FLETT, John Smith, British geologist: b. Kirkwall, OrIcney, 1869. He was educated at Kirkwall Burgh School, George Watson's Col lege and the University of. Edinburgh. He be came assistant to Prof. James Geikie and lec turer in petrology in Edinburgh University. He joined the British Geological Survey in 1900 becoming assistant to the director in charge of the survey of Scotland in 1911. He was sent by the Royal Society to the West Indies along with Dr. Tempest Anderson to report on the volcanic eruptions at the Soufriere in 1901. He published 'Report on West Indian Eruptions' (Royal Society 1902) • and is joint author of many memoirs of the geological surveys of Land's End, Lizard, Bodmin and Saint Austell, Edinburgh, Ben Wyvis.
an heraldic em blem probably derived from the As a decorative device it was common in ancient times in India and Egypt and is also found fre quently on Etruscan bronzes. Some of the great families of France (most of whom are now extinct) bore the emblem on their shields from the very commencement of the practice of blazoning, and a large number of families in Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe have borne the fleurs-de-lis on their coats of arms from the 12th century. The great popularity of this emblem in France dates from the 13th century. The royal coat
of arms of France consisted of three golden lilies on a blue ground, with the device, "Lilia neque neat neque laborant.)) The shield of France was anciently, in heraldic language, semi de fleurs-de-lis, that is, bore this emblem scattered over the shield. It is commonly be lieved that it was Charles V (1364-80) who reduced the number to three; but this is dis proved by the fact that two seals have been preserved, the one belonging to Philip the Fair (1285-1314), the other belonging to Philip of Valois (1328-50), both of which bear three fleurs-de-lis; and the town library of Rouen contains a collection of charts relating to the celebrated abbey of Savigny, to one of which, bearing the date 1212, a seal is attached, which is still in a state of perfect preservation, repre senting three fleurs-de-lis exactly similar to those used on the shield of France. Hence it appears that the use of this emblem in a triple form is much more ancient than is usually thought. (See HERALDRY). Consult Rothery, G. C., 'The fleur-de-lis and its Variations> (in The Ancestor, No. II, p. 99, London 1902).