(1553), where he taught till 1556, when he became professor of Hebrew at Zurich. Many of his numerous publications, which are in Latin, were translated into English. To his Commonplaces (London, 1583) is prefixed the original Life by Josias Muler. For Latin biographies consult C. Schmidt (Elberfeld, 1858). He shared in the preparation of the English Book of Common Prayer, issued in 1552.
VERMILION (OF., Fr. vermillion, from vermeil, bright-red, from Lat. vermiculus, little worm, kermes-insect, from which crimson or carmine was obtained, diminutive of vermis, worm). A name applied to cinnabar, or native mercuric sulphide, but more generally to the artificial sulphide used as a pigment, the mineral not being of sufficient purity to be used directly as a pigment. The vermilion of commerce was formerly prepared by heating together mercury and sulphur in an iron pan with constant stirring. A more modern process consists in bringing mercury, sulphur, and an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide together in a revolving drum and heating to about 46° C. (115° F.), when the mixture gradually assumes a red color. It is said that about 85 pounds of mercury are required to produce 100 pounds of vermilion. Vermilion is a permanent pigment, and may be used with water or oil, but cannot be used in enamel, as it volatilizes at a red heat. It possesses great body, weight, and opacity. Numerous pigments consisting of aniline colors thrown on a lead body, such as the oxide or carbonate, have largely taken the place of the true vermilion as a pigment, especially as they have a permanent red color, stand exposure fairly well, and change to a lighter color with age instead of a darker, as is the case with vermilion.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER. A very beautiful flycatcher (Cardellina rubra) of Northern Mexico, carmine red all over, except the silvery white ear-tufts. It places a nest of delicate materials in a low tree, and lays eggs marked as shown on the Plate of Eggs of Songbirds.
VERMONT′ (Fr., Green Mountain). A North Atlantic State of the United States, belonging to the New England group. It lies between latitudes 42° 44′ and 45° 3′ north, longitudes 71° 30′ and 73° 25′ west, and is bounded on the north by the Canadian Province of Quebec, on the east by the State of New Hampshire, on the south by Massachusetts, and on the west by New York. The entire eastern boundary is formed by the Connecticut River, and more than half of the western boundary by Lake Champlain, most of the islands in that lake, including Grand and La Motte islands and the peninsula projecting southward from Canada, belonging to Vermont. The State measures 158 miles from north to south, and 41 to 90 miles from east to west. Its area is 9565 square miles, including 430 square miles of water. It ranks thirty-ninth in size among the States.
Topography. The Green Mountains cover practically the whole State, with an irregular mass of rounded hills, peaks, and ridges, so that no portion of any great extent is level. The range enters the State at its southwestern corner and extends northward as a single main range with outlying hills till it reaches the centre of the State, where it divides into several parallel ranges, taking a northeast direction. The general elevation of the surface of the State is between 500 and 1000 feet, though the northwestern portion, along Lake Champlain, sinks to a little over 100 feet above the sea. The crest of the mountain range has a height of over 3000 feet for a considerable distance in the centre of the State, and two peaks rise above 4000 feet, Mount Mansfield, the highest point in the State, having an altitude of 4364 feet.
The Green Mountains form a continuous water-parting between the tributaries of the Connecticut River on the east and those of the Hudson and Lake Champlain on the west. The chief branches of the Connecticut are the West and the White Rivers. Four streams of considerable size enter Lake Champlain, the Missisquoi, Lamoille, Winooski, and Otter, and a fifth, the Poultney, forms part of the State boundary. The Hudson receives two small streams from the southwestern corner of the State, while the Black River in the north flows into Lake Memphremagog, a portion of which extends south of the boundary line. There are no large lakes within the State, but a considerable number of smaller lakes and ponds are scattered among the mountains.
Climate. The climate of Vermont is rigorous, but healthful and bracing. The summers are cool and generally pleasant. The winters are very severe and prolonged, with a heavy snowfall. Lake Champlain is generally frozen during February, though the climate on the lake shore is milder than in the rest of the State. At Burlington the normal mean temperature for January is 18°, and for July 70.4°. At Northfield, in the centre of the State, the mean is 15.5° for January and 66° for July. The maximum rarely exceeds 90°, and is generally about 80°, but has been as high as 98°; the minimum is generally -15°, but in the mountains may fail more than 30° below zero. The average rainfall ranges between 40 inches in the north and south to 33 inches in the west central portion.
Soil and Vegetation. The soil is to a great extent stony and of a poor quality, though in the valleys, and especially in the western lowlands, there is much land that is suitable for cultivation. The hills and valley-slopes, as well as the summits of the mountains, are covered with rich herbage, and there are large forests of pine and hemlock, with spruce and fir on the higher slopes. On the lower lands there are also forests of deciduous trees, the sugar maple being one of the most common trees.
Geology and Minerals. The whole of Vermont is of ancient formation, ranging from the Devonian to the Pro-Cambrian age. The central axis of the Green Mountains is composed of gneiss, flanked for a short distance on the east by a narrow band of Devonian limestone, and on the west by large beds of Cambrian quartz and Old Red sandstone. The rest of the surface rock consists chiefly of Silurian limestone. The uplifting of the mountains occurred at the close of the Lower Silurian period, and the strata have been greatly folded, crushed, and metamorphosed. Evidences of glacial action, such as drift deposits and boulders, are everywhere abundant.
