These 12 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Gifford, Gigantes, Gigging.
ROBERT SWAIN, an American artist; born in Naushon Island, Mass., Dec. 23, 1840; received a common school education; studied with Albert Van Beest in Rotterdam, Holland; traveled through California and Oregon in 1869, and in Europe and North America in 1870-1871. His principal works include "The Rock of Gibraltar"; "A Lazy Day in Egypt"; etc. He died in 1905.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
The sons of Coelus and Terra, who, according to Hesiod, sprang from the blood of a wound inflicted on Coelus by his son Saturn. They are represented as huge giants, with strength in accordance with their size. 2026 Editor's Note: Archaic and Classical representations show Gigantes as man-sized hoplites fully human in form. Later representations after c. 380 BC introduced the iconic imagery of Gigantes with snakes for legs. This page's description of them as 'huge giants ' reflects the later artistic tradition rather than the earliest Greek sources. (Ed: BR 2026-06-08)
Only in 1000 Classical Characters
. See Napping Gila (he'la) Monster. See Lizard
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
a city and seaport of Spain, on the Bay of Biscay, 20 miles N. E. of Oviedo. It manufactures tobacco, glass, and earthenware; exports butter, cheese, fruits, hazelnuts and copper ore; and imports grain, flour, sugar, oil, iron, machinery, spirits, chemicals, Jovellanos and woven goods. founded the Collegiate Asturian Institute. Pop. about 55,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
RIO, a river of North America, an affluent of the Colorado of the West, origin in New Mexico; length, 450 miles. Its upper course is through mountains, with many deep and precipitous cañons; further S. it flows through an open and comparatively level country, the valley being productive when irrigated. About 200 miles from the Colorado is the reservation of the Maricopa and Pima Indians. Ancient ruins are numerous on the banks of the Gila.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a poisonous lizard also called Sonoran heloderm. It is one of the largest lizards of North America, and is found in the sandy deserts of New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. Its scales are brilliant orange and jet black. Its bite is rapidly fatal to small mammals and birds, and very injurious, though seldom fatal, to man. The heloderms are the only lizards ascertained to be venomous.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about other peoples, religions, or nationalities that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) SIR HUMPHREY, an English navigator; born in Dartmouth, Devonshire, in 1539; educated at Eton and Oxford. Then, abandoning law for a career of arms, he did such good service against the Irish rebels as earned him knighthood and the government of Munster (1570), after which he saw five years' campaigning in the Netherlands. In 1576 appeared his "Discourse on a Northwest Passage to India," which was published by George Gascoigne, without his knowledge; two years later he obtained a royal patent to "discover and occupy remote heathen lands not actually possessed of any Christian prince or people." With his younger half-brother, GILA MONSTER Sir Walter Raleigh, he set out on an expedition (1578-1579) that failed. He set sail from Plymouth in June, 1583, and in August landed in Newfoundland, of which he took formal possession for Queen Elizabeth. He was shipwrecked and drowned Sept. 9, 1583.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
CASS, an American architect, born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1859. He was educated in the public schools at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He began the study of architecture in 1876. Among the notable buildings which he designed are the Capitol of Minnesota at St. Paul; the Essex County court house at Newark, N. J.; the Agricultural Building at the Omaha Exposition; the Woolworth Building and the Custom House, New York; the Central Public Library at St. Louis; the Detroit Public Library; the New Haven Public Library; the Capitol of Arkansas, at Little Rock. He was appointed by President Roosevelt as a member of the Council of the Fine Arts, and was reappointed by Presidents Taft and Wilson. He was a member of the National Jury of Architecture at the Paris Exposition, and was a founder of the Architectural League of New York. He was also a member of many American and foreign architectural and art societies.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
SIR JOHN, an English painter; born in Blackheath, near London, in 1817; placed at a mercantile house in the city; and later studied art. In 1836 he began to exhibit both in oil and water colors; and in 1852 he was elected an associate, in 1853 a member, in 1871 the president of the Society of Painters in Water-colors, receiving soon after the honor of knighthood. He also became an A. R. A. in 1872, an R. A. in 1876, and a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. His oil paintings include "Don Quixote and Sancho Panza," "Education of Gil Blas," "Murder of Becket," "Joan of Arc Entering Orleans," "Crusaders," "Wolsey at Leicester," and "Morning of Agincourt." He died in Villers-sur-Mer, France, Oct. 6, 1897.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a group of small islands in Australasia, situated on the equator, extending from longitude 172° to 177° East, southeast of the Marshall The group constituting a Islands. British colonial possession, comprises eighteen small islands with a total of 166 square miles, the largest being the island of Tapiteuea. Most of the islands are fertile and large quantities of copra are produced. Population about 27,000, including 450 Europeans.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a religious order in the Roman Catholic Church, one of the few of English foundation. Its founder in 1148 was St. Gilbert, a native of Sempringham, in Lincolnshire. The rule of the order was mainly derived from that of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine. St. Gilbert also founded an order of nuns after the Benedictine institute. Both orders were approved, and had numerous convents in Eng England at the time of the Reformation, when they shared in the general suppression.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a whitish, silky mineral; apparently an impure kaolinite. It occurs near St. Austell in Cornwall, England.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia