code: def register_properties(self, properties):
          
          if isinstance(properties, collections.Mapping):
              properties = properties.itervalues()
  
          for prop in properties:
              self.register_property(**prop)
docs: Register properties using a list defining the properties.
  
          The dictionary should itself contain dictionaries. i.e.
  
          .. code-block:: python
  
              D = [
                  { 'name':'ref_wave','dtype':np.float32,
                      'default':1.41e6 },
              ]
  
          Parameters
          ----------
          properties : A dictionary or list
              A dictionary or list of dictionaries
              describing properties