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D'Arcy Spice is an old russet apple once very popular in East Anglia. The full spicy flavour is best after a warm summer and the fruit stores extremely well, keeping until May.
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Dab is a common name for several species of marine flat fish of the families Bothidae and Pleuronectidae, particularly species of the genus Limanda and in North America Limanda and Citharichthys.
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The dabchick (Podiceps ruficollis) or little grebe is an English diving bird of the grebe (Podicipedidae) family. The dabchick is to be found in ponds and rivers throughout most of the old world, but not in arctic regions. It feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, insects and some plant material. The large nest is built of wet, rotting aquatic plants and may float on the water or rest in shallow water.
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The Dace (Leuciscus leuciscus) is a fresh water fish of the carp family. They are found in fast-flowing streams and lakes, often forming shoals.
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Dacentrurus was a dinosaur of the Jurassic period, one of the Stegosaurus family, about 1.5 meters wide but its length is unknown as only a few bones have been discovered. The remains of Dacentrurus were first discovered in England in the 1870's and had pairs of spines along its back. It is believed that Dacentrurus walked on all fours and was a herbivore.
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The Dachshund, Teckel or badger dog is a small German dog originally bred for badger hunting in the Middle Ages. The body is extraordinarily long, the ears pendulous and the legs very short. Dachshunds are very affectionate and courageous animals.
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Dacne is a genus of small beetle of the family Erotylidae.
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Dacrydium is a genus of coniferous trees with a slightly drooping habit.
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The Daddy-Long-Legs Spider (Pholcus phalangioides) is a narrow-bodies, long- legged spider associated in Britain with buildings - being unable to survive the cold. The spider which spins a tangled, untidy web is often found hanging upside down from the ceiling.
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The daffodil are several species of plant of the genus narcissus distinguished by their bell-shaped corollas.
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The Dahlia - named after the Swedish botanist Andrew Dahl - is a genus of perennial plants of the Compositae family native to Mexico, but introduced into Britain as a popular garden plant in 1789. Snails are very fond of the foliage of the Dahlia, and will often strip domestic plants of all their leaves.
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The daisy is a genus of hardy perennial herbs of the Compositae family. The solitary flowerheads have white to pinkish, ligulate ray-florets and yellow, tubular disc-florets that close in the evening and are very attractive to bees. The fruit is an oval, downy achene without a pappus.
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Dalbergia is a genus of fine tropical forest trees and climbing shrubs of the family Leguminosae. The group includes the black-wood tree (also called the East Indian rosewood) and the sissoo.
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The Dales Pony is an English breed of strong, enduring, placid and good natured pony native to the north of England. They stand 14 hands high, and are mostly black, dark brown or bay in colour. They are excellent work ponies when harnessed, and perform better in some areas than a tractor.
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The Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli) is an American wild sheep with white hair and curved hors found in the mountains of north-western North America.
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The Dalmatian (or spotted carriage dog) is a Croatian (originating from the region of Dalmatia in East Croatia) breed of spotted dog half-hound and half-pointer. It was formerly known as the Danish Spotted or Coach Dog. Dalmatians were first introduced to England during the 18th century and used as coach dogs (protecting travellers from highwaymen) before becoming fashionable in England about 1820. Dalmatians are an energetic breed, good house dogs and rarely bark unless in the presence of strangers.
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Dalopius is a genus of click beetle (Elateridae). The larvae live in forest soil where they eat insect larvae and roots.
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The Damani is a thin tail, mutton and wool breed of sheep which is found in the Dera Ismail Khan district and part of Bannu district in NWF Province of Pakistan. They are small to medium with a white body coat with a black or tan head and camel coloured legs. They have small ears. The udder and teats are well developed.
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Dames-violet (Dames-wort) is a British perennial plant of the family Cruciferae. It grows to about 60 to 90 centimetres tall and flowers in May and June.
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The dammar pine is a genus of trees of the family Coniferae distinguished by their large lanceolated leathery leaves, and by their seeds having a wing on one side instead of proceeding from the end.
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The Damon Blue (Agrodiaetus damon) is a rare butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found in Europe and Asia in mountainous regions at altitudes up to about 2500 meters, mainly in places with the plant sainfoin.
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The damselfly is a predatory insect with two pairs of wings.
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The damson is a type of plum tree.
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Danacaea is a genus of beetle of the family Melyridae.
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Danaidae is the milkweed family of butterflies.
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The dandelion (Leontodon taraxacum) is a plant of the family Compositae indigenous to Europe. It gets its name from its appearance, dent de lion (French for Lion's tooth). The stems are hollow and have one bright yellow flower. The root was formerly used as a medicine for liver complaints.
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The Dandie Dinmont is a breed of terrier that originated in the Scottish border country for hunting badgers and otters. It is about 25 centimetres tall, short-legged and long-bodied, with drooping ears and a long tail. Its hair, about five centimetres long, can be greyish or yellowish. It is named after the character Dandie Dinmont in Walter Scott's novel Guy Mannering.
