con- 
nected with the economy of this interesting but difficult 
group of llhynehotous insects. Nature, XLI. 302. 
Rhynchotus (ring-ko'tus), . [NL. (Spix, 
1825), < Gr. pi'7^0?, snout, beak: see rhynchote.] 
A genus of South American tinamous of the 
family Tinamidse, containing a number of spe- 
A genus of fossil reptiles, discovered in the New 
Bed Sandstone of Warwickshire, England, hav- 
ing edentulous jaws with distinct produced pre- 
maxillaries. The species is R. articeps. 
Rhynchosia (ring-ko'si-a), . [NL. (Loureiro, 
1790), named from the keel-petals; irreg. < Gr. 
P>7X(, snout.] A genus of leguminous plants, 
of the tribe Plmseolese and subtribe Cajanex. It 
is characterized by its two ovules with central f uniculus, by 
its compressed and often falcate pod, and by papilionaceous 
flowers with beardless style and terminal stigma. There are 
about 82 species, natives of warm regions, with some ex- 
tratropical species in North America and South Africa. 
They are herbs or undershrubs, usually twilling or pros- 
trate. They bear compound resinous-dotted leaves of three 
leaflets, with ovate or lanceolate stipules, and sometimes 
with additional minute bristle-shaped stipels. The flowers 
are yellow, rarely purple, often with brown stripes on the 
keel, and are borne singly or in pairs along axillary ra- 
cemes. 7?. phaseoloides of tropical America, a high-climb- 
ing vine, has the seeds black with a scarlet-yellow ring 
around the hiluin, and from the use made of them is 
named Mexican rosary-plant. This and other species in 
the West Indies are included under the name red bead- 
vine. 1{. minima, a low twining tropical weed of both 
hemispheres, reaching into the United States, has the 
West Indian name of wart-herb. 
Rhynchospora (ring-kos'po-rii), n. [NL. (Vahl, 
1806), < Gr. pfcy^of, snout, beak, + mr6pos, seed.] 
A genus of sedge-like plants, known as leak-rush 
or beak-sedge, belonging to the order Cyperacese, 
type of the tribe Bhynchosporeee. It is character- 
ized by commonly narrow or acuminate spikelets in many 
and close clusters, which are terminal or apparently axil- 
lary ; by an undivided or two-cleft style ; and by a nut 
beaked at its top by the dilated and persistent base of the 
styl e. There are about 200 species, w idely scattered through 
tropical and subtropical regions, especially in America. 
where many extend into the United States ; In the Old 
World only two similarly extend into Europe and Asiatic 
Russia. They are annual or perennial, slender or robust, 
erect or rarely diffuse or floating, often with leafy stems. 
The spikelets are disposed in irregular umbels or sessile 
heads, which are clustered, corymbed, or panicled. Most 
of the species of tropical America (Haplostylex) have capi- 
tate spikelets, commonly one-seeded, and a long undivided 
slender style; the typical species (Dichogtylex) have two- 
to four-seeded polymorphous spikelets, and a style deeply 
divided into two branches. R. corniculata, a species of 
the interior United States, from 3 to 6 feet high, has the 
special name of horned rush. A slender species, R. Vahli- 
ana, of the warm parts of America, has in the West In- 
dies the name of star-grass. See cut under rostrate. 
Rhynchosporeae (ring-ko-spo're-e), w. pi. [NL. 
(Nees vou Eseubeck, 1834), < Rhyncliospora + 
-ex.] A tribe of nionocotyledonous plants of 
the order Cyperacese, characterized by fertile 
flowers witli both stamens and pistils, most often 
only one or two in a spikelet, the two or more 
in f erior glumes being empty. The perianth is here 
absent, or represented either by bristles or flat and filiform 
scales under the ovary. It includes 21 genera, of which 
Jthyncltoxpora (the type), Schaenus, Cladium, and Remirea 
are widely distributed, and the others are chiefly small 
genera of the southern hemisphere, especially Austra- 
lian. 
Rhynchostomat(ring-kos'to-ma), n.pl. [NL., 
< Gr. fti-yxof, snout, + aro/ia, mouth.] In La- 
trcille's classification, the fifth tribe of stenely- 
trous hcteromerous beetles, having the head 
prolonged in a flattened rostrum, with antennae 
at its base and in front of the eyes, which are 
entire. Also 
rhythm 
ypd<l>of, a painter of low or mean subjects, < pma- 
pof, foul, dirty, mean. + yp<i<j>eiv, write.] Genre 
or still-life pictures, including all subjects of a 
trivial, coarse, or common kind: so called in 
contempt, fairlinlt. 
