|
Eagle is the name given to several large birds of prey of the sub-family Aquilinoe of the great family Falconidae, which includes the eagles, falcons, and hawks. The eagle is popularly, though erroneously, regarded as the noblest and most courageous of the rapacious birds. In fact, as the eagle swoops down silently on suspecting prey without warning, it is neither noble nor courageous. The eagle soars to a greater height than any other European bird, from which circumstance the ancients considered it as the bird or messenger of Jove.
The genus Aquila which includes the most typical eagles, is distinguished by its long and powerful bill, the curve commencing at the cere, by its wings reaching to the tip of the tail, and by its tarsi being feathered to the toes.
The imperial eagle (Aquila imperialis) of Central Europe is probably the species to which the popular belief in the courage, strength, and nobleness of eagles is to be traced. Aquila chrysaetus, the golden eagle, is the chief British species. It measures over 180 cm (6 feet) from tip to tip of the expanded wings, and 240 cm (8 feet) from the beak to the end of the tail. The adults have the body brownish, becoming darker with age; the feathers of the head and neck pointed, and of a golden-red hue. This species is found all over the northern hemisphere. It was once common in the Highlands of Scotland, but started becoming rare in the 19th century. The Kirghis and other tribes of Central Asia use the golden eagle to kill antelopes, foxes, and even wolves.
Another British eagle is the erne or sea-eagle (Haliaetus albicilla) found near the sea-coast or lakes, and feeding largely on fish. The general colour is greyish-brown, the head pale-coloured, the tail white.
The bald eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus), found in North America and North-east Asia, is the symbol of the United States, though Franklin deplored the selection on account of the bald eagle's mean and dishonest habit of robbing the industrious osprey of the fish it has caught. Like all members of the genus his diet is less restricted than that of the true eagles; and he even takes carrion. Another eagle (Circaetus gallicus), the serpent eagle, Or short-toed eagle, ranges through Southern Europe, Asia, and especially North Africa. In structure and habits this bird approaches the buzzards.
 Research Eagle
Eagle-hawk is a name of birds of the genus Morphnus, smaller than the true eagles, with comparatively short wings and long legs, natives of South America.
Research Eagle-Hawk
The eagle-owl (Bubo ignavus) is a large and fierce owl which inhabits the wilder parts of Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is blackish brown above with yellowish markings, and has long head tufts and densely feathered toes.
Research Eagle-owl
The Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) is a small, short-necked diving bird of the order Podicipediformes, family Podicipediformes with a grey back and lighter under parts in the winter; prominent white area from side to back of neck, which grades gradually into darker colour of head and a thin sharp bill. Its breeding colours are darker, browner; tuft of yellowish feathers in ear region. It is a common winter visitor along the Californian coast in estuaries, lagoons and occasionally on inland lakes and rivers. It breeds on inland bodies of freshwater.
Research Eared Grebe
The Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 28 and 40 mm found in Europe and Asia living in open deciduous woodlands, towns and cities. Two generations are produced which fly from April to August with a pause in June.
Research Early Thorn
Earth is the collective noun for a group of foxes.
Research Earth
The earth-nut (Bunium flexuosum) is an umbelliferous plant common in woods and fields in Britain. The leaves are ternately divided, and the small white flowers are in terminal umbels. The tuber or nut is about 12 cm below the surface, at the termination of a long slender root. It is brown, the size of a chestnut, of a sweetish farinaceous nature, resembling in taste the common chestnut. Pigs are very fond of the nuts, and fatten rapidly where they are abundant. The name is frequently applied to Bunium, Bulbocastanum, which has a similar tuber. The earth-nut of Egypt is the tuber of Cyperus rotundus and other species of the same genus. The name has also been applied to the peanut or ground-nut.
Research Earth-Nut
Earth-star is a fungus found in wet woodlands in the south of England. It has a ball-like spore-case raised on a short stalk, with back-turned petal- like appendages.
Research Earth-star
Earth-tongue is the popular name given to club-shaped fungi of the genus Geoglossum, found in lawns and grassy pastures.
Research Earth-Tongue
The earthworm (Lumbrlcusterrestris) is a genus of common worms, of the natural order Oligochaeta, belonging to the abranchiate (having no branchiae, or external respiratory organs) section of the class Annelida. They have a long, cylindrical body, divided by transverse furrows into numerous rings. The mouth is destitute of teeth, and they have no eyes, tentacles, or cirrhi. They are hermaphrodite. The common earthworm attains nearly 30 cm in length. It subsists on roots, woody fibres, animal matter, etc. It moves by the contractions of successive parts of the body aided by a double row of bristles. They are of great service to the agriculturist by loosening the soil and increasing its depth. This is chiefly the result of their mode of nourishment, since they deposit the soil they have swallowed, after digestion, in heaps called worm castings which bring up rich fine soil to the surface, gradually covering the upper layer sometimes to the extent of several inches.
Research Earthworm
The Earwig (Forifculidae) is a family of the order Dermaptera. The body is narrow and terminates in characteristic forceps which are used in folding the hind wings after use. The fore wings are modified into wing covers, and are short and rectangular. Beneath them lie the rarely used hind wings, which are elaborately folded after the manner of a fan. The young are similar in appearance to their parents but smaller and without wings. The common earwig is Forficula auricularia and is found all over Europe.
The earwig gets its name from its supposed habit of insinuating itself into the ears of persons. This is practically impossible, yet the notion was widely spread, as appears from the names given to the earwig in different languages, as in French perceoreille (pierce-ear) and in German ohrenhohler (ear-borer).