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The Danish Red is a breed of cattle.
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The Danish Warmblood is a Danish breed of competition horse used for dressage and show-jumping. The Danish Warmblood stands 16.2 hands high and is mostly bay in colour but also occurs in other whole colours.
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The Danube Lamprey (Eudontomyzon danfordi) is a parasitic freshwater fish of the family Petromyzonidae found in the headwaters of the Danube and its tributaries. The Danube Lamprey is serpentine in shape and grows to about 30 cm in length. Unlike the Brook Lamprey, the Danube Lamprey becomes parasitic when adult, attaching itself to fish by its sucker; scrapes a hole in their skin and sucks out the blood and flesh.
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Daphne (Spurge Laurel) is a low shrub with few branches and smooth erect stems which are bare of leaves except at the summit. The leaves are smooth, shining and evergreen. The flowers are green, and fragrant in damp weather. The berries are black, egg-shaped and poisonous.
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Daphnia is a genus of minute crustaceans belonging to the division Branchiopoda. They are the water-fleas.
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The Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 45 and 55 mm found in meadows in Europe and Asia flying from July to August.
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The Dark Bordered Beauty (Epione paralellaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 25 and 30 mm found in temperate Europe and Asia in damp biotopes flying from June to August.
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The Dark Crimson Underwing (Catocala sponsa) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 60 and 70 mm found in northern Africa, temperate Europe and Asia Minor flying from July to September.
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The Dark Fruit-Tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana) is a moth of the family Tortricidae with a wing span of between 16 and 25 mm found in warmer parts of Europe and Asia flying from June to august.
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The Dark Green Fritillary (Mesoacidalia aglaja) is a species of brush-footed butterfly (Nymphalidae) with a wing span of about 50 mm, found in grassy meadow clearings, rides and slopes ranging from coastal dunes to mountain meadows.
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The Dark Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta citrata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 25 and 30 mm found in central and northern Europe and Asia flying from July to August.
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The Dark Spectacle (Abrostola trigemina) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 28 and 32 mm distributed throughout the temperate zone of Europe and Asia. Two generations appear flying from May to September.
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The Dark spinach (Pelurga comitata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 25 and 30 mm found in temperate Europe and Asia flying from June to September in open country, steppes, forest-steppes, fields and wasteland.
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The Dark Sword Grass (Agrotis ipsilon) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found all over the world as a result of its migratory habits.
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The Dark Tussock (Dasychira fascelina) is a moth of the family Lymantriidae widespread in northern and central Europe living at altitudes up to 1000 m.
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The Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe ferrugata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 18 and 22 mm found in Europe and Asia flying from April to September in two generations.
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The Dark-Veined White (Pieris bryoniae) is a mountain butterfly of the family Pieridae found in Europe, Asia and Alaska at altitudes up to 2000 meters.
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The Darley Arabians were a breed of successful English race horses produced from an Arab stallion introduced by a Mr Darley.
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Darlingtonia is a genus of American pitcher plants of the family Sarraceniceae.
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Darnel (Lolium temulentum) is the only poisonous British grass. It is a species of rye-grass and was formerly a common weed among cereal crops.
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The Darter (Snake-bird) is a bird closely related to the cormorant, but differing in its much longer neck and heron-like pointed bill. Darters are found in South America, Africa, tropical Asia and Australia, fishing in rivers and ponds after the manner of cormorants, but nesting in trees.
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Darters are a genus of web-footed birds of the pelican family. They are found near the eastern coast of tropical parts of North America, the west coast of Africa, and in Australia.
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The Dartmoor Pony is an English breed of pony native to Dartmoor in southern England. They are placid and good natured ponies standing 12 hands high, mostly bay, brown or black in colour. They are good jumpers and movers resulting in them being used as a foundation stock for riding ponies.
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Dascillidae is a family of beetles of the order Coleoptera. The larvae of the family feed on roots, the adults live in flowers and bushes.
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Dascillus is a genus of beetle of the family Dascillidae. It is the only British genera of the family.
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Daspletosaurus was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Daspletosaurus was a carnivore that walked on its hind legs, had two weak arms furnished with two fingers on each, a huge head with dagger-like teeth and was about 9 meters long. The first nearly-complete skeleton of a Daspletosaurus was discovered in 1921 in Alberta, Canada among remains of other dinosaurs including Albertosaurus, which Daspletosaurus was at first identified as. However, by 1970 it was apparent that while similar, Daspletosaurus was a distinct animal to Albertosaurus, being heavier and with larger fore limbs.
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Dasypeltinae is the African Egg-eating Snakes subfamily of reptiles of the family Colubridae (the Typical Snakes) of the sub-order Serpentes (Snakes). The subfamily contains a single genus.
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Dasytes is a genus of beetle of the family Melyridae.
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Dasyure are the brush-tailed opossums, a genus of plantigrade marsupials found in Australia and Tasmania.
