GUANO

A substance found upon certain small islands, especially in the South Sea, which are the resort of large flocks of birds, and chiefly composed of their excrement: it is said to form beds fifty to sixty feet in thickne . It is an excellent manure. GUARANTEE, in Law, is an undertaking to answer foi the failure of another. By the Statute of Frauds, a person is not liable on a special promise in the nature of a guarantee unle a written agreement, or memorandum of such promise, shall be signed by the party making the promise, or some person lawfully authorized by him. GUARDIAN, in Law, he who has the custody of such persons as are incapable of directing themselves, and especial ly of infants. Guardians at common law were— 1. In chivalry (under the feudal principle of wardship, abolished with the other incidents of military tenure by 12 Ch. 2). 2. By nature; the father in all cases; the mother to daughters, where no guardian is a igned by the father's deed or will. 3. For nurture; appointed by the ordinary in default of father or mother. 4. In socage, being the nearest of kin to an in fant entitled to real estate who cannot inherit that estate. [s. 549]