Research Earwig
The East Bulgarian is a Bulgarian breed of riding horse developed at the end of the 19th century by crossing local horses with Arabs, Anglo-Arabs and English Thoroughbreds and English half-breeds resulting in a very attractive refined horse with an energetic nature. The East Bulgarian stands between 15 and 16 hands high and is chestnut, bay or black in colour.
Research East Bulgarian
The East Friesan is a German breed of sports horse with a bold and lively temperament and can be difficult. The East Friesan stands between 15.2 and 16.1 hands high and is black, bay, grey, chestnut or brown in colour.
Research East Friesan
The Eastern Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) is a European species of hedgehog that differs from the Western Hedgehog in having throat and chest paler than belly. The skull has a postero-dorsal process on the maxilla extending behind the lachrymal foramen.
Research Eastern Hedgehog
The Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum) is a North American species of Milk snake found in the East Coast region of North America. Unlike most other Milk snakes, the Eastern Milk Snake is not the usual red/black/white colour but often has a base colour of pale brown, dark red or grey with darker coloured saddles outlined with black or dark brown.
Research Eastern Milk Snake
The Eastern Mud Snake (Farancia abacura abacura) is an amphibian-eating typical snake of the subfamily Lycodontinae, family Colubridae, growing to an average length of 130 cm.
Research Eastern Mud Snake
The Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus) is an American species of Garter snake growing to about 66 cm in length and characterised by a very dark coloured body with three distinctive stripes, of varying colours, on the mid-dorsum and the sides.
Research Eastern Ribbon Snake
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is a large Swallowtail butterfly found in temperate regions of Canada, central and eastern USA. Males are yellow and black with orange and blue markings on the hind wings. The females are black-brown with blue and reddish designs on the hind wings.
Research Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Ebaeus is a genus of rare small beetle of the family Malachiidae.
Research Ebaeus
Ebenaceae is a family of trees and shrubs many of which have economic importance by virtue of their hard, very dark coloured wood - such as Ebony, They mainly occur in tropical and subtropical countries and include the genera Diospyros, Euclaea and Tetraclis. The leaves are alternate, and generally coriaceous and shining; calyx monosepalous and persistent, with three or six equal divisions; corolla monopetalous, with imbricated divisions. The fruit is a globular berry containing a small number of compressed seeds.
Research Ebenaceae
Ebony is the popular name of various plants of different genera, agreeing in having wood of a dark colour. The best-known ebony is derived from plants of the genus Diospyros, of the natural order Ebenaceae.
The most valuable is the heart-wood of Diospyros Ebenus, which grows in great abundance in the flat parts of Sri Lanka, and is of such size that logs of its heart-wood 60 cm in diameter and from 3 to 4.5 metres long are easily procured. Other varieties of valuable ebony are obtained from Diospyros Ebenaster of the East Indies and Diospyros melanoxylon of Coromandel. Ebony is hard, heavy, and durable, and admits of a fine polish or gloss. The most usual colour is black, red, or green. The best is jet black, free from veins, very heavy, astringent, and of an acrid pungent taste. On burning coals it yields an agreeable perfume, and when green it readily takes fire from its abundance of fat. It is wrought into toys, and used for mosaic and inlaid work, but is most familiar as the black keys on a piano keyboard.
Research Ebony
Eccremocarpus is a genus of subtropical evergreen climbing plants natives of Chile and Peru, and belonging to the family Bignoniaceae. They have bipinnate leaves which end in tendrils, by means of which the plants climb to a height of three metres or more. The flowers are tubular and mostly yellow or reddish in colour. The species Eccremocarpus scaber was introduced to England for growing in gardens in 1824.
Research Eccremocarpus
Echeneis is a genus of fishes, of the mackerel family Scomberidae, having a disc on the head by which the fish can attach itself firmly to a solid object. Echeneis Kemora is abundant in the Mediterranean.
Research Echeneis
Echeveria is a genus of succulent plants, of the natural order Crassulaceae (house-leek), chiefly natives of Mexico, but now cultivated in European and other gardens and greenhouses, some for their flowers, others for their foliage.
Research Echeveria
The echidna, spiny anteater or porcupine anteater is two genera of egg-laying, burrowing, nocturnal mammals of the family Tachyglossidae. They have no teeth, but a long extensile tongue. The echidna in size and general appearance resemble a large hedgehog, excepting that the spines are longer, and the muzzle is protracted and slender, with a small aperture at the extremity for the protraction of the long flexible tongue.
The Echidna feed on insects, which it catches by protruding its long sticky tongue. It is nearly allied to the Ornithorhynchus, the two forming a peculiar class of animals, having in their structure some peculiarities at once of mammals, birds, and reptiles. In 1884 it was found, that, as Geoffrey St Hilaire had suspected, the echidna and ornithorhynchus, although essentially mammals, were yet oviparous, producing their young from eggs.
The short nosed echidna (genus Tachyglossus) is found in rocky districts of Australia, the long-nosed echidna (genus Zaglossus), is found in New Guinea.
Research Echidna
Echimys is a genus of South American rodent quadrupeds corresponding in some of their characters with dormice, but having the tail scaly and the fur coarse and mingled with flattened spines.
Research Echimys
Echinocactus is a genus of cactaceous plants inhabiting Mexico and South America, and remarkable for their peculiar forms, being globular, rectangular, or cylindrical, and without leaves, fluted and ribbed, with stiff spines clustered on woolly cushions. Some of them are very bulky. The flowers are large and showy.
Research Echinocactus
Echinococcus is one of the larval forms (scolices) of the tape-worm of the dog (Toenia Echinococcus), which may occur in man and cause serious disease.
Research Echinococcus
The echinoidea are a class of Phylum echinodermata. They are the sea urchins. The body is typically globular. The skeletal plates fit closely together to form a rigid 'test'. Spines are present.
