those of Horatio, Lord Walpole (1802). He then published his History of the House of Austria from 1218 to 1792 (1807); afterward 'Memoirs of the Kings of Spain of the House of Bourbon, from 1700 to 1788) (1813); Life of Gay' (published separately from his Fables, 1897).

COXSWAIN, or COCKSWAIN, a minor officer on board of a ship, who takes charge of a boat and the boats' crew in the absence of superior officers. The term also designates the helmsman of a racing crew.

COYOTE, ki'ō-tę or koi'ō-tē, prairie wolf (Canis latrans), native to the western United States, and before the advent of civilization numerous as far east as the extent of the prairies of the Mississippi Valley, where it was called the red wolf in distinction from the large gray or timber wolf (q.v.). At present it is abundant from the dry plains of Texas, Nebraska and Manitoba, westward to the Pacific coast, south of central British Columbia, and also in Mexico. Throughout this wide range it supports itself easily in spite of civilization, and at night its long-drawn cry, more like a bark than a howl, may be heard for long distances; and, owing to its predatory habits, this wailing call inspires terror in its possible victims and rouses the anger of the western ranchman whose flocks and herds are apt to suffer from the inroads of the barking wolf, as the coyote is sometimes called.

Coyotes are smaller than other wolves, being about the size of setter dogs, and, although they often travel in packs, as do other wolves, they are cowardly where man is concerned, and confine their raids to the brute creation. Their fur is soft, reddish or tawny-gray in color, sometimes slightly tipped with black. The tail is bushy, the ears upright and the slender muzzle very pointed. The coyotes live in hollows among rocks, or in deserted burrows, whence they usually issue at dusk, to hunt. Their food is chiefly gophers, mice, ground-nesting birds, prairie-dogs and other small animals, their depredations on sheep-folds and cattle-ranches being mainly reserved for winter. In former days they were persistent enemies of the pronghorns. They are fleet footed, cunning in avoiding snares and adapt themselves readily to varying conditions,- hence they increase rather than diminish in the more isolated regions where they are found. They were well known to the Western Indians and formed the basis of some breeds of their dogs. Many tales of American Indian folk-lore in these tribes are concerned with them. Consult Elliott, Synopsis of Mammals (1901); Ingersoll, 'Wild Neighbors' (1897).

COYPEL, kwä'pěl, a celebrated family of French artists (1) NOËL: b. 25 Dec. 1628; d. Paris, 24 Dec. 1707. After he had embellished, by the royal command, the old Louvre with his paintings (from the cartoons of Lebrun), and had in like manner adorned the Tuileries, the Trianon and the Hôtel des Invalides, he was appointed a director of the French Academy in Rome. His four pictures for the Council Hall at Versailles-Solon, Trajan, Severus and Ptolemy Philadelphus excited the admiration of connoisseurs. His chief works are the 'Martyrdom of Saint James' (in the church of Notre Dame), 'Cain Murdering His Brother (in

the Academy), the Trinity and the Conception of the Holy Virgin' (in the Hôtel des Invalides). Coypel had a rich imagination, drew correctly, understood expression and was an agreeable colorist. He wrote a 'Dialogue sur le coloris,' published by Caresme (Paris 1741). (2) ANTOINE, his son, b. Paris, 12 April 1661; d. there, 7 Jan. 1722. At the age of 20 he was elected member of the Academy; in 1707 he became professor there and president in 1714. He was made painter to the king in 1716, and painted a great number of pictures for the royal palaces and the churches of Paris. Among his best works are 12 subjects from the Eneid, a portrait of Molière and Athalie chassee du Temple. The designs of the 'Histoire numismatique du règne de Louis XIV' are mostly his. His collected lectures were published under the title 'Discours sur la peinture (Paris 1721). His pictures are to be found in nearly all of the museums of his provinces. (3) NOEL-NICOLAS: b. Paris, 18 Nov. 1690; d. there, 14 Dec. 1734. He excelled in pastel painting. His best-known pictures are Triomphe de Galatheé and paintings in the chapel of the Virgin at the church of Saint Saviour. He became a member of the Academy in 1720, professor and court-painter in 1731. (4) CHARLESANTOINE, etcher, painter and dramatist, son of Antoine (q.v.): b. Paris, 11 July 1694; d. there, 14 June 1752. He studied with his father. At court his dramas made him very popular, especially 'Les folies de Cardenio' (1724). His 25 pictures from the history of Don Quixote (at the palace of Compiègne) were very well known. He painted in pastel and also numerous portraits. The principal illustrations of the 'Comèdies de Molière are also the work of this versatile artist. In 1715 he became a member of the Royal Academy; professor in 1720, chief courtpainter in 1747 and director of the Academy in the same year; and later chief painter to the Duke of Orleans who became his pupil. Consult Caylus, Vie des peintres' (Paris 1910).

