The ISO (International Standards Organisation) assigns a two character code to each country name. These codes are used by Internet 'whois' databases (these two character abbreviations are the whois country codes) and also other applications.
Encaustic is a term used to describe a picture painted by means of heated wax. Encaustic painting is an ancient technique that was practised by the Greeks and Romans using melted beeswax. At the close of the 18th century experiments were made by Emma J Greenland to ascertain the ancient methods; but the process, in which gummastic and wax were the principle vehicles used, produced neither so brilliant a tint nor so durable a texture as oil painting. Research Encaustic
In 1891 the American Lieutenant R E Peary conducted a scientific Arctic exploration to Greenland under the auspices of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. He sailed in June and reached McCormick Bay the following month. From here Peary and his wife and party made a number of exploring tours, reaching as far north as 83 degrees. A journey of 1300 miles was accomplished in sleds, and much valuable geographical and geological research was made. A relief party was dispatched to McCormick Bay in 1892. Research Peary Expedition
The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is a common bird of the swallow family, Hirundinidae. It is a long-distance migrant and breeds around the world in the northern hemisphere and winters in the southern hemisphere. The North American subspecies, Hirundo rustica erythogaster, ranges from Alaska and Greenland to Tierra delFuego. Male barn swallows are glossy blue above; the under parts vary from white to deep chestnut, depending on the subspecies. The forehead and throat are bright chestnut, bordered by a complete or partial band of blue across the chest. The tail is deeply forked, and each tail feather, except the central pair, has a white spot on its inner web. Females are similar, but slightly duller in colour, with a shorter tail. Most barn swallows now nest in man-made structures, usually near water; buildings, culverts, bridges, or even ferries though their original nest sites were probably caves and crevices in cliffs. Research Barn Swallow
The Caribou or Cariboo is two American species of reindeer, sometimes regarded as specifically identical with the Old World reindeer. They have never been brought under the sway of man, but are a great object of chase for the sake of their flesh.
The woodland cariboo (Rangifer caribou) most nearly resembles the common reindeer. It is found over considerable tracts of Canada, as also in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is migratory in its habits. The Barren Ground cariboo (Rangifer groenlandicus) is much smaller, but has larger horns. It inhabits the Barren Grounds north-west of HudsonBay, and also extends into Greenland. It executes considerable migrations, going north to the ArcticOcean in summer, and returning in autumn. Research Caribou
The eider (Somateria mollissima) is a coastal duck of the family Anatidae found from 45 degrees north to the arctic. Its favourite haunts are solitary rocky shores and islands. In Greenland and Iceland they occur in great numbers, and also breed on the western islands of Scotland. The eider duck is about twice the size of the common duck, being about 70 cm in length, 90 cm in breadth of wing, and from 6 to 7 lbs. in weight. The male is black, with the head and back white, with a black crown. The female is reddish drab spotted with black, and with two white bands on the wings. The eider feed largely on shell-fish, crustaceans, etc.
Their nests are usually formed of driftgrass, dry sea-weed, etc, lined with a large quantity of down, which the female plucks from her own breast. In this soft bed she lays five eggs, which she covers over with a layer of down. If this, with the eggs, is removed the bird repeats the process. One female generally furnishes about half-a-pound of down, but the quantity is reduced by cleaning. This down, from its superior warmth, lightness, and elasticity, is in great demand for beds and coverlets; and the districts in Norway and Iceland where these birds abound are guarded with the greatest vigilance as a most valuable property. As found in commerce this down is in balls of the size of a man's fist, and weighing from 3 to 4 lbs. It is so fine and elastic that 5 lbs. of the best quality is sufficient for a whole bed. The down from dead birds is little esteemed, having lost its elasticity. The king eider duck (Somateria spectabilis) is another species resembling the preceding and inhabiting the same coasts. Research Eider
The Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) is a sea bird which lives on the sub-arctic shores of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans being found in Iceland, Great Britain, Brittany, the western coast of Norway, Greenland during the breeding season, the rest of its time being spent at sea. The Fulmar is predominantly whitish in colour with pale brown wings and tail above and is about 47 cm in length. The nest is built on rocky sea islands or coastal cliffs and one or sometimes two eggs are laid which are incubated by both parents taking turns for the fifty-two day incubation cycle The young leave the nest able to fly after about fifty days and reach maturity at seven years. Research Fulmar
The Red-throated Diver or Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) is a migratory sea bird found in Iceland, northern Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Greenland, Murmansk and arctic North America, migrating as far south as the Mediterranean. It grows to a length of about 60 centimetres. The nest is built on the edge of a small but deep pool, coastal lagoon or lake and is made of sphagnum or other mosses and plant stems. Paired birds return to the same location each year to build a new nest, with two eggs being laid in May or June which both partners take turns to incubate for between 28 and 36 days. If a clutch of eggs is lost, the female will lay again. The Red-throated Diver feeds mainly on fish and also amphibians, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic insects and worms. Research Red-Throated Diver
Eric the Red was a Viking who is reported to have been banished from Iceland and to have gone on a voyage of discovery about 981, in which he landed at a place previously discovered by Gunniborn. On his return three years later he called it Greenland. Thither about 985 he led an expedition and planted a colony. About 986 a vessel on its way to the settlement wandered from its course and landed on a coast nine days' sail south of Greenland, and in 1000 AD, Leif Ericson a son of Eric the Red, made a voyage of discovery to this region and named it Vinland, which is supposed to have been somewhere on the New England coast. Authorities differ as to the authenticity of this account, but the general opinion prevails that some such discoveries were made, though the details are not reliable. Research Eric The Red
Fridtjof Nansen was a Norwegian scientist. He was born in 1861 and died in 1930. He explored the polar regions, crossing Greenland in 1888 to 1889, and in 1921 organised relief for Russian famine victims. He won the Nobel peace prize in 1922. Research Fridtjof Nansen
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
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