Research Echinoidea
The Echinus (Sea-Urchins or Sea-Eggs) are a genus of marine animals, the type of an order (Echinoidea) of the class Phylum Echinodermata. The body is more or less globular and covered with a test or shell, often beset with movable spines. Locomotion is effected by a singular system of ainbulacra or 'tube-feet', which are distended with water, protruded through pores, and again retracted. The mouth is situated on the inferior surface, generally in the centre, is armed with calcareous teeth, and opens into a gullet conducting to a distinct stomach. The stomach has issue into a convoluted intestine which winds round the interior of the shell and terminates in a distinct anus. The anus varies in position, being sometimes on the apical disc and sometimes marginal. The Echinus esculentus and some other species are edible.
Research Echinus
Ecology is a study of the relationship between an organism and its environment.
Research Ecology
Ectoprocta is a class of Phylum polyzoa. They have a u shaped gut and the anus opens outside of the circlet of ciliated tentacles.
Research Ectoprocta
Ectozoa is a term which was introduced, in contradistinction to Entozoa, to designate those parasites, as lice, ticks, etc, which infest the external parts of other animals.
Research Ectozoa
The Ecuadorian Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum micropholis) is the largest species of the Milk snakes, reaching a length of 148 cm, and is the most southerly occurring species being found in Panama and Ecuador. The Ecuadorian Milk Snake has a short series of ten to eighteen broad dorsal rings and yellow scales on the head.
Research Ecuadorian Milk Snake
Edelweiss (Gnaphalium Leontopodium or Leontopodiu'm, alpinum) is a small rosette plant with narrow leaves covered with long, white, silky hairs and white flowers and a peculiar woolly appearance, belonging to the family Compositae. It grows wild in the Swiss Alps.
Research Edelweiss
The Edentata is a primitive order of mammals with no teeth, or very simple teeth without enamel. Only in rare cases are milk-teeth present, and the brain always displays a low degree of specialization. The typical edentates are the sloths, ant-eaters and armadillos. This order is also characterized by the presence of great claws surrounding the ends of the toes, and more or less approximating to the nature of hoofs. It is divided into two sections, the first comprehending the sloths, which subsist on vegetable food, and the gigantic fossil animals the Megatherium and the Meralonyx; and the second including the armadillos and the ant-eaters, which live mainly on insects, though some of the armadillos eat other sorts of animal food, and also vegetables.
Research Edentata
Edmonotosaurus was a flat-headed duck-billed dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. A large dinosaur it was between 10 and 13 metres long and could walk on all fours or its hind legs. The presence of over 1000 strong teeth in the mouth strongly suggests that Edmonotosaurus was a herbivore feeding on tough plants. Several skeletons of Edmonotosaurus have been found since the start of the 20th century in Canada.
Research Edmonotosaurus
Edriophthaimata is one of the great divisions of the Crustacea, including all those genera which have their eyes sessile, or imbedded in the head, and not fixed on a peduncle or stalk as in the crabs, lobsters, etc. It is divided into three orders: Loemodipoda, Amphipoda,, Isopoda, and includes slaters, sandhoppers, woodlice, etc. Some are parasitic on fishes, and of the others some live in the sea and some on land, as the common and the sea woodlouse.
Research Edriophthaimata
Eel is the popular name for teleostean fish of the order Anguilliformes. The genus Anguilla is characterized by its snake-like elongated body, by the absence of ventral fins, and the continuity of the dorsal and anal fins round the extremity of the tail. The dorsal fin commences half-way between the head and the anal fin, and the lower jaw projects beyond the upper. In the genus Conger, which is exclusively marine, the dorsal fin commences above the pectoral, and the upper jaw is the longer. The smoothness of the body - the scales being inconspicuous - and the snake-like movements of eels are proverbial. Conger vulgaris, the conger-eel, and Anguilla vulgaris, the common eel, are the only British species, but some have distinguished two or three varieties of the latter as separate species. The species of the genus Anguilla, which are both fresh-water and marine, seldom exceed 30 inches in length.
Research Eel
Eel grass is the species of the genus vallisneria. The flowers are unisexual, the female flowers floating on the surface of the water, whilst the male flowers become detached from the plant and float to the surface.
Research Eel Grass
Effodientia (the digging animals), is a term applied sometimes to the division of the Edentates which comprises the insect-eating forms, as the hairy ant-eater of South America, the armadillo, etc.
Research Effodientia
Egestion is the process of eliminating food which has not been digested.
Research Egestion
The Egg-bird (Sterna fuliginosa), is a species of tern, formerly a bird of considerable commercial importance in the West Indies, as its eggs, in common with those of two other species of tern, forming an object of profitable adventure to the crews of numerous small vessels.
Research Egg-Bird
Egger moths is a name given to members of the family Lasiocampidae, some members of which are also called lappet moths. All the members of the family are densely covered with scales, and in the male the antennae are beautifully pectinated. In all cases the eggs are smooth, sometimes spotted like those of a bird. The mother sometimes covers the eggs with her own hairs. The caterpillars are very hairy, the hair in some instances having irritating properties. The cocoons are compact and closely woven, and in some cases have a thin layer of calcium oxalate on the surface giving them the appearance of an eggshell.
Research Egger Moth
Eggplant was the 19th century name, and is still used in America to describe the plant we now call the aubergine, Solanum melongena. It is an herbaceous plant of the family Solanaceae growing from 30 to 45 cm high with large white or purplish flowers. The fruit, a large pear-shaped purple fruit, is eaten.
Research Eggplant
Eglantine is one of the names of the sweet-brier (Rosa rubiginosa), a kind of wild rose. The name has sometimes been erroneously used for other species of the rose and for the honeysuckle.