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Dasyuromorphia is an order of Metatheria. All the species are either insectivorous or carnivorous.
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The date is the Phoenix genus of palms.
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The date-plum or persimmon is the name given to several mostly tropical trees of the Ebony family (Diospyros) bearing edible fruit. The American date-plum (Diospyros virginiana) is a medium sized tree, often fifteen meters or more in height. Its fruit is much like a reddish-yellow plum, containing eight or ten seeds.
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Datousaurus was a dinosaur of the Jurassic period. Remains of Datousaurus were first discovered in Sichuan province, China between 1979 and 1981. It was a large herbivore about 14 meters long with a long neck and tail. The head was large with large spoon-shaped teeth in the mouth.
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Datura is a genius of plants of the family Solanaceae, with large trumpet- shaped flowers. They are all poisonous. The genus includes the thorn-apple.
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Daubenton's Bat (Myotis daubentoni) is a British bat with a wing-span of about 25 cm, the wings comparatively rather short and broad. The ears are well spaced, rather long and pointed, the hind edge very slightly notched and ending just in front of the base of the tragus. The tragus is narrow and half as long as the ear, widest at its middle, straight, and bluntly pointed at the tip. The first two premolars in upper and lower jaws are smaller than the rest of the teeth, and the lower incisors broad and flattened. The fur is short and extends a short distance on to both surfaces of the wing. The colour is a grizzled warm brown on the upper surface, lighter brown below, where the hairs are tipped with yellowish white, giving the under surface a distinctly lighter colour. The range of Daubenton's bat extends throughout Europe from southern Scandinavia southwards, and eastwards half-way across Asia.
In Great Britain it is generally common wherever there are woods near stretches of water, its restriction to the neighbourhood of water having gained it the name of 'water-bat.' It extends from southern England to Scotland as far as the Great Glen. The species is very gregarious, the daytime dens in caves, trees or buildings near water often containing large numbers of bats - a hundred or more; they generally creep into small crannies but are sometimes found hanging in large clusters. The food consists chiefly of ephemerid or cadds-flies of small size caught as the bat flies close over the surface of water. The quivering slow flight as the bat skims very close to the water is characteristic. The bats start foraging over the water about an hour after sunset and the flight lasts all night, until rather less than an hour before sunrise.
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Daucus is a genus of umbelliferous plants, including the carrot.
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The dauw is a species of zebra found in the plains of South Africa north of the Orange River.
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The deadnettle is a species of plant of the genus Lamium, family Labiatae which resemble the nettle in appearance but have no sting. The white deadnettle (Lamium album) or archangel is a perennial herb with a creeping rhizome and an erect, square, leafy stem. The leaves are opposite, stalked, cordate, long-pointed and sharply serrated. The flowers are white, arranged in loose whorls, and grow from the upper leaf axils. The corolla is distinctly two-lipped. The upper lip forms a hoop, the lower lip has two very small lateral lobes each with a small tooth and a notched middle lobe. The anthers are black and tucked under the hooded upper lip. The fruit consists of four nutlets.
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The deal-fish (Trachypterus arcticus) is a fish found around Iceland and Norway. It is between four and eight inches long, a silvery colour and has minute scales. The dorsal fin extends along the whole length of the back.
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The death's head moth is a large handsome moth related to the hawk-moth. It is so named from its likeness to a large yellow patch on the thorax of the human skull. It is remarkable for the sound it produces. The larva, by snapping its mandibles together, emits a clicking sound comparable to a series of electric sparks. This moth has been known to enter bee hives and take honey.
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The Death's-head Hawkmoth (Acherontia atropos) is a moth of the family Sphingidae with a wing span of between 80 and 120 mm native to Africa and south-west Asia from whence it migrates north each year during May and June, producing a summer generation in some localities.
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The Death-watch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum) is a species of beetle of the family Anobiidae. They range from five to eight millimetres in length, and are renowned for damaging wood work in buildings.
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Decaisnea is a genus of plants of the family Lardizabalaceae found on the Himalayas. It has erect stalks which look like walking sticks and leaves 60 centimetres long. The fruit resembles a cucumber and has a sweet, yellow edible pulp.
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Decandria is the tenth class of plants. The flowers have ten stamens, and one, two, three or more pistils.
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Decapoda is an order of crustaceans of the sub-class Malacostraca. The carapace completely covers the thorax. The exopodite of the maxilla is large. There are three pairs of maxillipeds.
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Deceit is the collective noun for a group of lapwings.
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The December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae with a wing span of between 30 and 45 mm found throughout Europe except the extreme south and in western Asia. A cold-loving moth, it is one of the last moths to appear in the year, flying from October to November after the first autumn frosts.
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Deciduous is a term referring to trees and shrubs that shed their leaves each year.
