Ar´dea, the genus to which the heron belongs, type of the family Ardēidæ, which includes also cranes, storks, bitterns, &c.
Ar´debil, or Ardabil, a Persian town, province of Azerbaijan, near the Karasu, a tributary of the Aras, about 40 miles from the Caspian, in an elevated and healthy situation; it has mineral springs and a considerable trade. Pop. 16,000.
Ardèche (a˙r-dāsh), a department in the south of France (Languedoc), on the west side of the
Rhone, taking its name from the River Ardèche, which rises within it, and falls into the Rhone after a course of 46 miles; area, 2144 sq. miles. It is generally of a mountainous character, and contains the culminating point of the Cevennes. Silk and wine are produced. Annonay is the principal town, but Privas is the capital. Pop. (1921), 294,308.
Arden, Forest of, a wood in Warwickshire. Shakespeare is supposed to have used it as a setting for As You Like It.
Ardennes (a˙r-den´), an extensive tract of hilly land stretching over a large portion of the north-east of France and south-west of Belgium. Anciently the whole tract formed one immense forest (Arduenna Silva of Cæsar); but large portions are now occupied by cultivated fields and populous towns.
Ardennes (a˙r-den´), a frontier department in the north-east of France; area, 2027 sq. miles, partly consisting of the Forest of Ardennes. There are extensive slate-quarries, numerous ironworks, and important manufactures of cloth, ironware, leather, glass, earthenware, &c. It was the scene of many battles during the European War (1914-8). Chief towns, Mézières (the capital), Rocroi, and Sedan. Pop. 277,791.
Ardnamurchan (-mur´han) Point, the most westerly point of the Island of Great Britain, in Argyllshire, having a lighthouse, 180 feet above sea-level, visible 18 to 20 miles off.
Ar´doch, a parish in south Perthshire, celebrated for its Roman remains, one, a camp, being the most perfect existing in Scotland.
Ardross´an, a seaport of Scotland, in Ayrshire, on the Firth of Clyde. It has a large harbour and shipbuilding yards, and is a centre of steamship services with Arran, Ireland, and Douglas, I.O.M. Pop. (1921), 7214.