Research Eglantine
Egret is a name given to certain small, usually white, herons which have the feathers of the lower part of the back elongated and their webs disunited,, reaching to the tail or beyond it at certain seasons of the year. The name is properly applied to members of the genus Egretta, found in the warmer parts of the world.
Research Egret
The Egyptian Mau is a ancient breed of shorthaired domestic cat first brought out of Europe in 1955 and into Britain in 1978. The Egyptian Mau is distinguished by a spotted coat which sharply contrasts with the ground colour. The body is cobby, but long, of medium size and graceful and muscular. The eyes are large, almond-shaped and slant slightly upwards towards the ears. An active and agile cat, the Egyptian Mau needs lots of exercise and doesn't like being left alone. An intelligent cat, they often learn how to open doors and windows to seek exercise, and can be trained to walk on a lead.
Research Egyptian Mau
The Egyptian Slit Faced Bat (Nycetis thebaica) is an African bat found in open savannah woodland, where it roosts in caves, under roads, in mines, hollow trees, roofs and rock fissures. It is conspicuous by its long ears. The upper parts are buff-brown in colour, the ear and wing membranes are light brown. Long, soft hair extends onto both surfaces of the wing membranes near the body. The under parts are a lighter colour. The upper incisors have two lobes on their cutting edge. The tragus is pear-shaped with an indentation on the lower part of the outer edge.
Research Egyptian Slit Faced Bat
The eider (Somateria mollissima) is a coastal duck of the family Anatidae found from 45 degrees north to the arctic. Its favourite haunts are solitary rocky shores and islands. In Greenland and Iceland they occur in great numbers, and also breed on the western islands of Scotland. The eider duck is about twice the size of the common duck, being about 70 cm in length, 90 cm in breadth of wing, and from 6 to 7 lbs. in weight. The male is black, with the head and back white, with a black crown. The female is reddish drab spotted with black, and with two white bands on the wings. The eider feed largely on shell-fish, crustaceans, etc.
Their nests are usually formed of drift grass, dry sea-weed, etc, lined with a large quantity of down, which the female plucks from her own breast. In this soft bed she lays five eggs, which she covers over with a layer of down. If this, with the eggs, is removed the bird repeats the process. One female generally furnishes about half-a-pound of down, but the quantity is reduced by cleaning. This down, from its superior warmth, lightness, and elasticity, is in great demand for beds and coverlets; and the districts in Norway and Iceland where these birds abound are guarded with the greatest vigilance as a most valuable property. As found in commerce this down is in balls of the size of a man's fist, and weighing from 3 to 4 lbs. It is so fine and elastic that 5 lbs. of the best quality is sufficient for a whole bed. The down from dead birds is little esteemed, having lost its elasticity. The king eider duck (Somateria spectabilis) is another species resembling the preceding and inhabiting the same coasts.
Research Eider
Eimeria is a member of the Coccidia vera order.
Research Eimeria
Einkorn (Triticum monococcum) was the earliest domesticated cereal, first planted about 8500 BC. It is remarkable for producing high yields even under poor conditions, rarely failing to produce a reasonable yield. The ears are relatively small and very fragile, and the stems more grass-like than later cereals.
Research Einkorn
The eisenia are a species of the order Oligochaeta.
Research Eisenia
Elachistodontinae is the 'Indian Egg-eating Snakes' subfamily of reptiles of the typical snakes family, Colubridae, suborder Serpentes (Snakes). The subfamily contains a singe genus and a single species.
Research Elachistodontinae
Elaeagnaceae is the oleaster family of plants, a small natural order of apetalous dicotyledons scattered over the northern regions. The only British member is the sea-buckthorn.
Research Elaeagnaceae
Elaeococca is a genus of evergreen tropical trees belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. Some of the species yield useful oils and others a lac varnish.
Research Elaeococca
Elaeodendron is a genus of Asiatic and African trees, of the order Celastraceae, some of which yield useful oils and timber.
Research Elaeodendron
The eland is either of two African antelope, comprising the genus Taurotragus, that are the most massive of all true antelope. The common eland (Taurotragus oryx), of central and southern Africa has a fawn-coloured coat; it develops a broad, deep-fringed dewlap extending to the knees. Its strong horns spiral straight upward and are usually about 70 centimetres long in large males; in females the horns are longer but more slender. The derby eland, (Taurotragus derbianus), of southern Africa attains a height of about 1.8 metres at the shoulder and has longer horns. Elands are gregarious, relatively slow-moving animals with no definite breeding season; they live for up to 20 years. Hunted for their meat, they are potentially valuable as domestic animals.
Research Eland
Elanet is the name of certain species of raptorial birds of the genus Elanus, and nearly allied to the kites. Such are the black-winged falcon (Elanus melanopterus) of Africa, Asia, and New Zealand, and the black - shouldered hawk (Elanus dispar) of America.
Research Elanet
Elaphrosaurus was a dinosaur of the Jurassic period. Remains of Elaphrosaurus have been found, but all lack the skull, and so it is impossible to determine if it was a herbivore or carnivore, though remains of later similar dinosaurs were toothless herbivores. However, it stood about 2 metres tall, was about 3.5 metres long and walked on its long slender hind legs. It had short arms and both the feet and hands had three digits.
Research Elaphrosaurus
Elaphrus is a genus of beetles of the family Carabidae, ranging from five to nine millimetres in length. They are fast runners living on muddy ground beside water and have conspicuous eye-spots which are usually blue or green.
Research Elaphrus
Elapidae is the Cobra, Mamba and Krait family of reptiles of the sub-order Serpentes (Snakes). The family has about fifty genera and 200 species, all venomous distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics, particularly in Australia. Most of the members range in length between 30 and 100 centimetres, with the King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) reaching 5.6 metres in length. Generally the members are slender and typically the upper side of the head is covered with large scales. The species all possess a pair of relatively-short fixed proteroglyph fangs at the front of the upper jaw. Members of the family are either terrestrial, arboreal or semi-aquatic.