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Deer is the Cervidae family of ruminant hoofed mammals allied to the Antelopes. They have lithe, but compact bodies and short tails. The legs are long and slender. Deer are most commonly associated with possessing antlers, though a few species lack antlers. The antlers are bony outgrowths arising from the frontal bones, and in most species are borne only by the male - the Caribou being the exception. Deer are all excellent swimmers, and are widely hunted by man across the world for their meat (venison) and their skin which tans to a soft leather which has been used for clothing for centuries.
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The Deerhound or Scottish Deerhound is a Scottish breed of large dog standing about 76 cm tall. It originated in the 14th century and was bred for stag hunting. A good natured breed, Deerhounds need plenty of exercise.
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Deilus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae).
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Deinocheirus was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Only two arms have been found - in Mongolia during the 1960's - of Deinocheirus, each of which is 260 cm long with three fingers on each hand and powerful claws each 25 cm long.
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Deinonychus was a carnivorous dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Remains of Deinonychus were first discovered during the 1960's in southern Montana, USA. It was three meters long and 1.4 meters tall. A long tail aided balance as it ran. It had 12 cm long claws on its feet which were used for tearing flesh from its prey.
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Delphinidae is the dolphin family of mammals, belonging to the order Cetacea.
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The delphinium is a genus of ranunculaceous plants with irregular shaped flowers.
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Demetrias is a genus of beetles of the ground beetle family, Carabidae, with three species living in Britain, the most common being Demetrias atricapillus which lives in grassy places, other species of the genus live near stagnant water. They are small, plant-climbing beetles with a long, narrow pronotum, a yellowish red body and a black head.
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The demospongia is a class of sponges with a skeleton of four-rayed spicules made of silica, or sponging fibres, or no skeleton at all.
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Den is the collective noun for a group of snakes.
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Dendrobium is a genus of epiphytal orchids of wide distribution, and of great variety as regards size, scent and colour.
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Dendrocoelum is a member of the order Tricladida.
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Dendroctonus is a genus of beetle of the family Scolytidae.
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Dendrophilus is a genus of small beetles of the family Histeridae.
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Dendroxena is a genus of beetles of the carrion beetle, Silphidae, family. Unusually for carrion beetles the adults run about on bushes and trees hunting caterpillars, and are of benefit to farmers by eating procession caterpillars.
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In botany and zoology, the term dentate refers to something having a toothed margin or tooth-like projections.
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Dentex is a genus of fish belonging to the perch family. The members are widely distributed in the warmer seas of the eastern hemisphere and are all edible.
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Denticollis is a genus of click beetle (Elateridae), distinguished by a small, humped pronotum which is narrower than the elytra.
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The Dentirostres are a tribe of Passerine birds characterised by the upper mandible notched on each side near the tip. The members generally have slender feet.
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The Derbyshire Gritstone is a breed of sheep found in the Peak District of Derbyshire and Pennine Districts of Lancashire and Yorkshire.
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Dermestidae is the carpet beetle or hide beetle family of insects of the order Coleoptera. The members of the family larvae feed on matter of animal origin, and are serious household pests.
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Dermoptera is the flying lemur order of mammals.
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Derodontidae is a family of beetles notable for the presence of two ocelli on the top of the head.
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Descent is the collective noun for a group of woodpeckers.
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The Devon is a breed of cattle.
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The Devon Rex is a breed of domestic cat first discovered in Devon, England in 1960. Like the Cornish Rex, the Devon Rex has a curly coat, but the mutant gene is different to that of the Cornish Rex. The Devon Rex has a coarse curly coat, and huge ears. The body is medium sized, with a broad chest, and stands on long slim legs. The tail is long and finely tapering.
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Dew-worm is an old English name for the common earth worm.
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The dewberry (Rubus coesius) is a plant related to the raspberry and blackberry. The stem is prostrate and nearly round, prickly below, bristly above. The leaves are comprised of three to five leaflets and the fruit consists of a few large drupes covered with greyish bloom and half enclosed in the calyx.
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Dewick's Plusia (Macdunnoughia confusa) is a migratory moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 27 and 35 mm distributed mainly in southern areas of the Palaearctic. Two or three generations appear flying from May to June and from August through to autumn.
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The Dewy Ringlet (Erebia pandrose) is a butterfly of the family Satyridae with a wing span of about 40 mm found in mountains, flying when the sun shines and settling when the sun goes behind a cloud.
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The Dexter is a breed of cattle.
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The dhole (red dog or Asiatic wild dog) is two species of wild dog, one found in Siberia and the other in India. The Indian dhole is about the size of a bull terrier and hunts in packs feeding mainly on deer and antelope. It has a reputation for great courage, and is alleged to drive bears, leopards and even tigers from their kills.
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The Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) is a moth of the family Plutellidae with a wing span of between 13 and 15 mm native to steppes it has spread to agricultural land and has been introduced to all parts of the world where it is a pest of vegetables. The adults fly from May to September in between two and five generations.
