Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/403

LEFT GLYOXALINE 339 GNATHODON can be crystallized over HjSo*. It is very soluble in water, and can be distilled in a current of steam. It is a monobasic acid, forming crystalline salts called gly- oxalates. By oxidizing agents it is con- verted into oxalic acid; by nascent hydro- gen it is reduced to glycoUic acid. It has also the properties of an aldehyde, reducing ammoniacal solutions of silver salts, forming a metallic mirror; also unites with alkaline bisulphites. Glyox- alic acid, when boiled with excess of lime water, yields calcium glycollate and cal- cium oxalate. GLYOXALINE, in chemistry, a sub- stance obtained by treating glyoxal, kept cool on ice, with a slight excess of am- monia, glycosine separates as a powder, the filtered liquid is boiled with milk of lime, evaporated to a syrup, and ex- tracted with alcohol, and distilling the alcoholic solution. GLYOXYLIC ACID, CHO COOH or OH (OH) 2 COOH, a thick liquid, readily soluble in water, but can be prepared in the crystalline condition by long stand- ing over sulphuric acid, in which case the compound has the second formula given above. It is found in young beets, un- ripe apples, plums, gooseberries, rhu- barb, currants and grapes. GLYPHIPTERYGID^ (glif-ip"te-rij' i-de), a family of moths, group Tineina. The larva has 16 legs or is apodal. It generally mines in leaves. GLYPTODIPTERINI (-i'ni), in the classification of Professor Huxley, a family of fossil ganoid fishes, sub-order Crossopterygidse. There are two dorsal fins, the scales are sculptured, the pec- toral fins acutely lobate, dendition den- drodont. There are two sub-families, the one with rhomboidal, and the other with cycloidal scales. Under the latter family fall the genus Holoptychius, etc. GLYPTODON, a huge fossil mammal, family Dasypodidx (armadillos). It was incased in armor, there being bony plates on the head, and nearly hexagonal bony scutes on the body. It belongs to the Post-pliocene of South America. In- cluding the tail, G. slavipes was more than nine feet long. GMELINA (me-li'na) (named after Johann Georg Gmelin), a genus of Ver- benaceas, tribe Viticese. The leaves of G. parviflora render water mucilaginous. It may then be employed as a ptisan for the cure of ardor urinje. GMELINITE (mel'i-nlt) (named after Prof. Charles Gmelin), a colorless, yel- lowish-white, greenish-white, or reddish- white, fresh, transparent to translucent, brittle mineral, crystallizing in rhombo- hedrons. Sarcolite, lederevite, and hydro- lite are varieties. Found at Andreas- berg, in the Harz; at Montecchio, Mag- giore, and Castel, in the Vincentine; in Cyprus; near Cape Blomidon, in Nova Scotia, etc. GMUND, a city of Wurttemberg, Ger- many, situated in the valley of the Rems, 32 miles S. E. of Stuttgart. It was famous prior to the World War for its manufacture of jewelry and ar- ticles of the precious metals, and was also the site of important industries in iron and bronze, notably scientific in- struments. It became an Imperial free city in the thirteenth century and re- tained its independence until 1903. Pop. about 21,000. GNAT (nat) a genus of dipterous in- sects represented by numerous widely distributed species, and especially abun- dant in marshy districts. There are nine British species, of which the common gnat (Culex pipiens) may be taken as typical. The color of the middle portion of the body on the upper surface is yel- lowish-brown, marked with darker longi- tudinal lines; the posterior part is light gray. The antennae consist of 14 joints, and bear circlets of hair, which, in the male, may be so long and thick as to give a feathery appearance. The female is furnished with mandibles which are ab- sent in the male. The male gnat sips nectar from the flowers and passes his days in dancing in the sunlight; the fe- male spends her days and nights in pur- suit of men and cattle from whom she may suck her more nutritious, if less delicate, diet. The proboscis, whose double function of piercing and sucking is an extremely complex structure com- posed of representatives of the three usual mouth appendages. To strain at (an old misprint for out) a gnat and swallow a camel (Matt, xxiii: 24, Authorized Version). To strain out the gnat and swallow the camel. (Re- vised Version) : Alluding to the care with which the Jews strained small in- sects out of the liquor they were about to drink. To be punctilious about trifles and careless in matters of importance. GNATHODON (nath'o-don), a genus of birds, called also Didunculus (q. v.). In zoology and palasontologj', a genus of conchiferous mollusks, family Mactridx. It is so called because one of the lateral teeth connected with the hinge has a cer- tain resemblance to a jawbone. Recent species, one certain and three doubtful; fossil three, from the Chalk onward. The best-known recent species is G. cuneatus, which was formerly eaten by the Indians. It is found with Cyrena carolinensis at