Research Elapidae
Elaps is a genus of poisonous snakes, the type of the family Elapidae, to which belongs the cobra di capello.
Research Elaps
The Elasmobranchs (Elasmobranchii) is an order of fishes, including the sharks, dog-fishes, rays, and chimsera, in which the skull is not composed of distinct bones, but simply forms a kind of cartilaginous box, the vertebral column sometimes cartilaginous, sometimes consisting of distinct vertebrae, the integumentary skeleton in the form of placoid scales, the intestine being very short, and provided with a spiral valve. They have two pairs of fins (pectorals and ventrals), corresponding to the fore and hind limbs, and the ventral fins are close to the anus. The heart consists of an auricle, a ventricle, and a muscular arterial bulb. The gills are fixed, and form a number of pouches, which open internally into the pharynx, communicating outwardly by a series of apertures placed on the side of the neck.
Research Elasmobranchs
Elasmodon is a sub-genus of the genus Elephant, under which are included the mammoth and Asiatic species, the African elephant belonging to the sub-genus Loxodon.
Research Elasmodon
Elatinaceae is the water-pepper family, a natural order of herbaceous annuals found in marshy places in all quarters of the globe.
Research Elatinaceae
Elder, a name given to different species of the genus Sambucus of the natural order Caprifoliaceae, related to the honeysuckle. These are small trees or shrubs, with opposite and pinnated leaves, bearing small white flowers in large and conspicuous corymbs, small berries of a black or red colour, and bitter and nauseous leaves possessing purgative and emetic properties. The wood of the young shoots contains a very large proportion of pith.
The common elder of Britain (Sambucus nigra) is a wild shrub or small tree, distinguishable by its winged leaves; its clusters of small, cream-white flowers, and the small black berries by which these are succeeded, and from which a kind of wine is sometimes made. It is remarkable for the large quantity of pith contained in its young branches and for the elasticity of its wood.
The dwarf elder or dane-wort (Sambucus Ebulus) is also found in many parts of Britain, and was popularly supposed to have sprung from the blood of the Danes. Two species inhabit North America; Sambucus canadensis, a common plant from the 49th to the 30th parallel of latitude, the berries of which are black and have a sweet taste; and Sambucus pubescens, which bears red berries, and inhabits Canada, the northern parts of New England, and the Alleghany Mountains.
Elder wood is yellow, and in old trees becomes so hard that it is often substituted for box-wood. Its toughness also is such that it is made into skewers, tops for fishing-rods, etc. The light pith was formerly utilized for balls for electric experiments, and various ointments, drinks, and medicinal decoctions are made from the bark, leaves, flowers, and berries.
Research Elder
Elecampane (Inula Helenium) is a perennial plant belonging to the Compositae family, found in Britain and other parts of Europe, and in Asia. It is a stout plant standing just over one metre tall, with very large, rectangular, or egg-shaped, toothed leaves, downy beneath, the upper ones embracing the stem. The flowers are few and very large bright yellow with terminal heads. The root, which is perennial, possesses a bitter camphor-like taste. It was formerly much used as a stimulant for all the secreting organs.
Research Elecampane
The Electric Eel is an eel-like fish found in rivers and marshes of north South America. It grows to two metres long and 20 centimetres wide. It generates an electric current which it uses to stun and kill other fish which it then eats.
Research Electric Eel
Eledona is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) that live chiefly in tree fungi on various deciduous trees.
Research Eledona
Eledone is a genus of eight-armed marine animals very similar to the octopus, but with only one row of suckers down the arms.
Research Eledone
The elephant is the two surviving species of the order proboscidea, the African elephant (Loxodonta) and the Asian elephant (Elephas) which are both very similar, except that the African elephant is generally slightly larger and has very large ears. The African elephant also differs from the Asian elephant in having a roughened trunk with two processes instead of one at the end, three rather than four nails on the hind foot, coarser molars with thicker enamel, a more convex forehead and relatively larger eyes.
Behaviourally the two species are very similar, except that the African elephant generally sleeps standing up. Perhaps the most striking feature of the elephants is the long prehensile trunk formed from the nose and upper lip. The trunk contains nasal passages and nostrils at the tip. Elephants are gregarious animals, travelling in herds of up to 100 animals, and inhabiting forests and grassy plains where they eat only plant matter, the African elephant rarely eating grass but preferring leaves, fruit and the inner bark of some trees. Elephants start breeding when about 15 or twenty years old, but are not fully grown until they are 25 and live to about 50 years of age. The gestation period is 20 months, and a single young or very rarely twins, is born with a cow giving birth to four or five young during her life.
Research Elephant
The Elephant Hawkmoth (Deilephila elpenor) is a moth of the family Sphingidae with a wing span of between 45 and 60 mm found in Europe and Asia flying from May to July, and occasionally a second generation from August to September.
Research Elephant Hawkmoth
The elephant seal, proboscis seal or sea elephant (Mirounga) is the largest of the seals. The male grows to about six metres in length with a girth of three meters, and has a large sac of skin on his nose which can be inflated with air to resemble a small trunk. They vary in length from 4 to 9 meters, and in girth at the chest from 2.5 to 5 metres. The proboscis of the male is about 38 cm when the creature is at rest, but elongates under excitement. The females have no proboscis, and are considerably smaller than the male. Both species became rare during the 19th century from their continual slaughter.