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The Diana Monkey (Cercopithecus diana) is an endangered species of monkey of the family Cercopithecidae found in the middle layer of tropical rain forests of Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana. The Diana Monkey is predominantly black with a white crescent on the forehead, white beard, chest, and throat; a white stripe along each thigh; and a deep reddish patch on the back. It is whitish, yellowish, or reddish on the inside of the thighs. The Diana Monkey is fast reducing in numbers due to the logging of the forests and the replanting of them with non-native species of trees.
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Dianous is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae.
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Dianthus is the carnation genus of Caryophyllaceae distinguished by the presence of scales outside the calyx, by the grouping of the sepals into a tube and other characteristics.
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Diaperis is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) that lives in tree fungi.
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The Diapsida is a subclass of reptiles. The skull has two temporal vacuities.
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Diastictus is a genus of small dung beetle of the family Scarabaeidae.
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Diatoms are minute lowly organised plants found in most seas.
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The diatomaceae are a large class of unicellular algae occurring in fresh and salt water and on damp soil. The cells are of diverse forms, their walls silicified and formed of two over-lapping valves, like a box and lid. The cell has a single, complex nucleus, brownish yellow chromatophores, and often contains much oil.
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Dicerca is a genus of jewel beetle (Buprestidae). The larvae take between two and three years to develop into flying adults and live chiefly in dead alder wood.
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In botany, a dischasium is a cyme with side branches approximately opposite and equal, always longer than the main stem.
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Dicheirotrichus is a genus of beetles of the ground beetle family, Carabidae, varying in colour from pale yellowish brown to completely black, and in size from 5 to 8 mm in length, but all live near salt water. They have been known to eat vegetable matter, as was found in Holstein, Germany when they attacked turnips.
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Dicotyledon is one of the two groups of flowering plants, primarily distinguished from the Monocotyledons by the two cotyledons or seed leaves formed at the end of the growing embryo, and by the depression between which the growing point of the shoot originates.
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Dicraeosaurus was a dinosaur of the Jurassic period. Dicraeosaurus was a huge, herbivore about 20 meters long with a long tail, long neck topped with a long and sloping head and with a mouth furnished with peg-like teeth. The body was large and supported by four thick legs.
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Dicronychus is a genus of click beetle (Elateridae).
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Dictyoptera is a European genus of net-winged beetles of the family Lycidae. There is one British species, Dictyoptera aurora, which grows to between eight and thirteen millimetres long, and has a small head which is usually kept tucked away under the pronotum.
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The Didactyla is an order of Metatheria. They are carnivorous and insectivorous. The digits are free.
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Didelphimorphia is the opossums order of marsupials.
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Dienerella is a genus of Mould Beetle (Lathridiidae). The European species are all small, flat-bodied and have two ribs down each of their elytra.
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Digenea is an order of Trematoda. They are endoparasitic flukes with no hooks or posterior sucker. They usually have a ventral sucker and an oral sucker. The life history requires an intermediate host, often a mollusc. The adults are chiefly parasites of warm-blooded vertebrates.
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Digitalis is a genus of plants of the family Scrophulariaceae native to Europe and western Asia. The name Digitalis also applies to the medicinal extracts from the plants.
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A dik dik is a tiny antelope found in Africa south of the Sahara
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Dill (Anethum graveolens) is an umbelliferous aromatic Eurasian plant, with finely dissected leaves and umbrella-shaped clusters of yellow flowers.
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Dilleniaceae is a family of trees and shrubs mostly natives of America, Australia and India. Many of them are handsome, and bear flowers of great beauty.
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Dilobidea is a family of moths of the order Lepidoptera containing one species, Diloba caeruleocephala.
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Dilophosaurus was a dinosaur of the Jurassic period. Dilophosaurus was about six meters long and walked upright on its hind legs. The top of the skull was furnished with two very thin, crescent-shaped ridges side-by-side. The mouth was furnished with sharp fangs but had weak jaws, suggesting that it may have been a scavenger, feeding on already dead animals rather than live prey.
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Dimorphodon was a dinosaur of the family Dimorphodontidae, of the early Jurrasic period. Dimorphodon was the earliest known pterosaur of the Jurrasic period, and was about one meter long with a wing-span of anout 140 cm. Only a few remains of Dimorphodon have been found, these were in Dorset in England and a single partial specimen in Gloucestershire, England. The nature of the teeth, Dimorphodon had four or five large front teeth followed by a row of smaller teeth in the upper jaw and four or five large teeth followed by on each side by 30 or 40 small pointed teeth, indicate that Dimorphodon probably fed on fish or similar marine animals. The legs were long, and equipped with powerful claws.
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Dinaraea is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae, formerly regarded as a subgenus of Atheta.
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Dinarda is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae which lives with ants of the genus Formica.
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The dingo (Canis dingo) is the wild dog found in Australia. Dingos were introduced to Australia from Malaya with the first Aborigine settlers. The
dingo is a stout animal with soft short fur, a bushy tail and erect pointed ears. It is generally tan coloured with white markings on the belly, feet and the tip of the tail.