Rhyphidae (rif'i-de), ti. jil. [NL., < Rhypltitx + 
-itlie.] A family of nematocerous dipterous in- 
sects, based on the genus Khi/plius, allied to the 
fungus-gnats of the family Mycetopliilidee, but 
differing from them and from all other nema- 
tocerous flies by their peculiar wing-venation, 
the second longitudinal vein having a sigmoid 
curve. Only the typical gemis is known. They 
are called false crane-flit-*. 
Rhyphus (ri'fus), n. [NL.(Latreille, 1804).] A 
genus of gnats, typical of the family IHn/jiltitlif. 
Five European and the same number of North American 
species are known, two of them, R. fenestralti and R. 
punctatus, being common to both hemispheres. 
Rhypophaga (ri-pof'a-ga), n.pl. [NL., < MGr. 
puTro^ayuf, dirt-eating, \ Gr. pwrof, dirt, filth, + 
tyayclv, eat.] In some systems, a legion of pre- 
daceous water-beetles. Also Rypoplnujn. 
rhypophagous (ri-pof'a-gus), a. Of orpertain- 
ing to the Rhypophaga. 
Rhypticidae (rip-tis'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Rltyp- 
ticits + -idee.] A family of acanthopterygian 
fishes, typified by the genus Kliypticus; the soap- 
fishes. They have an oblong compressed body with 
smooth scales, dorsal tin with only two or three spines, 
and anal unarmed. They are inhabitants of the warm 
American seas. Also Rhypticinee, as a subfamily of Ser- 
ranidfe. 
Rhypticinse (rip-ti-si'ne), n. pi. [NL., < Rhyp- 
ticux + -ina?.] The liliypticidse as a subfamily 
of Serranidee. 
Rhypticus (rip'ti-kus), n. [NL. (Cuvier, 1829), 
also Rypticus, < Gr. pmrtKof, fit for cleansing 
from dirt, < frvveiv, cleanse from dirt, < pinrof. 
dirt, filth.] In ichth., a genus of serranoid 
fishes, having only two or three dorsal spines. 
They are known as the soap-fishes, from their soapy skins. 
Some have three dorsal spines, as R. arenatux. Those 

'i": > 
Tinamou (Rhynchotus ru/escens). 
cies of large size, with variegated plumage, 
short soft tail-feathers, well-developed hind 
toe, and rather long bill. One of the best-known is 
the ynambu, R. rufescens, among those known to South 
American sportsmen as partridges. 
rhynco-. For words so beginning, see rhyncho-. 
rhyne (rin), /. The best quality of Bussian 
hemp. 
Rhyngota (ring-go'ta), n.pl. The original im- 
proper form of the word Rhyncliota. Fdbricius, 
1766. 
rhyolite (ri'o-lit), n. [IrregX Gr. pmf, a stream, 
esp. a stream of lava from a volcano (< pv, flow : 
see rheuml), + ?j'0oc, a stone.] The name given 
by Bichthofen to certain rocks occurring in 
Hungary which resemble trachyte, but are dis- 
tinguished from it by the presence of quartz as 
an essential ingredient, and also by a great va- 
riety of texture, showing more distinctly than 
rocks usually do that the material had flowed 
while in a viscous state. The name lipartte was given 
later by J. Roth to rocks of similar character occurring on 
the Lipari Islands. Non-vitreous rocks of this kind had 
previously been called trachytic porphyries, and they have 
also been designated as quartz-trachytes. Later Richtho- 
fen proposed the name of nevadite (also called granitic 
rhyolite by Zirkel) for the variety in which large macro- 
scopic ingredients, like quartz and sanidine, predomi- 
nated over the ground-mass, retaining the name Kparite, 
and applying it to the varieties having a porphyritic or 
felsitic structure, and limiting the term rhyolite to the 
lithoidal and hyaline modifications, such as obsidian, 
pumice-stone, and perlite ; and nearly the same nomen- 
clature was adopted by Zirkel. Rosenbusch recognizes 
as structural types of the rhyolitic rocks nevadite, lip- 
arite proper, and glassy liparite, remarking that these 
names correspond closely to Zirkel's nevadite, rhyolite, 
and glassy rhyolite respectively. These rocks are abun- 
dant in various countries, especially in the Cordilleran 
region, and are interesting from their connection and as- 
sociation with certain important metalliferous deposits. 
