Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/519

 CROSSBOW CROSS KEYS 515 parts are grayish brown, tinged with green, and the rump grayish yellow, as are also the lower parts. They are found in Maine and Canada even in midwinter, and on the shores of Lake Superior are seen in large flocks in the coldest weather, about the mining locations; they are also met with as far south as Penn- sylvania. They fly quickly in an undulating manner, making considerable noise ; they are easily domesticated, and in their wild state seem not to fear man. The eggs are four or five, of a greenish white color, thickly covered, especially at the large end, with dark brown spots. The white-winged species (G. leucop- tera, Wils.) also inhabits the northern pine and spruce forests, the whole breadth of the conti- nent, probably up to 68 N., where the woods terminate; it only resorts to temperate cli- mates when forced by severe weather. The principal difference consists in the more slender bill, and in two white bands on the wings, formed by the secondary and first row of small coverts; the. habits of the two species are the same. The singular form of the bill in this genus is a striking example of the adaptation of means to ends, which everywhere meets the student of natural history. CROSSBOW. See AEOHEKY. CROSSE, Andrew, an English electrician, born in Bromfield, Somersetshire, June 17, 1784, died July 6^ 1855. He was matriculated at Brazenose college, Oxford, in 1802; but the habits of his fellow students seem to have been particularly unsuited to him, and in 1805 he returned to settle on his estate of Fyne Court, which he had five years previously inherited from his father, and where he passed the greater part of his life. Having a strong predilection for the study of electricity, he provided him- self with the necessary apparatus, and pursued his experiments without regard to theories. One of his first discoveries was the production of crystals by the effect of electricity. By the action of the voltaic battery, excited by water alone, upon a tumbler of water taken from a cavern in the neighborhood lined with arago- nite crystallizations, he procured in a few days crystals of carbonate of lime. For 30 years he prosecuted these experiments, and succeeded hi obtaining 41 mineral crystals, or minerals un- crystallized, in the form in which they are pro- duced by nature, including one, subsulphate of copper, entirely new, being neither found in nature nor previously formed by art. He was of the opinion that it was possible to form dia- monds in this way. As he worked alone and never published the results of his discoveries, they were unknown to the scientific world until the meeting of the British association for the advancement of science in Bristol in 1836, when he was induced to explain them publicly. The announcement excited unusual interest, and Mr. Crosse was complimented by eminent scientific men. For many years he had been in the habit of employing the electrical fluid for ascertaining the state of the atmosphere and for other purposes, and had constructed a mile or more of insulated wire above the tree tops in the neighborhood of his house to aid his experiments. In 1816 he predicted "that by means of electrical agency we shall be able to communicate our thoughts instantaneously with the uttermost ends of the earth," although it does not appear that he ever attempted to fulfil his prediction. The discovery, however, with which his name is chiefly connected, is that of the apparent production of insects by the action of the voltaic battery upon certain chemical fluids. In 1836, while pursuing his experiments in crystallization with a highly caustic solution, out of contact with atmospheric air, he noticed the appearance of an insect of the acarus tribe, of which upward of 100 more were discovered within a few weeks. The discovery caused a considerable sensation, and although Mr. Fara- day and Mr. Weeks amply confirmed the state- ments of Mr. Crosse by their own experience, the latter was accused of the impiety of as- suming to become a creator. Crosse was much affected by these imputations, although he could give no explanation of the manner in which the insects were produced. Subsequent experiments on the same subject by Prof. Schulze of Gerinany failed to obtain the ap- pearance of insects or animal germs, thus con- firming the probability, which Mr. Crosse never disputed, that the ova of the insects were derived from the atmosphere, or con- veyed into the apparatus by some natural means unknown to the experimenter. Among the practical benefits of his experiments was the discovery of a process for purifying salt water by means of electricity. He also made some curious discoveries on the effects of posi- tive and negative electricity upon vegetation. A memoir, including his original poems, was published after his death by his widow. CROSS KEYS, a place in Rockingham co., Virginia, near the forks of the Shenandoah, where a battle was fought, June 8, 1862, be- tween the confederates under Ewell and a Union force under Fremont. Early in the spring of 1862 the bulk of the confederate forces withdrew from northern Virginia to the peninsula ; but Jackson and Ewell, with about 12,000, were left behind on the Rappahannock and the Shenandoah. This force, subsequently increased to 15,000 or more, was united under Jackson in the valley of the Shenandoah. Jackson, having been worsted at Kernstown, near Winchester, March 23, retreated up the Shenandoah, but in the latter part of May sud- denly swept down the valley, cut off Kenly's detachment at Front Royal, and drove Banks before him to the banks of the Potomac. Threatened by a combined movement of the troops under Fremont, McDowell, and Shields, intended to intercept him, he again retreated up the valley, and was followed by Fremont and Shields, on opposite sides of the river. They expected to unite at Port Republic, near the forks. Ewell was left behind at Cross