AYOUBITES, or AYYUBITES, the Saracenic dynasty founded by Saladin, which in supplanted the Fatimite caliphs, about A.D. Several of the descendants of Saladin, known as Ayoubites, afterward ruled in Egypt, Syria, Armenia and Arabia Felix. In the 13th century their power was destroyed by the Mamelukes.
AYR, ir, Scotland, town on the river Ayr, 34 miles southwest of Glasgow. The principal streets of modern Ayr are spacious and well paved, and many of the buildings hand some. The most important edifices are several churches of various denominations; the town hall and connected offices, in great part com pleted in 1881, surmounted by a fine spire of older date, 226 feet high; the county build ings; the academy, a celebrated educational in stitute, the buildings of which are handsome and commodious; the Wallace tower, 115 feet high on the site of a more ancient tower; the free library; the railway station and hotel; a hos pital, etc. There is a handsome esplanade along the sea front 1,500 yards long. Two bridges connect Ayr with Newton and Wallacetown, incorporated in the burgh. One of these, opened in 1879, occupies the place of the "New Brig" of Burns' 'Brigs of Ayr,' the "Auld Brig" (built 1252) being still serviceable for foot traf fic. There is now also a third bridge farther
up the river, besides the railway bridge. Ayr exports manufactured goods, iron, coal, whet stones, etc.; and imports iron-ore, grain, tim ber, slates, bricks, etc. The harbor lies within the mouth of the river, and is enclosed and pro tected by a north and a south pier and a break water; there being also a wet dock and a slip dock. Shipbuilding is carried on, also tanning, boot and shoe making, the manufacture of car pets, lace curtains, etc. The poet Burns was born in a house which stands within one and one-half miles of the town, between it and the church of Alloway ("Alloway's auld haunted kirk"), and a monument erected to his memory stands on a height between the church and the bridge over the Doon. Pop. 33,000.
AYR, a river of Ayrshire, Scotland, which after a courst westward of 18 miles, finally loses itself in the Firth of Clyde below the town of Ayr.