For the Ys Old Owl... Trivia Quiz

Answer: Yaxha

Yaxha is in northeast Guatemala, about 30km from Tikal. It probably dates to the 15th or early 16th centuries, and includes nine pyramids, two ballcourts and about 500 other structures.

Yaxchilan in Mexico is a Maya city dating back to the 4th century CE. The site now houses the ruins of temples and palaces, and is famous for its carved lintels.

Although the site at Yagul, Mexico, was occupied sometime in the first century BCE, and local cliff paintings may date back as far as 3000 BCE, the ruins now found there date back to between the 13th and 16th centuries CE.

I ran out of Ys... so I made up Yexicala.

Answer: Yam

The Yam was a song as well as a dance, and originally it was intended for both Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to sing it. Fred, however, wasn't impressed with it so Ginger sang and danced it solo - wearing a gown that seems to have been inspired by a harem and wielding her handbag like a cream pie.

The Yale Flip is a dance from 1911, probably found in Boston and related to a two-step.

The Yankee Rag is a polka, seen around 1918.

The Yorick Dance was seen in 1898 at Mardi Gras.

Answer: Yser

The Yser River starts in Buysscheure, flows through northern France and enters Belgium, where it ends at the North Sea. During WWII the Allies flooded it from Nieuwpoort to Diksmuide to slow the advance of the German army.

The Ybbs River runs from the Zellerrain Pass in lower Austria until it meets up with the Danube.

The Yantra River is another tributary of the Danube, this time found in Bulgaria. Its source is the Hadzhi Dimitar Peak.

The Yevre is found in central France, where it is a tributary of the River Cher, itself a tributary of the Loire.

Answer: Yidiny

Yidiny was last heard in Australia, in Queensland, but is almost certainly now extinct. It was once common enough that a dictionary was written.

Yogad is spoken in the Phillipines by about 16,000 people.

Yeyi is spoken by about 20,000 people in Botswana.

Yuracare is heard in Bolivia, spoken by about 2700 people.

Answer: yowler

A yowler held the yowles of straw, wheat or rye in place while the thatcher affixed them to the roof. The yowles were about 24 inches in diameter, and were layered on top of each other and secured with rods. A thatched roof can have a base which is hundreds of years old, as new thatching is traditionally put on top of the old, rather than the old being removed first. (For those of you who are still scratching your heads on this, one of my references was http://genealogy.about.com/library/glossary/bl_occupations-y.htm.)

A yatman was a door or gatekeeper.

A yagger was a peddlar.

I made up the yeagerman...

Answer: Yellowtail amberjack

The Yellowtail Amberjack comes in three species: the Californian (which is also known as the white salmon), the Asian and the Southern (also called the yellowtail kingfish). The Californian version prefers warmer waters and can live up to about 30 years. It is not presently on the list of endangered species, but overfishing could put it in that position before long.

The Yellow Weaver is a perch found near New Zealand.

With a bright yellow body and a doleful expression, the Yellow Tang is a popular aquarium fish. In its natural environs, it eats algae and is particularly helpful in removing algae from the shells of marine turtles.

The Yellowmargin Triggerfish is named for the bright yellow outlining of its fins. Otherwise it's a creamy pinkish fish with lots of spots, and with bluish fins.

Answer: Eugene Ysaye

Eugene Ysaye was born in Liege, Belgium, in 1858. He was a child prodigy on the violin, performing in two orchestras before the age of twelve. Following studies at the Conservatory, he became the first violinist for the orchestra which later became the Berlin Philharmonic. He later had a rigorous solo career, followed by becoming music director for the Cincinnati Symphony. His health was not good, however, and he died in 1931 in Brussels. One of his pupils was Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, and upon his death his second wife, former pupil Jeanette Dincin, continued teaching the Queen, who began the competition in his honour.

Maurice Yvain was a French composer, born in 1891 in Paris. In the immortal words of Wikipedia, as translated (and I can't make this up!) "He is the music of many songs to success in the 1920s". In his early years he was a classical pianist, then took to writing light operetta, musicals and film soundtracks after WWI. He died in 1965.

