GNO 



GOM 



striped aspect. The gneiss rocks 

 are remarkably rich in metallic ores. 



GNOMON. The inclined rod or 

 style on a sun-dial, the shadow of 

 which marks the time. Their ele- 

 vation depends upon the latitude. 

 Gnomonics is the art of constructing 

 dials. 



GOAT. Animals of the genus 

 Capra. The following is chiefly from 

 Low : 



" The goat appears to form the con- 

 necting link between the sheep on the 

 one hand, and the antelope tribes on 

 the other. Being the natural inhab- 

 itant of mountainous regions, it is, 

 therefore, in wild, rocky countries 

 that the goat is chiefly reared. Goats 

 are stronger, more nimble, and less 

 timid than sheep, and are more ea- 

 sily supported than any other ani- 

 mals, for there are few herbs which 

 they do not relish ; they will browse 

 on heaths, shrubs, and plants which 

 are rejected by other animals. Goats 

 are more hardy and not liable to so 

 many diseases as sheep. The goat 

 is not well adapted to a country of 

 enclosures, because it feeds upon 

 the twigs of hedges, and escapes over 

 the barriers intended to confine it ; 

 but where there are no young trees 

 to be injured, they may browse at 

 large on the mountain brakes without 

 expense, and in winter, when housed, 

 they are easily supported on straw, 

 cabbage leaves, potato peelings, and 

 such worthless food. 



" It arrives early at maturity, and 

 is very prolific, bearing two, and 

 sometimes three kids at a birth. The 

 period of gestation is five months. 

 The female bears for six or seven 

 years ; the male should not be kept 

 longer than five. In Portugal and 

 some other countries, the goat is 

 used as a beast of draught for light 

 burdens. The hair of the goat may 

 be shorn, as it is of some value, ma- 

 king good linsey. Ropes are some- 

 times made from goals' hair, and are 

 said to last much longer, when used in 

 the water, than those made of hemp. 

 Candles are manufactured from their 

 fat, which, in whiteness and quality, 

 are stated to be superior to those of 

 328 



' wax ; their horns afford excellent 

 handles for knives and forks, and the 

 skin, especially that of the kid, is in 

 ] demand for gloves and other purpo- 

 I ses. Goats' milk is sweet and nu- 

 tritive. When yielding milk the goat 

 will give, for several months, at the 

 average of two quarts per day. Mr. 

 Pringle, of Kent, in his essay ' On 

 Cottage Management' {Gard. Mag., 

 vol. v.), informs us that two milch 

 goats are equivalent to one small 

 Shetland cow. Cheese prepared from 

 goats' milk is much esteemed in 

 mountainous countries, after it has 

 been kept a proper age." 



The wool of the Cashmere goat is 

 peculiarly silky, and forms an admira- 

 ble material for the manufacture of 

 shawls. 



GOAT'S BEARD. The weed 

 Tragopogon pratcnsis. Salsify {T. 

 porrifolius) is sometimes so called. 



GOLD. Gold coin may always 

 be proved, if any counterfeit be sus- 

 pected, by its great gravity of 17157. 

 Pure gold has a specific gravity of 

 19 3 ; the reduced weight of the coin 

 is due to the alloy of copper. Its 

 combining weight is 199-2, and sym- 

 bol Au. (aurum). Aqua regia is the 

 solvent of gold. 



GOLDEN ROD. SoUdago virgau- 

 rca. A common weed, found on 

 poor, neglected fields. It is said by 

 Bechstein to furnish a valuable yel- 

 low dye. Both the flowers and leaves 

 produce a yellow decoction with 

 water. 



GOLD OF PLEASURE. Camc- 

 lina saliva. A cruciferous small an- 

 nual, bearing pale yellow flowers. It 

 is cultivated like flax, prefers a light 

 soil, and will yield two crops in the 

 year ; the seeds yield a sweet oil. 

 This name is also improperly given 

 to the Madia, which see. The ca- 

 melina is sowed broadcast, weeded, 

 and hoed, and ripens its seeds in 

 about 90 davs. 



GOLD THREAD. Coptis tnfolia. 

 A small evergreen, indigenous to 

 Canada and the Eastern States. It 

 grows in dark, shady, Alpine swamps. 

 The root is tonic. 



GOMPHOSIS. In anatomy, a 



