1101 



GRAYHOUND. 



GREENSAND. 



1102 



surface of the land has been traversed by powerful currents of water 

 iu directions different from those of the fresh-water streams now run- 

 ning ; that in other case* the sea has acted on the land at greater heights 

 and under different circumstances from what we now behold ; and a% 

 a great part of the evidence for this is to be collected from the study 

 of gravel deposits, we see how important is a right knowledge of the 

 facts concerning these in repressing vain speculation and directing 

 sound inferences. Whether the gravel observed at any spot was trans- 

 ported along the natural drainage hollows of the surface may be often 

 certainly known by inspection of the nature of the fragments and 

 the examination of the physical geography of the country in which 

 they occur. Whether the waters descending these valleys performed 

 the effects while flowing at higher levels, under the influence of dams, 

 lakes, or other peculiarities, may also, often be determined by suitable 

 examination. 



It will often be thus found that the gravel was not transported 

 down the existing drainage hollows, but across hills and valleys, lakes, 

 and arms of the sea. Under existing circumstances no ordinary 

 action of nature can occasion such effects ; it is therefore a question of 

 great importance whether iu ancient times the circumstances of phy- 

 sical geography were so different as to allow of the effects being per- 

 formed by ordinary action, or whether an extraordinary action must 

 be appealed to. The latter opinion has been held by diluvialists, 

 reasoning on the distribution of gravel and large boulders of rock 

 dispersed from the Alps and the Cumbrian Mountains ; but various 

 attempts have been made to explain the phenomena by supposed 

 changes of physical geography, the aid of icebergs, &c. For deter- 

 mining this and such questions it should be examined whether the 

 gravel, tc., contains remains of organic beings ; whether these are of 

 land quadrupeds, land shells, land plants, or marine shells, bones of 

 whales, dolphins, &c., in order to know whether the currents of water 

 were derived from surface drainage or the movement of the sea. It 

 i important to find out whether the gravel was deposited in still or 

 agitated, in deep or shallow water, in lakes, flood-channels, or the 

 sea : whether it now rests in included hollows, or in insular hills ; 

 whether marine deposits of gravel alternate with others attributed to 

 fresh-water currents ; 'Whether gravel of local origin lies over or under 

 other gravel brought from a distance. 



GRAYHOUND, a variety of Dog remarkable for the keenness of 

 its sight, the symmetrical strength and beauty of its form, and its 

 great swiftness in the chase. There are many varieties of the Gray- 

 hound, from the Irish Grayhound and Highland breed (the latter 

 made familiar to us by the pen of Sir Walter Scott and the pencil of 

 Kdwin Landseer), to the smoothed-haired southern breed, and that 

 pretty pet, the Italian Grayhound. 



In ancient times the Grayhound was one of the three animals whose 

 presence marked the possessor to be a nobleman or gentleman ; and 

 we find it recorded as being accepted by kings in payment, as in the 

 case of the fine paid to King John, consisting of "500 marks, 10 

 horses, and ten leashes of Grayhouuds." 



Formerly this hound was principally employed in chasing the stag. 

 Thus Queen Elizabeth was gratified one day, after dinner, by seeing 

 from a turret sixteen deer pulled down by Grayhounds upon the lawn 

 at Cowdrey Park in Sussex ; and the old ballads, ' Chevy Chase ' 

 among others, speak of their being used for the same sport in earlier 

 times. 



The well-known old lines descriptive of the perfections of a Gray- 

 hound have never yet been superseded : 



" Headed lyke a snake, 

 Ncckyed lyke a drake 

 Foiled lykc a catte, 

 Ta.vlled lyke a ratte ; 

 Syded lyke a bremc, 

 And chyned lyke a bemc." 