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The Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae found from West Europe East through Asia to China in dry grassy sites and steppes. Two generations are produced in a year, one in early spring and the other in July and August.
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Dinoderus is a genus of False Powder-post Beetles (Bostrychidae) found in bamboo and sugar cane.
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The Dinoflagellata are a family of Phytomastigina. These are the planktons. They have a definite capsule made of cellulose.
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The dinosaurs were a family of reptiles which lived on the earth millions of years ago. About 400 types of dinosaur have been identified. Dinosaurs ranged in size from about as big as a pigeon to twice the height of a giraffe. It is estimated that dinosaurs lived for between 70 and 130 years, and unusually continued growing for their entire life. The first description of a dinosaur was given in the book 'The Natural History of Oxfordshire' by Dr Robert Plot published in 1677, in which he included a drawing of a thigh bone which he claimed came from a giant man, subsequently it has been identified as the thigh bone of the dinosaur Megalosaurus.
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Diomedeidae is the albatross family of birds.
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Dioscoreaceae is a family of twining shrubs or herbs belonging to the Monocotyledonous group, but resembling the Dicotyledons in many superficial characters, the leaves being decidedly stalked and having netted veins. The family is a small one, and with the exception of one genus (Tamus) confined to the tropics. The family includes the Yam.
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Diospyros are trees of the family Ebenacea, from which ebony is obtained.
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Diphyllobothrium is a Cestoda, a giant tapeworm found in Scandinavia, Japan and parts of North America.
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Diplodinium is a member of the order of Oligotricha.
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Diplodocus was a dinosaur of the family Diplodocids or the late Jurassic period. Remains of Diplodocus were first discovered in the 19th century, with more skeletons discovered around 1900 in the western USA. Diplodocus was a herbivore, about 27 meters long with a long neck - formed from fifteen vertebrae - and a long tail that was whip-like at the end and formed of about 73 vertebrae. Diplodocus walked on four, pillar-like legs, the inner toes of which were furnished with long claws.
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The Diplopoda is the millipede order of myriapoda. They have an anterior genital posterior.
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The Dipnoi are an order of Crossopterygii. The teeth form crushing plates.
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The Dipper is a family of birds (Cinclidae) of the order Passeriformes. They are allied to the wrens and thrushes but are aquatic.
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Diprotodontia is the largest order of marsupials with ten families including 117 species. They are distinguished by having the second and third digits of the hind feet fully fused except for the claws and having a single pair of incisors dominating the lower jaw, although sometimes an additional pair is present.
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Dipsaceae is the teasel and scabious family of herbaceous, dicotyledonous family of plants found in temperate regions. They have flowers crowded together in heads like the Compositae, but differing in the rigid bracteoles which surround each. The leaves are usually opposite and without stipules.
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Dipsadinae is the 'American Snail-eating Snakes' subfamily of reptiles of the typical snakes family, Colubridae, suborder Serpentes (Snakes). The subfamily contains three genera and about 48 species found in South and Central America within rain forests and montane forests. The members vary in length from 25 to 90 cm, and are highly specialised with long front teeth which are used to extract snails from their shells.
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Dipterocarpaceae is a family of tropical trees which produce fragrant flowers.
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Dirhagus is a genus of false click beetle (Eucnemidae).
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Discoglossidae is the fire-bellied toads, painted frogs and midwife toads family of animals of the class Amphibia. The family is small and primitive, containing dome 11 species of varied appearances characterised by a disk-like tongue which cannot be extended beyond the lips. The members are found in Europe and Asia.
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When referring to an animal, diurnal means that it is active during the day; the opposite of nocturnal.
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The Dixon's Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum dixoni) is an American species of Milk snake first described in 1983 and named after J R Dixon. The
Dixon's Milk Snake has very broad black rings which almost eclipse the red in places, interspersed by bands of very pale yellow. The head and snout are black in colour, and the nape pale yellow.
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The Doberman Pinscher (or Dobermann) is an energetic breed of German working dog with a reputation as a fierce guard dog. They have a black, reddish, blue, or fawn coat which is short, smooth, glossy, and is usually highlighted with tan shadings. The ears are large, broad at the base and cropped to stand erect and pointed. The tail is docked to a stump and the eyes are brown and almond-shaped with a keen, always-alert expression. The adult dog stands about 70 centimetres at the shoulder and weighs about 30 kg. The breed originated in Apolda, Thuringia in about 1890 and takes its name from tax collector Louis Dobermann of Apolda, who used these dogs to aid him in his work.
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Dodder (Cuscuta) is a genus of parasitic plants belonging to the family Convolvulaceae, with branched, climbing, cord-like stems, no leaves, and globular heads of wax-like flowers. The seeds germinate in the ground, and the young plants climb the stems of the adjoining plants, and when they have taken root in them lose their connection with the ground.
