GRIFFIN (Fr. Griron, Lat. and Gr. Gryp8), a chimerical creature, which the fancy of the modern has adopted from that of the ancient world. The griffin is first men tioned by Aristeas, perhaps about 560 fi.c. (see Liddel and Scott's Gr. Die.), though the accounts of Aristeas seem to be about as fabulous as those of the griffin. See Smith's Die. of Gr. and Born. Biog. The origin of those monstrous conceptions in general, of which the griffin is one, has already been considered under DRAGON (q.v.). The griffin is variously described and represented, but the shape in which it most frequently appears is that of an animal generated between a lion and an eagle, having, the body and legs of the former, with the beak laild wings of the latter. Li this form it appears on antique coins, and as an ornament in classical architecture. • Like all other monsters, griffins abound in the legendary tales of the Teutonic nations, and the name in various forms. slightly differing from each other (Ger. Greif, Dan. Graf. etc.), is to be found in most Teutonic dialects. Whether in the two cases both the name and the notion might not be traceable to a common source, or whether it was through barbarian or classical channels that they found their way into the nomenclature and the practice of heralds, are subjects on which we do not venture an opinion. Certain it is, however, that there are few fabulous conceptions with which the science of heraldry is more conversant than the griffin. Nor were they regarded by the patriarchs of that science always as mere creatures of the imagination, for incredible as it may seem, we find Gerard Leigh, a herald of great reputation in the time of Elizabeth, talking of them with entire sincer ity as existing animals. "I think they are of great hugeness," he says, for I have a
claw of one of theirpaws, which should show them to be as big as two lions."—See New ton's Display of Heraldry, p. 126. In the heraldic griffin, the claws of the eagle are usually substituted for the fore-paws of the lion. Gwillim blazons a griffin in this atti tude "rampant," alleging that any fierce animal may be so blazoned as well as a lion. But the more appropriate and usual term is "segreant." In representing the griffin, the cars ought not to be omitted, as they indicate the attribute of watchfulness, which, along with strength and swiftness, went to make up the classical conception of his character. See WYVERN.
The name GruFFix, in natural history, is sometimes appropriated, as by Cuvier, to the genus gypaetos, of which the litinmergeier (q.v.) is the best known species; whilst in France it is generally bestowed, under the slightly modified form griffon, on the TAWNY VULTURE (cellar or gyps fulva.$), also called the griffin vulture or griffon vulture, a bird which inhabits most of the high mountainous regions of Europe, as well as those of northern and central Asia and of the n. of Africa. A specimen was caught in the s. of Ireland in 1843. the only one that is known to have ever found its own way to the Brit ish islauds. The griffin vulture is more than 4 ft. in length; it is of a yellowish-brown color, with darker quills and tail; the head and upper part of the neck covered with short white down, the lower part of the neck surrounded with a ruff of long slender white down. Its habits are very much those common to vultures in general.