sphingurinæ

pl. [Mod. Latin sphin gur(us): Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff.- ince.] Zoology : A synonym of Syne the rin a (q. v.), with three genera: Erithizon, Chetomys, and Sphingurus (=Syne the res). [TREE-PORCUPINES.] †sphin-gür'-ŭs, s. [Gr sphinggō =to bind tight, to squeeze, and our a =a tail.] [SPHINGURINE, SYNE THE RINE.] sphinx (pl. sphinx-ěş), subst. [Lat., from Gr. sphingx.] IMG:content-0028.png:[blocks in formation] monster, till at length Edipus, who was then at Thebes, came forward, and answered the sphinix that it was Man, who, when an infant, creeps on all fours; when he has attained to manhood goes on two feet; and, when old, uses a staff-a (From the British Museum.) third foot. The sphinx thereupon flung herself down to the earth and perished; and Edipus was, by the gratitude of the The bans, chosen their king, 2. Egypt . Antiq .: A figure having the body of a lion, winged, and a human (male or female) head. Those with human heads were called Andro sphinxes. Sphinxes are also represented with the heads of rams and hawks (Criosphinx, Hieracosphinx). The Egyptian sphinx had no wings; these were added by the Greek artists. The Grecian Sphinx was probably borrowed from the Egyptian. 3. Entomology : *(1) A comprehensive genus under which Linnæus placed all Hawk-moths. (2) The typical genus of Sphingide. Hind wings rounded at the anal angle, or with a hardly perceptible projection. The species fly with great velocity in the dusk, remaining for a time poised above 4. Zool.: [SPHINX-BABOON.] sphinx-baboon, s. Zool.: Cynocephalus sphinx , a large species from the West of Africa. They are good-tempered and playful when young, but become morose and fierce as they grow older. They bear confinement well, and are common in menageries. sphrăg-Id, sphrag-id-ite, s . [Greek sphragis (gen it. sphragidos ) = a seal, a signet; suff. -ite ( Min .).] Min.: A name given to a clay in ancient times used as a medicine, and stamped with a seal, hence the name. It was also called Terra sigillata , and is the Terra lemnia of Pliny. Composition: Like all other clays, e entially a hydrated silicate f alu mina, but contains some soda, hence its medicinal use.