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The Dodo (Didus ineptus) was a huge, flightless bird of the pigeon order, Columbidae, formerly found only on the island of Mauritius. The dodo had rudimentary wings, short, stout legs and a tail of soft plumage. The beak was strongly arched towards the end, and the upper mandible had a hooked point like that of a bird of prey. In 1644 when the island was first colonised by the Dutch the dodo was present in great numbers, but within forty years had been hunted for food to extinction in the first and most famous ecological tragedy committed by Man. In 2002 scientists at Oxford university, England extracted DNA from the only remaining Dodo tissue in existence and claimed to have discovered that the
Dodo was a pigeon. However, this had already been known for at least 100 years, as evidenced by Lloyd's Encyclopaedia Dictionary, published in 1895 by Edward Lloyd Limited of London describes the dodo as 'A large bird, belonging to the order Columbidae, or Pigeons'.
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A dog (Canis familiaris) is a domesticated mammal of the family Canidae descended from the wolf. For a long time dogs have been kept by people for hunting, guarding and as companions in many diverse breeds.
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The dog rose (Rosa canina) is a deciduous shrub of the family Rosaceae, native to Britain and Europe, with arched, downward-curving branches, which are armed with stout hooked prickles. The leaves are odd pinnate with between five and seven ovate to elliptic, serrate, leaflets. The petioles and midribs often bear prickles. The flowers are stalked, usually fragrant, with large spreading white or pink coloured petals. The fruit consists of numerous hairy achenes enclosed in the enlarged, fleshy, flask-shaped, bright red receptacle.
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The Dog's Tooth Moth (Lacanobia suasa) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 32 and 37 mm found in Europe, Asia and North America mostly in lowlands where it is often a significant pest. Two generations are produced flying from May to June and from August to September.
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The dog's tooth violet (Erythronium Americanum), or American adder's tongue is an American plant of the family Liliaceae. It is a beautiful early spring flower of the Lily family found in the eastern USA growing in damp, open woodlands from New Brunswick to Florida, and west as far as Ontario and Arkansas. The flower, which appears in April and May, is a handsome, large, pendulous, lily-like flower with the perianth divisions strongly recurved, bright yellow in colour, often tinged with purple and finely dotted within at the base, and bear six stamens.
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The dogfish is a small shark found in the north east Atlantic ocean and Mediterranean.
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Dole is the collective noun for a group of turtles.
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The Dole Gudbrandsdal is an ancient breed of Norwegian heavy horse from the Gudbrandsdal Valley used for draft work. They grow to between 14 and 15 hands high, have a crested neck, strong, powerful shoulders and quarters and are inclined towards a long back. They occur in black, brown and bay colours.
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The Dole Trotter is a breed of Norwegian heavy horse, similar to and related to the Dole Gudbrandsdal, but lighter and taller. Unlike the Dole Gudbrandsdal, the
Dole Trotter is not used for draft work but more for pulling light transport and racing.
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Dolichos is a genus of twining, leguminous plants, mostly natives of tropical countries, where many of the species yield edible seeds, for example the soy bean.
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The Dolphin (formerly also known as a sea-goose) is a genus of cetaceans. They are renowned for being highly intelligent and friendly towards swimmers and ships.
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The Don is a Russian breed of horse from the Steppes around the River Don in Russia. The Don stands between 15.2 and 16.2 hands high and is mostly chestnut or brown in colour. The breed evolved during the 18th and 19th centuries and were bred for the cavalry to be used as riding and harness horses.
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Donacia is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) represented by fifteen British species, living on aquatic plants.
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Donus is a genus of Snout Beetles (Curculionidae) that live on coltsfoot.
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Dopping is the collective noun for a group of sheldrakes.
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The Dor Beetle (Geotrupes) is a genus of large dung beetle of the family Scarabaeidae. They dig a burrow under a pile of dung and carry the dung down into it before laying their eggs.
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Dorcadion is a large genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), with over 350 species, all wingless and therefore flightless.
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Dorcatoma is a genus of beetle of the family Anobiidae. They are oval, usually black, rather shiny beetles with a convex body. The last three segments of their antennae are large and serrate. They live mainly in fungi on deciduous trees.
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Dorcus is the lesser stag beetle genus of beetles of the family Lucanidae. They grow to three centimetres in length, and the males have a particularly large, wide head.
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Dorema is a genus of plants of the family Umbelliferae.
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The Dorking is a breed of chicken.
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The dorse, or Baltic Cod (Morrhua Callarius) is a fish of the cod genus.
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The Dorset Horn is a British breed of domestic sheep renowned for their unique ability to lamb naturally at any time of the year. The Dorset Horn evolved from cross breeding of Spanish sheep with the native English stock during the 16th century producing the Portland, and the modern breed evolved in 1707 from crossing the Potland with the Southdown to produce the Dorset Horn. The
Dorset Horn is bred for meat and wool, producing lean meat with a low proportion of bone in fast growing lambs and high quality fleeces. The Dorset Horn is a large sheep, white in colour with a tan-coloured face. The horns are long, curving downward in a circular pattern and then upwards, creating almost a full circle. In the USA Polled or hornless strains of the Dorset Horn were developed by North Carolina State University in the early 1950's and in the USA these have gradually been replacing the horned varieties.
