There are many flags which designate special or official position or authority, such as royal standards, the President's flag, and the Secre tary of the Navy's flag. The President's flag, which is carried at the main of naval vessels and on boats in which he embarks, is blue, with the eoat-of-arms of the United States. The Sec retary of the Navy's flag is blue, and has a white foul anchor in the centre surrounded by four white stars. The flag of the revenue marine nas sixteen perpendicular red and white stripes al ternating. The 'union' carries the coat-of-arms of the United States, and occupies the width of eight stripes-. The flags of the flag-officers of the United States Navy are blue, carrying white stars—four stars for the admiral, and two for rear-admirals. In case two or more rear-admirals are in company, however, the one second in rank flies a red flag with two white stars and the junior rear-admir als fly white flags with two blue stars. The commodore's flag shown in the illustration is no longer in use, since the grade of commodore on the active list was abolished in 1899. The revenue flag, used to indicate the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department, was adopted in 1799. It is shown in the accompanying illustration. The flag of the Secretary of War is of scarlet hunting, having upon it an eagle with outstretched wings. Garri son. post, and storm flags ;ire national flags of bunting. The flag of the Geneva Convention in connection with the national flag is used for army Hospitals. In foreign countries the royal stand ard is displayed at ceremonies in honor of the sovereign, or at which the sovereign may he present, and it, or the national ensign of the country, is hoisted at the main of vessels aboard which such sovereign goes. When ministers.
consuls, etc., leave men-of-war that they have ollicially visited, the flag of the nation to which they belong is hoisted at the fore upon their de parture, during the firing of a salute in their honor. A flag placed at 'half-mast' is a sign of mourning. A flag reversed, or with, the union down, indicates distress. When saluting is done with the flag, the salutes are made by 'dipping' it, usually three times—that is, hauling it down a few feet and then running it up again. In the navy, when the flag is hoisted at 'colors' or hauled down at sunset, all officers and men are required to salute it.
Flag captain, or fleet captain, is an unofficial title applied to the captain of the flagship. I le is announced as 'chief of staff' by a general order issued by a commander-in-chief upon taking com mand. A separate officer for this duty is no longer ordered in the United States Navy. The accompanying illustration shows the various United States flags and the merchant flags of the prominent foreign nations. See plate of NA TIONAL COATS OF ARMS with HERALDRY. Consult Preble, History of the Play of the United Stales (Boston, 1872).
FLAG (probably ultimately identical with flag, banner, from its waving in the wind). A popular name for many endogenous plants with sword-shaped leaves, mostly growing in moist situations. It is sometimes particularly appro priated to species of the genus Iris, or flower-de Ince; but is also given indiscriminately to plants of similar foliage, as the sweet flag (Acorns rata mus) and the catstail reed (Typha). See lats.