LINNET. 301 LINTON. is sometimes given to the redpolls (q.v.) and to the purple iinch( Car podac us purpureun) , a hand- some bird over six inches long. The male in full plumage has the head and anterior parts of the body rose-purple, in the same manner as the true linnet. Xlie female is plain brown, much streaked. See Cage-Birds, and the illustrations and authorities cited thereunder. LINOLEUM (Neo-Lat., from Lat. linum, flax + oleum, oil). A peculiar preparation of linseed oil in which the latter is so treated that it be- comes solid. This was first accomplished by using sulphur, but it was subsequently ascer- tained that the same effect could be secured by mere oxidization. Oil so treated is useful for many purposes. As a paint, it may be em- ployed on iron, on wood, and on ships' bottoms. When used as a cement it possesses some of tlu; useful properties of marine glue. When vul- canized or hardened by heat it may be filed, planed, turned, carved, and polished like wood, and used for knife and fork handles, moldings, etc. When brought by certain processes to the consistency of dough or putty, it may be pressed into embossed molds for ornamental jirticles. The lloor-covering known as linoleum is made by mixing the linoleum cement with ground cork. The cork used is chiefly the waste from the manufacture of bottle-corks. (See Cork.) The linoleum cement is prepared by pouring suc- cessive layers of boiled linseed oil over a thin cotton fabric called scrim, which is allowed to dry thoroughly between the applications of the oil. The operation of drying takes about twenty- four hours, and the oil is applied daily for six or eight weeks. By this time the oxidized oil is about one-half an inch thick and is called a skin. These skins are cut down and grovmd between rollers and then thoroughly mixed with resin and kauri gum. Tlie jjowdered cork is next added, and if the linoleum is to be plain, coloring mat- ter is also added. This mixture is then applied to jute burlap and the fabric passed between rollers to even off the surface. The pattern is printed in the same manner as upon oilcloth (q.v.). Consult History and Manufacture of Floor Cloths ( Xew York, 1898). LINOTYPE. See Typesetting Machines. LINSANG (East Indian name). (1) A small, cat-like viverrine or civet (q.v.) of the genus Prionodon or Linsang, inhabiting t)ie Oriental region. The claws are quite retractile, and the feet furry, like a cat's: and there is no second upper molar. Three species exist in the Malay Peninsula and islands, of which Prionodon por- ticolor is best known. It is grayish, profusely marked with large black spots and stripes. It is equally at home in trees or on the ground: feeds principally upon birds; and bears two young, once in six months, in a den in a hollow tree. (2) .V very similar animal {Poiana PoUnsis) of Fernando Po, West Africa. This animal,' how- ever, lesi'Hibles a genet in behavior. LINSEED (AS. linseed, flaxseed, from Vm, flax -|- swd. seed). The seed of the Linum usita- tissimum, or flax-plant. In America flax is grown almost wholly for the seed, it is chiefly raised in the Middle West, where it is sown broadcast in the spring, on new land prepared as for wheat or oats. Tt is har-esled and threshed by machinery. (See Flax.) The seeds are raised both for the oil and for the oil cake which they produce. Like all other vegeuble oils, linseed oil is produced in two ways: by simple pressure, and by pressure combined with heat. There is, in addition, a newer process, in which the oil is extracted by gasuline or some other solvent. The cold-drawn oil is a pale, tasteless liquid. It is u.sed in Russia and Poland as a substitute for butter. The ordinary linseed oil of commerce is an amber-colored liquid, of a disagreeable taste and odor, largely used in the manufacture of paints, varnishes, and in oilcloth, linoleum, and similar fabrics. When boiled, either alone or in combination with white lead or litharge, it dries much more rapidly on exposure to the air than the unboiled oil. See OlLS; Li.xsEED Meal; and Oil Cake. LINSEED MEAL. Often called 'oil meal' in the United States. The residue from the separa- tion of linseed oil from flaxseed. It is of two classes, distinguished as old-process and new- process linseed meal. In the old process the oil is expressed, and the residue is in tbe form of hard cakes, which are either sold as oil cakes or lin- seed cake, or ground to a meal. In the new process the linseed oil is more thoroughly re- moved with the aid of solvents, hence the meal contains less fat, but corresponilingly more pro- tein. Both kinds are on the market. The dif- ference in composition is shown by the following averages: Old-process linseed meal — water, 9.2 per cent.; protein, 32.!J; fat, 7.9; nitrogen-free extract, 35.4; fibre, 8.9; and ash, 5.7 per cent. Xew-process linseed meal — water, 9.9; protein, 35.9; fat, 3.0: nitrogen-free extract, 36.8; fibre, 8.8; and ash, S.li per cent. Linseed meal is a highly prized feeding stuff for calves, fattening cattle, milch cows, horses, and other animals; but on account of its richness it should be fed only in small ipuintities. A large proportion of the meal produced in this country is exported to Europe. LINTEL (OK. lintel, Fr. lintcau, from ML. lintellus, lintel, diminutive of Lat. limes, thresh- old). The horizontal bearer over doors, win- dows, and other openings in walls, usually either of stone or wood, but sometimes of iron. It is a short architrave, and it may also be cut in the mass in arch shape. LINTH, lint, EscnER vox der. - Swiss statesman. See Eschek vox der LiXTit. Hans KONRAD. LINTON, lln'ton, Eliza Lynn (1822-98). A novelist, wife of William James Linton ( q.v. ) . She was born at Keswick. Cunil)erland. England. Feb- ruary 10, 1822. A series of papers contribvited to the Saturddtj Rericu-, under the title "The V>'n of the Period," attracted wide attention. They were collected and publislied independently in 1883. Mrs. Linton wrote many novels. Thr True History of Joshua Daridson (1872) and The Autobioyraphy of Christopher Kirkland (1885) are representative of her best work. She died in London July 14. 1898. Consult }fy Literary Life, published posthumously (London. 1899). with _ prefatory note by Beatrice Ilarraden. LINTON, Sir .Iames Dromcole (1840—). An English j)ainter, born in London. He studied at Saint Martin's .rt School and under Leigh. His early works were in water-color, and he did much to spread the interest in that branch of [lainting. He was elected president of the Royal