See cut under axiolite. 
rhyolitic (ri-o-lit'ik), a. [< rliyolite + -ic.] 
Composed of or related to rhyolite. Quart. Jonr. 
Geol. Hor., XLV. 198. 
rhyparographic (rip-'a-ro-gcafik), . [< rhyp- 
arograpk-y + -ic.] Pertaining to or involved 
in rhyparography; dealing with commonplace 
or low subjects. 
She takes a sort of naturalist delight in describing the 
most sordid and shabbiest features of the least attractive 
kind of English middle-class life, and in doing this never 
misses a rhyparoyraphic touch when she can introduce 
one. The Academy, April 3, 1886, p. 234. 
rhyparography (rip-a-rog'ra-fi), . [= F. rhy- 
parographie ; < L. rlajparograplioa, ( Gr. ptnrapo- 
Soap-fish (Rhypticiis ntettafus). 
having only two dorsal spines are sometimes placed in a 
different genus, Promicropterug ; they are such as R. deco- 
ratus, R. maculatus, and R. pituitosux, found along the At- 
lantic coast of the United States. 
rhysimeter (ri-sim'e-ter), H. [< Gr. f>ivtf, a 
flow, flowing, stream (< pen; flow: see rheum 1 ), 
+ [terpov, a measure.] An instrument for mea- 
suring the velocity of fluids or the speed of 
ships. It presents the open end of a tube to the impact 
of the current, which raises a column of mercury in a 
graduated tube. 
Rhysodes, Rhysodidae. See Hltyssodes, etc. 
Rhyssa (ris'a), n. [NL. (Gravenhorst, 3829), 
< Gr. pvaa6^, prop, ptwdf, drawn up, wrinkled, 
< *f>iifiv, cpiieiv, draw.] A notable genus of long- 
tailed ichneumon-flies of the subfamily Pimjili- 
H3P. They are of large size, and the females are f urnished 
with very long ovipositors, with which they pierce to con- 
siderable depth the trunks of trees, in order to lay their 
eggs in the tunnels of wood-boring larvae, upon which 
their larvae are external parasites. A number of Euro- 
pean and North American species are known. The most 
prominent American long-stings, formerly placed in this 
genus, are now considered to belong to Thaleem. 
Rhyssodes (ri-so'dez), . [NL. (Dalman, 1823), 
< Gr. piwffoioVc, prop. pi'uu(5?/f, wrinkled-looking, 
< pvoo6f, prop, pvaof, wrinkled (see Stiynsa), + 
eMof, form.] A genus of clavicorn beetles, typi- 
cal of the family Rliygsodidse, having the eyes 
lateral, rounded, and distinctly granulated. 
Although only 9 species are known, they are found in 
India, South Africa, North and South America, and Eu- 
rope. Also spelled Rhysodes, 
Rhyssodidae (ri-sod'i-de), n. pi. [NL. (Erich- 
son, 1845), < liliyssodes + -idee.] A small fam- 
ily of clavicorn beetles, typified by the genus 
Bhyssodes. They have the first three ventral abdomi- 
nal segments connate, the tarsi five-jointed, the last joint 
moderate in length, and the claws not large. They live 
under hark, and to some extent resemble the Carabidse. 
Only 3 genera of very few species are known. Also spelled 
Rhysodidx. 
rhyta, n. Plural of rliyton. 
rhythm (riTHm or rithm), n. [Formerly also 
rhitlim, ritlimi' ; < OF. ritlime, rhythms, F. 
rhytlinte = Sp. It. ritnio = Pg. rhythmo, < L. 
rlii/tlimus, ML. also rhithmus, litmus, rhythm, 
< Gr. pvO[i6f, Ionic pvafi6f, measured motion, 
time, measure, proportion, rhythm, a metrical 
measure or foot (cf. pia/f, a stream, i>v/Ja, a 
stream, piToc, flowing). < pth- (-y/ [n-v, />v). flow: 