COYPU, koi-poo', or NUTRIA, an aquatic rodent (Myopotamus coypu), native to South America. It is known colloquially as the nutria, or otter, in the countries where it is found, and its pelt furnishes the fur commercially misnamed as "otter." It is dull brown, has a gray muzzle and red incisors. Its nostrils are so set that it can breathe when all immersed except the tip of its nose. It is somewhat smaller than the beaver, and has a slender, rat-like tail. It is distinctly aquatic, dwelling in ponds, and burrowing into the banks, or building platformnests among the reeds on the shore. Owing to the threatened extermination of the coypu local laws have been enacted for its protection as a valuable fur-bearing animal, and it has been saved by these and by a smaller demand for its pelt. Its call is like the moan of a human creature in pain; and when a female and her family of eight or nine take to the water they become very noisy, as well as playful. Consult Hudson, The Naturalist on the La Plata (1892).

COYSEVOX, kwäs'võks', Antoine, French sculptor: b. Lyons, 29 Sept. 1640; d. Paris, 10 Oct. 1720. He studied with Lerambert was admitted to the Royal Academy in 1676, was employed by Louis XIV in decorating Versailles and the palace at Marly. Among his best works are an equestrian statue of Louis XIV;

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to be quite unknown on the pampas. It is somewhat smaller than the colpeo of the extreme south, and less handsome in color. In this respect it is subject to great variation, ranging from black, with bright red on the legs, to dull gray with very little black on the back, but the tip of the tail is always black. It is a forest or jungle-dwelling animal, feeding upon rodents and birds and upon crustaceans, whence its English and Latin name. It does much damage to poultry in the inhabited districts; when hunting in the woods it follows its prey by scent, but in the open it is said to hunt by sight.

CRAB-EATING ICHNEUMON, ik-nū’món, a mungoose (Herpestes urva or cancrivorus), native to southern Asia from the slopes of the Himalayas to southern China and Assam. It is said to be partially aquatic in habits and to live on frogs and especially on crabs, whence its name. It is, however, little known scientifically.

CRAB-EATING RACCOON, a kind of raccoon (q.v.) native to South America (Procyon cancrivorus), considerably larger than the northern raccoon and having shorter fur and proportionately much larger teeth. It is found from Panama to Colombia and Guiana. The darker sort, found farther south, has often been considered as a distinct species, and called the black-footed raccoon. In habits, these South American raccoons are much like their northern relatives.

CRAB GRASS, or FINGER GRASS (Syntherisma sanguinalis), belongs to the family Poacea, or grass family. It is a very common annual grass found throughout the United States and thriving in warm weather. It has erect or decumbent stems which often grow two or three feet high and bear from 4 to 15 erect or spreading spikes, which carry the flowers and fruit. It is cultivated in the southern States for hay and pasturage. The hay is easily injured if wet while curing. Its value is similar to that of Bermuda grass. It was introduced from Europe, where it is a weed, although it is cultivated on sandy land in Bohemia, the fruit being used for porridge. In the northern parts of the United States, owing to its strong roots it is difficult to eradicate and is regarded as a bad weed.

