Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Supplement, Volume 2.djvu/868

 GYP

GYMNIA, in zoology, a new eflablifhed clafs of animalcules, containing fuch as have neither tail, nor any vifible limbs. See the article Animalcule, Append.

GYPSUM (Suppl.) — GYPSVMjtriatum, filiated plajler-jlcne, in natural hiftory, the name commonly ufed for the whitifh left glofly twcheriay with fhort thick filaments. See the ar- ticle Tricheria, Suppl.

It is of a rude, irregular and unequal furface, and lax, fri- able texture, found in manes of various fizes, from one to twelve or eighteen inches over, but always broad and flat; its thicknefs being ufually but an inch and an half, and in the broadeft pieces feldom much more than two inches : it is compofed of confiderably large and coarfe longitudinal fila- ments, running ufually very evenly through the mafs: it is ea- fdy Affile in a perpendicular direction, that is parallelly to the arrangement of thefe filaments : it is of a dull whitifh co- lour, and its filaments, when examined fingly, have a flight mare of tranfparency.

It will not at all give fire with fteel, nor ferment with aqua fortis, but very readily calcines to a perfectly white fubftance.

G Y R

It is found in clay and marie pits, among the if rata of gravel, and in the fifllires of Hone, and is common in Yorkfhire and other parts of the kingdom.

The Germans ufe it in the fluxing the fulphureous ores of metals; and our druggifts fell it under the name of Englifll talc, for cleaning of filver lace. Sec Hill's Hift Foil? v>

Tymphaaan Gypsum, a name given by the antients to the hard, fungous, alkaline, white marie, otherwife called calx Hatha, or native lime. See the article Calx, Suppl.

GYRINUS, in zoology, the name fometitnes ufed for a fpecies of mardslla. See the article MoRDELLA, Suppl.

GYRLE, among fportfmen, See the article Girle, Append.

GYROVAGI, in ecclefiaftical writers, monks who leaving their monafteries, under the pretence of piety, wandered about from one religious houfe to another. t>u Cange, GlolT. Lat. torn. ii. p. 683.

The fame appellation was alfo given to pricfts, who left their - :n -.es. Id. ibid.

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