Research Elephant Seal
Elephant's-foot is the popular name of Testudinaria elephantipes, a plant of the natural order Dioscoreaceae (yams,etc), distinguished by the shape of its root-stock, which forms a nearly hemispherical mass rising a little above the ground, covered with a thick corky bark. It has a slender climbing stem growing to a length of about 10 metres with small heart-shaped leaves and greenish-yellow flowers. It is known in South Africa as Hottentots' Bread. Some botanists class it with the very similar species of the genus Tamus.
Research Elephant's-Foot
The elephant-apple is an East Indian tree (Feronia Elephantum) producing an edible fruit not unlike an orange, and belonging to the same natural order, Aurantiaceae.
Research Elephant-Apple
The elephant-fish (Callorhynchus antarcticus) is a fish of the order Elasmobranchii (rays and sharks), so named from a proboscis-like structure on the nose. It is also called the southern chimsera. It inhabits the Antarctic seas, and is palatable eating.
Research Elephant-Fish
Elephant-grass (Typha elephantina) is a large kind of bulrush growing in India.
Research Elephant-Grass
The elephant-shrew or jumping-shrew (Macroscelides) is a small insectivorous mammal, of which there are several species, all found in Africa. They are ground animals, nocturnal in habit, and receive their first common name from their prolonged snouts, and their second from their method of locomotion. The jumping movements are facilitated by the length of the hind legs.
Research Elephant-Shrew
The elk or moose, is a large deer (Alces alces) found in north Europe, Asia and Scandinavia.
The elk has a short compact body, standing about 1.8 metres in height at the shoulders, a thick neck, large clumsy head, and horns which flatten out almost from the base into a broad palmate form with numerous snags. In colour the elk is greyish brown, the limbs, sides of head, and coarse mane being, however, of a lighter hue. Their flesh resembles beef rather than venison. For the most they are inoffensive, and so exceedingly wary that they are approached only with difficulty. In America the Indians are the most skilful moose-hunters. The moose has a wide range in Canada, extending from the Arctic Ocean and British Columbia to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; and it is found also in Maine. It feeds largely on the shoots of trees or shrubs, such as the willow and maple, and on bark, etc.
Research Elk
The elk-hound is a breed of dog imported to Britain from Norway where it was bred to track elk and other large animals. It is a small dog resembling the Inuit dog, with a strong and stout build and erect, pointed ears and a thick coat.
Research Elk-Hound
Ellescus is a genus of Snout Beetles (Curculionidae) that live on willows.
Research Ellescus
The Elliottdale is a carpet-wool breed of sheep which was developed at the Elliott Research Station in Tasmania. Development of the breed commenced in 1963 when the CSIRO made available a ram which was the progeny of a New Zealand Drysdale ram and a Merino/Border Leicester cross ewe. It was later discovered that this ram did not possess the gene for carpet-wool characteristics and work continued based on locating sheep with the carpet- wool gene in the Tasmanian Romney flocks. This was achieved in 1968. Development of the breed continued using a base flock of pure Romney ewes, many showing some carpet-wool characteristics. By 1972 it was considered that top selected rams were breed true and that the breed had become fixed in type. The Elliottdale is similar to the Romney, with cleaner points and a carpet-wool fleece of 38-40 micron diameter. Rams may be horned or polled but ewes are always polled. The breed also has many prime lamb features, producing quick growing lambs of excellent quality.
Research Elliottdale
The elm (Ulmus) is a genus of tree of the family Ulmaceae. They have alternate, stalked, deciduous leaves, generally serrated and harsh. There are thirteen species, all natives of the northern temperate zone, four of which are found in Britain, the species including the common elm (Ulmus campestris) once found in southern England, and wych elm (Ulmus montana) formerly found in northern England and Scotland. Small leaved elm (Ulmus minor), also known an the smooth elm, grows in warmer parts of Europe. The elm was once a very common as a timber tree in England; but as it rarely produces seed it is questionable whether it is indigenous. It is a native of the south and middle of Europe, and the west of Asia. Dutch Elm Disease accounted for almost completely wiping out the British elm trees during the 1970s.
Research Elm
Elmis is a genus of beetle of the family Dryopidae found chiefly in fast flowing mountain streams.
Research Elmis
Elodea (Canadian Pond Weed) is a plant which grows submerged in water, usually floating a little below the surface. It has long green stems and small pointed leaves. It was introduced to Britain by accident from Canada.
Research Elodea
Elssocarpus is a genus of trees, of the natural order Tiliaceae (linden). They are natives of India and Australia and the isles between. The fruit is used in curries or pickled like olives.
Research Elssocarpus
Elytra are the hard bony cases which inclose the wings of coleopterous insects or beetles. They are themselves wings, but are less important for flight than for protecting the true wings when folded beneath them in a state of repose.
Research Elytra
In botany, the term emarginate refers to leaves and petals which have a notch at their apex.
Research Emarginate
The Embden is a breed of goose.
Research Embden
Emberizidae is a family of small birds belonging to the order Insessores and tribe Conirostres, typical genus Emberzza. It includes the buntings, the snow-flake, the yellow-hammer, and reed sparrow. The ortolan belongs to this family. By some naturalists they are classified as a sub-family of the finches.
Research Emberizidae
Embryology is the study of animal development.
Research Embryology
Emmer (Triticum dicoccum) is an early species of wheat produced around 7500 BC through the crossing of Einkorn with a wild goat grass, and formed the basis of the agricultural revolution when man turned to sedentary farming. It has a usually high yield even under poor conditions and produces a high protein flour.
Research Emmer
The Emperor moth (Saturnia pavonia) is a moth of the silk-worm family Saturniidae with a wing span of between 40 and 60 mm found across Europe and Asia to the Far East. The colour is greyish-brown, with a faint purple tinge and in the centre of each wing is a large eye-like spot. The larva is of a green colour, with a black band on each segment.They are to be seen flying on sunny afternoons in April and May.