CRAB ISLAND, West Indies. See VIEQUES. CRAB-LOUSE (Phthirius inguinalis), a wingless insect of the family Pediculida or suctorial lice, which is usually classified under the Hemiptera. It is different in shape from the other lice, having a short and broad crab-like appearance. It is whitish, with the thick legs and claws reddish, and is nearly one-tenth of an inch in length. The crab-louse infests the pubic regions of the human body, sometimes occurring among the hairs of the arm-pits, or even of the eye-brows. The insect attaches its eggs in great numbers to the hairs, as may easily be seen with an ordinary reading-glass; and the young half burrow beneath the skin, clinging tenaciously. The itch or disease called phthiriasis is due to the attacks of this repulsive pest, when occurring in great numbers. The virulence of the disease in ancient writings was probably exaggerated. Sharp suggests that in the cases of disease attributed to this insect the patient was suffering from some other disease,

but being in a neglected and filthy condition was horribly infested with these disgusting creatures. Red precipitate, and any oily or greasy. applications, together with frequent use of carbolic acid soap are efficient remedies.

CRAB-SPIDER, a small spider of the family Thomisida, so-called on account of its laterally bent legs and side-wise progression. The body is much depressed and the ocelli arranged in two parallel transverse rows. The Thomisus vulgaris and other species are common in the United States. They spin no webs except for the support of the cocoon, but pursue their prey which, owing to their flat bodies, they are enabled to seek in crevices. The claws or talons of this spider are very large and strong: sometimes they are removed, set in gold, and used as tooth-picks, being supposed to have medicinal properties as prophylactic of toothache. The name is also applied to the birdcatching spider (q.v.).

CRABB, George, English lawyer and philologist: b. Palgrave, England, 8 Dec. 1778; d. Hammersmith, England, 4 Dec. 1854. He studied in Germany, and on his return to England published a series of German textbooks which were long in use. In 1829 he was admitted to the bar. He was the author of 'Dictionary of English Synonyms' (1816; 10th ed., 1849); 'An Historical Dictionary' (1825); 'Mythology of All Nations (1847); A Technological Dictionary'; 'A History of the English Law'; 'A Digest and Index of All the Statutes at Large,' (4 vols., 1841-47); A Technical Dictionary of Terms Used in Science and Art'; and 'A Dictionary of General Knowledge.'

CRABBE, George, English poet: b. Aldeburgh, Suffolk, 24 Dec. 1754; d. Trowbridge, Wiltshire, 3 Feb. 1832. He early showed a passion for reading. After a short time at school he was apprenticed to a village doctor and afterward to a surgeon. He contributed verse to Wheble's Magazine after 1772. He continued his medical studies in London and returned to his native place to practise his profession. He abandoned the profession in 1780 and went to London to pursue a literary career. In that year he published "The Candidate,' but its failure disheartened him and he called upon Burke, who took him under his protection and helped to publish The Library) (1781). At Burke's direction he entered the Anglican ministry, was chaplain to the Duke of Rutland, held several other church livings, the last of which was Trowbridge, where he remained from 1814 until his death. Among his best-known poems are The Village) (1783); The Newspaper' (1785); The Parish Register) (1807); The Borough (1810); Tales in Verse) (1812) and Tales of the Hall (1819). Crabbe was popular in his time, being praised by Dr. Johnson, Scott, Byron and Wordsworth. His reputation has declined greatly since his day, but he is still important for his realism and tragic portrayal of the lives of the people in old East Anglia. (See PARISH REGISTER, THE). Consult Works,' with memoir by his son (8 vols., London 1835; 1 vol., 1901); Ainger, A., 'Crabbe' (New York 1902); Huchon, R., 'George Crabbe and His Times' (1907); and Courthope's essay in Ward, 'English Poets' (London 1884).