Chios, an Asiatic island lying near the coast of Anatolia, opposite to the peninsula of Ionia. It was known to the ancients by the name of Æsthaiia, Macris, Pithyusa, &c. as well as that of Chios. According to Herodotus, the island of Chios was peopled originally from Ionia. It was at first governed by kings, but afterwards the government assumed a republican form; which, by the direction of Hocrates, was modelled after that of Athens. They were, however, soon enslaved by tyrants, and afterwards conquered by Cyrus king of Persia. They joined the other Grecians in the Ionian revolt; but were shamefully abandoned by the Samians, Lesbians, and others of their allies; so that they were again reduced under the yoke of the Persians, who treated them with the utmost severity. They continued subject to them till the battle of Mycale, when they were restored to their ancient liberty, which they enjoyed till the downfall of the Persian empire, when they became subject to the Macedonian princes. In the time of the emperor Vespasian the island was reduced to the form of a Roman province; but the inhabitants were allowed to live according to their own laws under the superintendence of a praetor. It is now subject to the Turks, and is called Seio; see that article.

Chionanthus, the Snow-drop tree; a genus of the monocotyledon order, belonging to the dianthia class of plants. There is but one species particularly described by botanists, viz. the Virginica or fringe-tree. It is common in Virginia and South Carolina, where it grows by the sides of rivulets. It rises to the height of ten feet; the leaves are as large as those of the laurel, but much thinner. The flowers come out in May, and are of a pure white; from whence it has the name of the snow-drop tree. They hang down in large branches, and are cut into narrow segments; from which it has got its other name of the fringe-tree. After the flowers are fallen off, the fruit appears, which grows to the size of a floe, having a stone in the middle. The plants are propagated from seeds sown on a hot-bed, and kept in a floe. Some have been raised from layers; but this method is very precarious, and therefore the other is to be preferred. The seeds must be procured from America, for they never come to perfection in this country.

Chiorulic, an ancient town of Turkey in Europe, and in Romania, with a see of a Greek bishop. It is seated on a river of the same name, in E. Long. 7° 47'. N. Lat. 41° 18'.

Chiozzo, an ancient and handsome town of Italy, in the territory of Venice, and in a small island, near the Lagunes, with a podestà, a bishop's see, and a harbour defended by a fort. E. Long. 12° 23'. N. Lat. 45° 17'.