In modern times, many distinguished sportsmen (the earl of Orford 

 in particular, who is said to have died on the field where his favourite 

 bitch Old Czarina won a great match) have paid much attention to 

 the breed, and have been rewarded by some of the best dogs ever 

 seen. Major Osbaldeston, Major Topham, and Colonel Thornton were 

 among those who were celebrated for the pure blood and admirable 

 powers of their Grayhounds. The names of Czarina, Jupiter, Claret, 

 Snowball, the Miller, Schoolboy, and -Major, together with many 

 others of note, are still familiar to those who attend the great coursing 

 meetings. We refer the reader who is interested to ' The Sportsman's 

 Cabinet,' ' Rural Sports,' ' The Courser's Manual,' ' The Sporting 

 Magazine,' and similar works, for further information. 



The Grayhound is supposed to have reached his full growth when 

 two years old, aud to be on the decline from his fifth or sixth year, 

 when he is apt to begin to 'run cunning.' Dame Juliana Berners gives 

 a greater latitude, making nine years the point at which he becomes 

 too old for service : 



" And when he comes to that yere, 



Hare him to the tanncre, 



For the best whelp ever bitch had, 



At nine years ia full bad." 



Sir Walter Scott, who quotes these lines, well vindicates the cha- 

 racter of the Grayhound for intelligence, attachment, and sagacity, 



qualities which some, without any good reason, have denied to this 

 noble race. [Doo.] 



The Grayhound seems to have been a distinct variety of the Dog from 

 a very early period in the history of this species. It exists at present 

 in Egypt, aud seems to be represented in the old Egyptian paintings. 

 t is probable also that this was the form of dog with which the 

 ancient Hebrews were best acquainted. We annex a representation 

 of this dog from a drawing by Colonel Smith. 



Arabian Grayhound. 



GRAY-LAG. [DUCKS.] 



GRAYLING, a fish of the Salmon tribe, inhabiting many of the 

 streams of England, in some of which it is abundant. It is also 

 found in Sweden, Norway, and Lapland. [SALMONID.E.] 



GRAYSTONE, a term proposed by Mr. Poulett Scrope to include 

 certain volcanic rocks composed of felspar, augite, or hornblende, 

 and iron; the felspar being sometimes replaced by leucite, or 

 melilite. 



GRAYWACKE. [GRAUWACKE.] 



GREBE. [COLYMBID.E.] 



GREENBONE, two of the common Fish of our shores" (the Gar- 

 Fish (Belone vulgaris), and the Viviparous Bleuy (Zoarces viviparus). 

 [BELQNE ; ZOARCES.] 



GREEN-FINCH. [COCCOTHRATJSTES ; LOXIA.] 



GREEN-IRON-EARTH, also called Hypochlorite, is a Mineral 

 occuring in reniforrn, botryoidal, and globular masses. Its colour is 

 green, passing into black and yellow. Lustre resinous and dull. 

 Brittle. Found at Schneeberg iu Saxony. The following is its 

 analysis by Schular : - 



Silica . . 50-24 



Oxide of Bismuth . . . . . 13-03 



Alumina 14-65 



Oxide of Iron 10'54 



Phosphoric Acid with traces of Manganese 9-62 



98-08 



GREENOCKITE, a Mineral, consisting of Sulphuret of Cadmium. 

 It occurs crystallised iu 6-sided prisms, with 6-sided pyramids. 

 Hardness 275. Lustre vitreous, sometimes almost adamantine. 

 Translucent to transparent. Specific gravity 4'842. Found at Bishop- 

 town, Renfrewshire, and on the Cochno-Burn, on the north side of 

 the Clyde. The following is its analysis by Connell : 



Sulphur 22'56 



Cadmium 77'30 



99-86 



GREENOVITE, a Mineral, occurring in small amorphous crystal- 

 line masses. Primary form a doubly oblique prism. Colour deep 

 rose-red. Hardness greater than that of fluor-spar ; does not scratch 

 glass. Some of the faces are brilliant, others often dull and tarnished. 

 (Specific gravity 3'44. It is found at St.-Marcel in Piedmont. 

 Analysis, by M. Delesse : 



Silica 30-40 



Oxide of Titanium . . .42- 



Lime .... ... 24-30 



Protoxide of Manganese .... 3'80 



100-50 



M. Delesse observes that this mineral is analogous to Sphene. 



GREENSANU. [CHALK FORMATION.] 