Victor Young (1899-1956) was born in Chicago, USA. He was a classical violinist who transitioned to popular music. His works include "When I Fall in Love" and "Stella by Starlight". He died at the age of 56 of a cerebral haemmorhage.

Levi Yitzchok (1740-1809) was a rabbi who also composed a number of Jewish folk songs. Born in the Ukraine, he was a popular figure who was believed to be able to intercede with Jehovah on the behalf of other Jews.

Answer: John Yarker

John Yarker wrote "The Arcane Schools: A Review of their Origin and Antiquity; With a History of Freemasonry and its Relation to the Theosophic, Scientific, and Philosophic Mysteries" in 1909. Having been a Master Mason, he left mainstream Freemasonry to start his own version, and became involved in the Ordo Templi Orientis, providing the two organisations a degree of communication. Crowley was a member of the Ordo Templi Orientis during the same time.

Yahn wrote "History of the Churches of God in North America" in 1926 and "Polity of the Churches of God in North America" in 1929.

Yard wrote "The Providential Significance of the Death of Abraham Lincoln: A Discourse Delivered in the Central M.E. Church, Newark, N.J., on the Day of National Humiliation, June 1st, 1865" in 1865.

Yarington wrote "Two Lamentable Tragedies" in 1601.

Answer: Battle of Yellow Bayou

On 18 May 1864, Union and Confederate troops met at Yellow Bayou in Louisiana. Union troops were retreating after the Battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, only to find they needed a bridge to cross the Atchafalaya River. Meanwhile, the Confederates were on the move - and needed to be stopped. Brigadier General Joseph A. Mower's forces met Major General Richard Taylor's troops at Yellow Bayou. Each side gained, then lost, ground, until the dry ground cover ignited and both sides had to retreat, giving the Union forces time to get across the river.

The Battle of Yellow Tavern took place on 11 May 1864 at an abandoned inn around 10 km from Richmond, Virginia. Major General Philip Sheridan was employing a new tactic of using his cavalry troops to harass the Confederates from behind and destroy their supply lines. He met up with the troops of Confederate Major General J.E.B. Stuart, who were woefully outnumbered and outgunned. In addition to destroying the supply lines, a significant goal was to get rid of Stuart, which was accomplished by sharpshooter John A. Huff from the 5th Michigan Cavalry, using a .44 pistol. Stuart died the next day. While the battle was a decisive Union victory, it contributed little else but the death of Stuart to the overall war.

The Battle of Yorktown was a long affair - from 5 April to 4 May 1862. Union Major General George B. McClellan opposed Confederate Major General John B. Magruder's forces in this indecisive battle of wits and weapons. Originally planned as a joint land and river attack, the navy was deterred by the presence of the CSS Virginia (later known as the Merrimac) on the James River and heavy defense firepower on the York River.

There was no Battle of Yates. I made it up. There is, however, a Yates - in Orleans County, New York State, huddling up to Lake Ontario.

Answer: Yorkie-ton

The Yortie-ton is a cross with a Coton de Tulear. The Coton de Tulear is a walking cotton-wool ball - from which it gets its name! A small dog (about 25-30 cm tall and weighing around 5-6 kg), the Coton apparently originated in Madagascar. The Coton is classified as a gun and companion dog.

The Yorkiepoo is a cross with a poodle. The Poodle can be white or black, or any number of other colours, but always has a solid-coloured coat. It comes in three sizes - standard, miniature and toy. The poodle is classified as a gun dog, non-sporting.

The Yorkie Pin is a cross with a Miniature Pinscher. The Miniature Pinscher looks like a very small Doberman. It's about 25cm tall and 4-5kg in weight. The Miniature Pinscher is classifies as a terrier, in the AKC toy group.

The Yorktese is a cross with a Maltese. The Maltese has a silky solid white coat. It's small, around 21 cm tall and 3-4 kg in weight. They were the dogs of royalty in Malta, and were introduced to Britain by Crusaders returning home. The Maltese is a gun dog, classified AKC toy.