630 



GERVILI A GIRAFFE. 



formance of its motions, and the consequent support 

 of its habits. The under surface of the body is thickly 

 covered with a fine layer of silvery hairs, which ren- 

 ders it impervious to the action of the water ; but it 

 is requisite that, for an insect residing upon the sur- 

 face of the water, and feeding only upon such stray 

 morsels as may happen to be floating there, that quick 

 motion, and a power of suddenly turning in various 

 directions, should be given to it. In the wherry we 

 find these motions effected by long oars, acted upon 

 from the sides of the boat and a rudder at its stern ; 

 and this is the case with the insects in question. Mr. 

 Curtis says, " These insects, by rowing with their 

 posterior feet, glide over the water," but this is incor- 

 rect. It is the middle legs, placed at the sides of the 

 body in the centre, which perform the office of oars, 

 being for this purpose much longer than the other 

 legs, the hind pair acting at the same time conjointly 

 as rudders. 1 he fore legs are short, and formed for 

 seizing the prey, which is immediately brought to the 

 mouth. 



The type of the genus is the Cimaz lacustris of 

 Linnaeus. The are several British species, but their 

 characters are not sufficiently elucidated, since we are 

 convinced that the supposed apterous species upon 

 certain occasions acquire wings, as is the case with 

 the other genera of the family. 



GERVILI A (Defrance). This genus contains 

 several species of fossil shells, found in the depart* 

 incut of La Manche : the animal and, of course, all 

 recent species are altogether unknown : it is classed 

 immediately preceding the genus AVICULA, which 

 see for its classification. 



GESNERIA (Linnaeus). Under-shrubs and tu- 

 berous-rooted herbs, mostly natives of the West 

 Indies ; class and order Didynamia Angiospermia and 

 natural order Gesneriea. Generic character ; calyx 

 attached to the germen, five-cleft ; corolla tubular, 

 full at the upper part, limb nearly equally divided, 

 often two-lipped, spreading or reflexed, upper lip 

 two, lower one three-lobed ; stamens have ovate, 

 two-celled anthers ; style with a two-lobed stigma ; 

 capsule of one cell, containing minute chaffy seeds. 

 These plants require a light rich soil, and may be 

 propagated by cuttings. 



GESNERIE^E. A small natural order of tropical 

 hrbs with large downy leaves, and bearing purple 

 or scarlet flowers. The inflorescence is spicate, 

 branching or paniculate, seldom solitary ; the 

 flowers irregular ; the calyx is free, half adhering or 

 joined to the germen ; the corolla is perigynous or 

 hypogynous, irregularly five-lobed, somewhat two- 

 lipped, the upper one two-lobed, the lower one three- 

 lobed ; the disc is annular, perigynous and studded 

 with glands ; the stamens, four in number and did y- 

 namous, inserted in the tube of the corolla; filaments 

 free ; anthers two-celled ; the germen is formed of 

 two connate carpels, containing many seeds ; style 

 one, bearing a headed stigma. The Gesncrieae are 

 very ornamental plants, but their economical value is 

 little ; some have been used as dyes, and the fleshy 

 fruits of others are eatable : they are sweetish and 

 mucilaginous, but not much prized. 



GEUM (Linnaeus). A genus of hardy herbaceous 

 perennials, chiefly natives of the northern parts of the 

 world : two of them are common British plants, where 

 they are called Avens. They belong to the natural 

 order Rosacete : a species of saxifrage is also called 

 geum. 



GIANT FENNEL, is the Ferula communis of 

 Linnaeus ; one of genus of large herbaceous plants 

 belonging to Umbellifera:. 



GILLIESIE^E. A natural order, allied to the 

 Asp/iodelcte, but separated by Dr. Lindley. The 

 order contains only one or two genera, viz., Gillicxia, 

 and Mcma, both Chilian plants, with small incon- 

 spicuous, irregular liliacious flowers, grass-like leaves, 

 and tunicated bulbs, by which they differ from the 

 Asphodelece. They are neither ornamental nor useful, 

 although, from their structure, curiously interesting 

 plants. 



GILLYFLOWER, is the Mathiola iucana of 

 R. Brown. This, under the name of stock-gilly- 

 flower, is one of the oldest favourites of the florist. 

 Under cultivation the flowers become double, and 

 vary into many different colours : they are at the 

 same time delightfully fragrant. Some of the species 

 are annuals, and other biennial. They belong- to the 

 natural order Cruciferce. 



GINGER, is the Zingiber officinale of Roscoe. 

 A plant which yields a useful spice and condiment. 

 The tuberous root is the useful part, obtained by cul- 

 tivating it in fields on a large scale in the East In- 

 dies, and forms, at present, an important article of 

 commerce from both Indies. It belongs to Scita- 

 mincce. 



GINSENG, is the Panax quinquefolia of Linnaeus. 

 As a drug, it has been from time immemorial extolled 

 in China as a universal panacea or remedy for all ills. 

 Pere Jartroux says that the most celebrated physi- 

 cians of China have written volumes on the Gin-seng, 

 which they affirm to be able to ward off or remove 

 fatigue, to invigorate the enfeebled frame, to restore 

 the exhausted animal powers, to make old people 

 young, and, in a word, to render man immortal" if 

 any thing on earth can do so." Hence the name Gin- 

 seng signifies, " the dose for immortality." Osbeck 

 says the Chinese take it every night and morning in 

 their tea or soup, and that he never looked into apo- 

 thecaries' shops but they were always selling gin-seng. 

 The plant is a native of North America, as well as of 

 Chinese Tartary ; it grows chiefly in desert places, 

 difficult of access, or at least the venders tell strange 

 tales of dangers encountered by those who collect 

 the root, perhaps with the design of enhancing its 

 value ; and it has been known to cost its weight in 

 Sold. 



GIRAFFE (CamelopardaUs). A very singular genus 

 of ruminating mammalia, one of the most singular in- 

 deed of the whole class, and an inhabitant of very 

 peculiar pastures. The history of this animal, in 

 different ages of the world, is as checkered as its 

 appearance is peculiar. That it was known to the 

 ancient Romans, and brought among other African 

 animals to Rome, there is little doubt ; and it was 

 from the Romans that it received the generic name 

 which it still retains, though in common language it 

 is now known by the less exceptionable one of giraffe. 

 Camelopard is of course compounded of the two 

 words camel and panther, with neither of which this 

 animal has a very close analogy. It no doubt belongs 

 to the same order with the camel, is found in the 

 same parts of the world, and feeds on substances not 

 very different ; but its general aspect is very different 

 from that of the camel, and to those who have seen 

 the more common animal and not this one, the asso- 

 ciation of the idea of a camel with the name would 

 give a very erroneous impression. It is worse with 