Research Emperor Moth
The Emperor Penguin is a seabird of the order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae. It is the largest of all seabirds and one of the hardiest. It lives all year round on the Antarctic pack ice enduring hurricane force winds and temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius.
Emperor Penguins grow to about 112 centimetres long and weigh between 20 and 40 kg. They eat fish, crustaceans and squid and live for around 20 years.
Research Emperor Penguin
Empetraceae is a small natural order of heath-like exogenous plants, of which the type is the crowberry.
Research Empetraceae
Empire is a variety of apple which is a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious and takes on the best characteristics of both. It is redder and firmer than McIntosh, and because it stores longer it provides the marketplace with a McIntosh-type apple well into the spring. Some claim that
Empire' s flavour, like fine wine, improves during storage. It combines the mild tartness of McIntosh with full-flavoured Red Delicious sweetness. In 1989 24 leading international apple researchers were polled as to what they considered the ten best apple varieties in the world, and they ranked Empire No. 7. It is excellent for eating out of hand and in salads and for use in baking and cooking.
Research Empire
In horticulture, emplastration is a method of budding in trees which involves surrounding the bud with a 'plaster' of bark.
Research Emplastration
The emu or emeu (Dromaius Novoe Hollandioe) is a large, ostrich-like flightless bird found in the plains of Australia where it eats fruits, vegetable matter, roots etc. The emu resembles the cassowary in its vestigial wings and double- plumed feathers, but differing in the absence of the helmet, wattles, and spine-like quills on the wings. It nearly equals the ostrich in bulk, being thicker in the body, though its legs and neck are shorter. Its feet are three-toed (the ostrich has two toes), and its feathers, which are double, are of a dull sooty-brown colour, those about the, neck and head being of a hairy texture. Unusually the female emu is larger, more pugnacious and noisier than the male, resembling in demeanour the cock of other species of bird.
The wings are small and useless for flight, but the bird can run with great speed, and emu coursing as a sport was formerly very popular and led to a drastic reduction in the numbers of emus during the 19th century.
The feathers of the emu are used in industry for dust removal, for instance in the manufacture of motor vehicles, vehicles are passed through rollers covered in emu feathers to remove dust particles from the vehicle prior to it being painted - by 2008 no synthetic substance having been found which is as effective at dust removal.
Research Emu
The Emu Wren (Stipiturus malachurus) is a small Australian bird allied to the warblers, somewhat similar to a wren, but having the tail-feathers long, stiff, and thinly barbed, similar to emu feathers.
Research Emu Wren
Emus is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae. A single species lives in Europe, Emus hirtus, which is thickly covered with golden yellow, grey and black hairs. In Britain they occur only in Kent.
Research Emus
Emys is a genus of tortoises, type of the family Emydidae, which includes the terrapins of America and others.
Research Emys
Encephala is that division of the Mollusca characterized by possessing a distinct head, and comprising the Gasteropoda, Pteropoda, and Cephalopoda.
Research Encephala
Encephalartos is a genus of tropical and subtropical plants belonging to the Cycadaceae. They are mostly natives of Africa. They bear handsome pinnate, terminal, evergreen leaves, often of considerable length.
Research Encephalartos
Enchanter's Nightshade are slender herbaceous plants of the genus Circoea of the family Onagracea, with a branched downy stem; egg-shaped leaves, toothed and pointed, and hairy calyx. The flowers are small and white with pink stamens and borne in graceful branched racemes and are succeeded by two-lobed hairy seed vessels. They have no affinity with the nightshades.
Research Enchanter's Nightshade
Endive (Cichorium endivia) is a salad plant of the family Compositae. Endive is a native of Asia, and was introduced into Britain in 1548 and cultivated for culinary purposes. One variety has narrow, curled leaves; another has wide, smooth leaves. It is related to chicory.
Research Endive
Endogenous Plants are one of the large primary classes into which the vegetable kingdom is divided. It is so named in consequence of the new woody bundles being developed in the interior of the stem, in which there is no distinction of pith and bark. In transverse section these bundles appear scattered through the cellular matter, being more compact towards the circumference. The other organs of the plants are also characteristic. The leaves are generally parallel-veined, the flowers usually with three organs in each whorl, the seed has an embryo with one cotyledon, and the radicle issues from a sheath and is never developed into a tap-root in germination. To this class belong palms, grasses, rushes, lilies, etc. Endogens increase in thickness only to a limited extent; hence they are not injured by twining plants as exogens are.
Research Endogen
Endomychidae is a family of beetles of the order Coleoptera. They are related to the ladybirds, and resemble them in appearance, but live on fungi, particularly puff-balls and moulds.
Research Endomychidae
Endomychus is a genus of comparatively large (four to six millimetres long) beetles of the family Enfomychidae.
Research Endomychus
An endoparasite is a parasite living on the internal organs of animals, as opposed to an ectoparasite, which infests the skin.
Research Endoparasite
Endopterygota is the group of insects that have a 'complete' metamorphosis, with a distinct pupal stage intervening between life as a larva and as a sexually mature adult. Generally the larva stage is the principal feeding stage, with the adult stage more concerned with mating.
Research Endopterygota
In botany, endorhiza is a term describing the radicle of the embryo of monocotyledonous plants, which is developed inside a sheath from which it issues in germination.
Research Endorhiza
Endosperm is the nutritive tissue in plant seeds which feeds the growing embryo.
Research Endosperm
An endospore is the resting stage of certain bacteria, formed in response to adverse conditions. The bacterial cell becomes enclosed in a tough resistant spore coat. When conditions once more become favourable the spore changes back to the normal vegetative form of the organism.
