1X1 



GOATsrcKKUS. 



ooux 



but they are certainly of very unequal lengths in different individuals. 

 We have *em them in one bird only 7 inches long, while in that now 

 before tu they meuurein extreme length IT inches ; the webs occupy 

 exactly six, while all the rest of the shaft is naked, the rudimentary 



Pennant-Winged Nightjar, or Long-Slmftcd Goat-Sucker (ifacroJijitcryx 

 Africamu). M:ilc. 



hain on each side merely indicating the position of the laminae, hod 

 they been developed. We cannot subscribe to an opinion we have 

 heard expressed, that these latter have been rubbed or worn off. 



FnXIktrf din:a. 



Another specimen, which we suppose is tho female, is perfect in nil 

 it* plumagr, but has no indication, as already observed, of these 



feathers. In their texture they are remarkably flexible, moving about 

 with the least breath of wind. The inner web is so broad, that the 

 lamina: in tho middle measure 24 inches ; the outer web, on the 

 contrary, ia very narrow, and the longest lamin* are hardly half 

 an inch." 



This is the Caprimulgiu Macrodiptcriu of Afzelius, and the Ca^i-i- 

 mnli/ui longipamu of Shaw. 



It is a native of Sierra Leone, Africa. 



Proiihera (Sir.). Kictus almost smooth ; wings very long, equal to 

 the tail, which is short and even ; tarsus very naked. 



P. diurna (Caprimvlijut iliurntu, Wied., Nacnnda, Temm.). Tho 

 plumage of the female is above a mixture of gray-brown, yellowish- 

 red, and browuish-black, marked with great spots of blackish- 

 brown, with wide borders of yellowish-red ; chin pale-yellow, striped 

 with gray-brown ; tail marbled with brownish-black and bright- 

 yellow, with nine or ten transverse bands speckled with brownish- 

 black. Plumage beneath white lineated with gray-brown ; middle of 

 the belly white, spotless. Length rather more than 10 inches. 



It is a native of Brazil and Paraguay. 



GOAT'S-THORN. [ASTRAGALUS.] 



OOAT-WKKI). l.K...'1'o..n M.] ' 



QO'BIO, a genus of Fishes belonging to the section Malacopteryyii 

 Abdominaia and family Cyprinidte. The species of this genus differ 

 chiefly from the true Carps in having the anal and dorsal fins short 

 aud destituteof bony rays. G. fluviatilis (Hay), the Common Gudgeon, 

 affords the best example of this genus. 



The Gudgeon is a ISritish fish, and ia found in many streams that in 

 their course flow over gravelly soils. The Thames, Mersey, Colne, 

 Kennet, and Avon, produce fino Gudgeons. They swim together in 

 shoals, feeding on worms, aquatic insects, and their larvic, small 

 molluscous animals, ova, aud fry. They afford ample amusement to 

 those sporUuieu who are satisfied with numbers rather than weight. 

 The Gudgeon rarely exceeds 8 inches in length. It spawns in May, and 

 the young are about an inch long in August 



GO'BIUS, a genus of Acanthopterygious Osseous Fishes belonging 

 to the family Gobioidce. All the speciea have two dorsal fins, scaly 

 bodies, aud a disc beneath the throat formed by the united ventral 

 fins. By means of this disc they have the power of attaching them- 

 selves to rocks. Several specie* of Goby are met with on the British 

 coast The largest is the Gobiiu nigcr of Liuiiipns, which attains the 

 length of 6 incites, and ranges from Cornwall to the Orkneys. Mr. 

 Couch has inquired into the habits of tho Black Goby, and fiuds that 

 when it has seized its prey it carries it off alive in its mouth to its 

 resting-place, which is among rocks. The other British Gobies, G. 

 bipunctatut, G. minMut, G. yracilit, and G. unipunctatu*, are mostly 

 inhabitants of sandy ground. On the shores of the Mediterranean 

 Gobies abound, aud are also fouud in deep water, even to a depth of 

 Till fathoms. The deep-water species are distinct from those frequenting 

 the coast-line. 



The species of Gobitu are very tenacious of life, and are capable, 

 like their neighbours, the Blennies, of living some time out of water. 

 The most remarkable fact connected with the history of these fishes 

 is their nidification. That the Goby built a nest was known to tho 

 ancient Greeks. This nest they construct in spring, of seaweeds, 4c., 

 and in it the female deposits her eggs, whilst tho male watches over 

 them until they are hatched. The nest of the Goby is very well 

 built, and has of late been observed on our own coasts. True Gobies 

 occur in the seas of the southern hemispheres as well as in those of 

 the northern. 



GOBY. [Genius.] 



GOUWIT. [SCOLOPACID.K.) 



GOLD, one of the precious metal*. It differs remarkably from 

 other metals, with a very few exceptions, in the fact that it ia found 

 in nature in its metallic state. It is occasionally fouud mineralised 

 by tellurium. Native gold is Monometric, and occurs in cubes 

 without cleavage, also iu grain*, thin lamina?, and masses, sometimes 

 filiform or reticulated. The colour varies iu shade, sometimes being 

 a bright yellow, at others almost silvery-white, from tho quantity of 

 silver with which it is mixed. It is very ductile and malleable. 

 Hardness 2'5 to 8. Specific gravity 12 to 20, varying according to 

 the metals alloyed with the gold. Native gold usually contains silver, 

 and in very various proportions. The finest native gold from Russia 

 yielded gold U8-U6, silver 0'16, copper 0'35, iron 0"06 ; specific gravity 

 19-099. A gold from Marmato afforded only 73'45 per cent, of gold, 

 with 26'48 per cent of silver: specific gravity 12-666. This last is 

 in the proportion of 3 of gold to 1 of silver. Tho following pro- 

 portions have alao been observed : 31 to 1, 5 to 1, 6 to 1, 8 to 1 ; 

 and this is the most common ; 12 to 1 also is of frequent 

 occurrence. 



Copper is often found in alloy with gold, and also Palladium and 

 Rhodium. 



A Rhoilium Gold from Mexico gave the specific gravity 15'5 to 

 16'8, and contained 34 to 43 per cunt of rhodium. 



Iron and copper pyrites are often mistaken for gold by those 

 inexperienced in ore*. Gold is at once distinguished by being 

 easily cut in slices and flattening under a hammer. The pyrites 

 when poiindeil arc reduced to powder : iron pyrites is too hard to 

 yield at all to a knife, and topper pyrites affords a dull greenish 