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Dorstenia is a genus of plants of the family Urticaceae found in tropical America. They have their naked flowers buried in a flat, somewhat concave receptacle.
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The Dory is a sea fish found in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. It is of the family Zeidae and order Zeomorphae.
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Dorytomus is a genus of Snout Beetles (Curculionidae) that live on willows, poplars and birches.
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The Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 37 and 40 mm mainly found in the mild zone of the Palaearctic region where a single generation flies from May to August.
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The Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 27 and 32 mm found in forests across Europe, particularly oak forests, flying from February to April or May.
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The Dotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginea) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 30 and 35 mm found throughout the Palaearctic sub region, emerging in September and hibernating over winter.
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The Dotted Clay (Xestia baja) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of 35 to 40 mm found in forests where a single generation flies from July to August.
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The dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) is a bird of the Plover family, Charadridae, which visits Britain in the summer.
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The Double Dart (Graphiphora augur) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span measuring from 35 to 42 mm, found in Europe, Asia and North America. A single generation is produced which flies from June until the start of August.
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The Double Line (Mythimna turca) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 37 and 45 mm distributed throughout the temperate zone of the Palaearctic. It produces a single generation that flies from June to August.
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The Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is a medium sized, long necked American bird of the order Natatores, family Pelecanidae, with a long, slender hooked bill, dark brown to blackish body with lighter chest and throat. It feeds on fish by diving from the surface. It is a common permanent resident along the California Pacific Coast in offshore waters, estuaries, bays and harbour and is fairly common on inland rivers, lakes, and the Salton Sea.
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Dout is the collective noun for a group of wild cats.
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The dove is a bird of the family Columbidae (pigeon).
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Down is the collective noun for a group of hares.
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Downy hempnettle (Galeopsis segetum) is a west European annual herb of the family Labiate with an erect, branched, square stem and opposite, ovate to lanceolate and serrate leaves from whose axils pale-yellow flowers grow arranged in whorls. The corolla is two-lipped, the upper lip helmet-shaped and the lower lip with three spreading lobes. The fruit consists of four one seeded nutlets.
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Doylt is the collective noun for a group of domestic swine.
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The Drab Looper (Minoa murinata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 14 and 18 mm found in central and southern Europe, western and central Asia mainly in hilly areas, flying from April to September.
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Dracaena is a genus of tropical woody plants belonging to the family Liliaceae, and characterized by their broad leaves and their heads of greenish white salver-shaped flowers. The genus includes the dragon-tree.
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Dravidosaurus was a dinosaur of the Jurassic period. Remains of Dravidosaurus were discovered in the later half of the 20th century in India. It was a herbivore of the Stegosaurus family, about three meters long with armour plates on its back and spines bulging halfway up down the spine.
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Drepanidae is the hook-tips family of moths. The members are small to medium sized nocturnal moths with broad, usually falcate wings. The proboscis is short or absent. The antennae are short, pectinate with shorter rami, or serrate. There are about 400 species in the family.
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A drey (also spelt dray) is a squirrel's nest.
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Drift is the collective noun for a group of swine.
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Drilidae is a family of beetles whose male members have fully developed wings and elytra, and female members are like larvae - wingless, with short legs, antennae and a small head. The males frequent flowers while the females are to be found in damp hidden spots, under stones and in snail shells.
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The drill (Cynocephalus leucophoeus) is a baboon closely allied to the mandrill. Like the mandrill it inhabits west Africa and differs chiefly in the absence of the brilliant colours which mark the mandrill's face.
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Drilus is a genus of beetle of the family Drilidae. The males are much smaller than the females, about four to eight millimetres long compared to the female being fifteen millimetres long.
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The Drinker Moth (Philudoria potatoria) is a rare moth of the family Lasiocampidae with a wing span of between 45 and 65 mm found throughout the temperate Palaearctic in warm grassy localities flying from June to August
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Dromaeosaurus was a small dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Remains of
Dromaeosaurus were first discovered in 1914 at Red Deer River in Canada. It was a carnivore, about 1,8 meters long, and walked on its hindlegs the foot of which was equipped with a special sharp claw.
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A dromedary is a type of Arabian camel.
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The Dromiceidae are a family of the order Casuariformes. These are the emus. They are found only in Australia and Tasmania. It is incapable of flight.
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Dromius is a genus of beetles of the ground beetle family, Carabidae, of which twelve species live in Britain. Many of the species live in trees, under loose bark during the day, hunting by night.
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A drone is a mature male bee which are produced at the same time as a virgin queen fo | 
Abbreviations
Nature
