GEN 
ron, of a fine white colour, called by foine authors 
ardea alba minor, or the fmall white heron. It's 
v/eight is about a pound ; the whole body is of a 
pure fnow-white colour; the hind-part of the head 
is adorned with a fhort creft; round the eyes there 
is a naked fpace of a greenifh hue; and the feet 
are green, but fometinnes covered with blackifh 
fcales. It's flefh is commonly eaten in Italy; but 
the feathers which compofe the creft of this beau- 
tiful bird are reckoned it's moft valuable part. 
GAZE-HOUND. See Hound. 
GAZELT^A, GAZELLE, or ANTELOPE. 
In the Linnjean fyfbem, this conftitutes a fpecies of 
the capra, or goat; but other naturalifts make it a 
difi:in(5t genus, the characters of which are thefe: 
the horns are annulated, or twifted ; there are eight 
broad cutting-teeth in the lower jaw; and the body 
and limbs are of a light and elegant conformation. 
Thus the Gazelle is made an intermediate genus 
between the goat and the deer, agreeing with the 
former in the texture of it's horns, which contain a 
core, and are never flied; and with the latter, in 
the elegance of it's form and fv/iftnefs of it's mo- 
tion. The Gazelle being one of the fleeteft ani- 
mals in nature, it's chace is efbeemed a favourite 
diverfion in all thofe parts of the world where it 
is found. Some fpecies form herds of two or 
three thoufand; while others keep in fmall troops 
of five or fix. The varieties of this animal are 
numerous; but, excepting two or three, they all 
inhabit the warmefh parts of the globe; their pro- 
per climates feem to be thofe within the torrid 
zone ; nor can they exifh in the colder regions. 
See Antelope. 
GAZZA. The Italian appellation for a fpe- 
cies of heron common in feveral parts of Europe; 
and called by many authors ardea alba major, the 
greater white heron. The whole body is of a 
fnowy white colour; the beak is yellow; the mem- 
branes about the eyes are green; the tail is long; 
and the head is deftitute of a crefS:; which laft cir- 
cumftance, added to the difparity of fize, fuffi- 
cientlv diflinguillies it from the ardea alba minor. 
This 'oird, v/hich is fometimes feen in England, 
has been niiftaken for the common heron become 
accidentally white; a phenomenon frequently ob- 
ferved in fparrov/s, and fome other birds. 
GAZZETTA. A name given by Gefner to 
the ardea alba minor of naturalifts, the gaza gio- 
vane of the Italians. 
GAZZETTO. A fifli of the turdus or wrafle 
kind, caught in the Mediterranean, and fold in the 
markets of Italy. It is thick, and pretty broad; 
the colour is a fine green; the fins are fpotted; 
and near the anus there is a large purple tubercle. 
The dorfal fin of this fifh confifts of twenty-four 
ribs or nerves; the firfl; fifteen of which are rigid 
and prickly, the reft being fmooth and fiexile. 
GED. The Englifli name for a fmall fpecies 
of fnipe, ufually called the juddock; and, by 
authors, gallinago minima. 
GELLY, SE,A. A term by v^hich naturalifts 
exprefs the after; as, or fea-ftar. 
GENET. An animal of the weafel kind, ra- 
ther fmaller than the martin, though fome are 
larger. It referp.bles the weafel kind in it's great 
length compared to it's height, in having a foft 
beautiful fur, in it's feet being armed with unre- 
tra6lile claws, and in it's appetite for petty car- 
nage; but it differs from them in having the nofe 
much fmaller and longer, the tail tapering to a 
pointj larger ears, and fmaller paws. 
G I A 
The Genet is fpotted with black, on a ground 
mixed with red and grey : it has two forts of hair, 
the one fhorter and fofter, the other longer and 
ftronger, but not more than half an inch long on 
any part of the body except the tail; it's fpots are 
diftinft and feparate on the fides, but, uniting to- 
wards the back, there form black ftripes v/hich run 
longitudinally. There is alfo along the back a 
kind or I'^ngifli hair, refembiing a mane; and the 
tail is marked with rings, alternately black and 
white, from the infertion to the end. Like all 
the reft of the weafel kind, it is furniflied with 
glands, which feparate a kind of perfume refem- 
biing Civet, but which foon evaporates: thefc 
glands open differently from thofe of other ani- 
mals of this kind; for, as the latter have their aper- 
tures juft- at the beginning of the anus, the aperture 
of this creature is fituated immediately under it. 
Genets are eafily domefticated. Belonius af- 
fures us, that he has feen fome at Conftantino- 
ple as tame as cats ; and that they are permitted 
to run where they pleafe, without doing any in- 
jury : hence they have been called the cats of Con- 
ftantinople, though they have little elfe in com- 
mon v/ith thefe animals except their addrefs in 
difcovering and deftroying vermin. Some natu- 
ralifts pretend that they inhabit only moift grounds; 
and that they chiefly refide on the banks of rivers, 
avoiding mountainous and dry places; but, with 
refpeft to thefe local predileflions, we are not com- 
petent to fpeak with certainty. Certain, how- 
ever, it is, that the fpecies is not much diffufed : 
it is not to be found in any part of Europe, ex- 
cept Spain and Turky; and though it requires a 
v/arm climate for it's fubfiftence and propagation, 
it has not been difcovered in any of the warmer 
regions of India or Africa. It is a mild and trac- 
table animal ; beautiful in it's colours, and valua- 
ble for it's fur; and feems to be one of thofe crea- 
tures which, with proper care, might be propa- 
gated in any temperate climate. 
GERBUA. An appellation fometimes given, 
to thejerboa, an animal which inhabits Egypt, and 
fome other countries. See Jerboa. 
GERENDA. An Eaft Indian ferpent, finely 
fpotted with various colours, to v/hich the natives 
of Calicut pay divine honours; and, while their 
deity lies coiled up, (it's ufual pofture) they pro- 
ftrate themfelves loefore it with ftupid adoration. 
The Gerenda is likewife worfliipped in the fame 
manner by the inhabitants of the coaft of Mozam- 
bique in Africa. 
The brilliancy of colouring in thefe reptiles, 
which probably procure them fo much veneration 
among uncultivated nations; in countries where 
the principles of a juft taft-e are eftabliflied, Vv^ould 
only excite difguft and averfion. 
GER-FALCON, or GYR-FALCON. This 
fpecies of Falcon is naturally a very bold, v/ild, 
and untracftable bird; but, when once reclaimed, 
it proves one of the moft ferviceable of the kind. 
See Falcon. 
GHALGHULUNA. The Ceylonefe name 
for a fpecies of ferpent of a pale brown colour va- 
riegated with tranfverfc ftreaks of white, and found 
among rocks and ftones. 
GIAROLA. a bird of the lark kind, re- 
markable for it's very long heel. It is about the 
fize of the common lark; the head, neck, buck, 
and wings, are of a mottled colour, refembiing that 
of the quail ; the general appearance of the feathers 
is a chefnut brown, and their edges are variegated 
4 N v/ith 