Research Endospore
Endromidae is a small family of moths, comprising a single genus and species - Endromis versicolora or Kentish Glory.
Research Endromidae
The English Setter is a breed of hunting dog originating to the mid- nineteenth century when they were developed from spaniels and bred to locate game, and drop down to indicate its position. In 1874 the breed was first taken to the USA. The English Setter is a gentle and affectionate breed which makes a good family pet, although they need space to run around.
Research English Setter
The Engrailed moth (Ectropis bistortata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 30 and 40 mm found in Europe and western Asia flying from March to autumn in two generations.
Research Engrailed Moth
The Engraver Beetle (Ips typographus) is a species of beetle of the family Scolytidae, and one of the most common and harmful bark beetles from its tendency to mass proliferation.
Research Engraver Beetle
Enneandria is the ninth class of the Linnaean system of plants, comprehending such plants as have hermaphrodite flowers with nine stamens.
Research Enneandria
Ennearthron is a genus of tiny beetles of the family Cisidae closely related to the genus Cis.
Research Ennearthron
Enochrus is a genus of water scavenger beetles of the family Hydrophilidae. They are yellowish brown in colour with an elongate oval body and maxillary palps longer than their antennae.
Research Enochrus
Entada is a genus of leguminous plants, of the sub-order Mimoseae, containing about a dozen species of climbing tropical shrubs, remarkable for the great size of their pods. Entada scandens has pods which measure from 182 cm to 244 cm in length. The seeds have a hard, woody, and beautifully polished shell, and were often made into snuff-boxes, scent-bottles, etc.
Research Entada
The Entellus (Semnopithecus entellus) is an Indian species of monkey. It has yellowish fur, with a face of a violet tinge, and a long and powerful tail, which, however, is not prehensile. It receives divine honours from the natives of India, by whom it is termed Hoonuman. Costly temples are dedicated to these animals; hospitals are built for their reception, and large fortunes are bequeathed for their support. The entellus abounds in India; enters the houses and gardens of the people, plunders them of fruit and eatables, and the visit is even considered an honour.
Research Entellus
Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) is a small worm, the female being 8-13 mm long and 0.3-0.5 mm wide; the male being 2-5 mm long and 0.1 mm wide. Humans, frequently children, become infected by inhaling Enterobius vermicularis ova or from transfer of ova to the mouth from fecally-contaminated fingers. The female worm migrates to the perianal region of the infected individual, releasing masses of ova and causing an itching sensation.
Research Enterobius vermicularis
Entomology is the branch of zoology dealing with insects. It was started as a science in 1705 by the publication of Ray's 'Methodus Insectorum'.
The name entomology comes from the Greek entoma, animals 'cut in', the transverse division or segmentation of the body being their most conspicuous feature.
The true insects are those animals of the division Arthropoda or Articulata distinguished from the other classes of the division by the fact that the three divisions
of the body - the head, thorax, and abdomen - are always distinct from one another. There are never more than three pairs of legs in the perfect insect, and these are all borne upon the thorax. Each leg consists of from six to nine joints. The first of these is called the 'coxa,' and is succeeded by a short joint called the 'trochanter.' This is followed by a joint, often of large size, called the 'femur,' succeeded by the 'tibia,' and this has articulated to it the 'tarsus', which may be composed of from one to five joints.
Normally two pairs of wings are present, but one or other may be wanting. The wings are expansions of the sides of the second and third sections of the thorax, and are attached by slender tubes called 'nervures'.
In the beetles the anterior pair of wings becomes hardened so as to form protective cases for the posterior membranous wings, and are called in this condition ' elytra ' or ' wing-cases.' Respiration is effected by means of air-tubes or tracheas, which commence at the surface of the body by lateral apertures called 'stigmata' or 'spiracles,' and ramify through every part of the body.
The head is composed of several segments amalgamated together, and carries a pair of feelers or 'antennae', a pair of eyes, usually compound, and the appendages of the mouth. The thorax is composed of three segments, also amalgamated, but generally pretty easily recognized. The abdominal segments are usually more or less freely movable upon one another, and never carry locomotive limbs; but the extremity is frequently furnished with appendages connected with generation, and which in some cases serve as offensive and defensive weapons (stings).
The organs of the mouth take collectively two typical forms, the masticatory and the suctorial, the former exemplified by the beetles, the latter by the butterflies, in which the mouth is purely for suction. The alimentary canal consists of the oesophagus or gullet, a crop, a gizzard, a stomach, and an intestine, terminating in a cloaca. There is no regular system of blood vessels ; the most important organ of the circulation is a contractile vessel situated dorsally and called the 'dorsal vessel.' The nervous system is mainly composed of a series of ganglia placed along the ventral aspect of the body and connected by a set of double nerve-cords.
The sexes are in different individuals, and most insects are oviparous. Reproduction is generally sexual, but non-sexual reproduction also occurs. Generally the young are very different from the full-grown insect, and pass through a 'metamorphosis' before attaining the mature stage. When this metamorphosis is complete it exhibits three stages - that of the larva, caterpillar, or grub, that of the pupa or chrysalis, and that of the imago or perfect winged insect.
Insects have been divided into three sections - Ametabola,Hfemimetabola, and Holometabola, according as they undergo no metamorphosis, an incomplete one, or a complete one. The young of the Ametabola differ from the adult only in size. They are all destitute of wings; the eyes are simple and sometimes wanting. The Hemimetabola undergo an incomplete metamorphosis, the larva differing from the imago chiefly in the absence of wings and in size. The pupa is usually active, or if quiescent capable of movement. In the Holometabola the metamorphosis is complete, the larva, pupa, and imago differing greatly from one another in external appearance and habits. The larva is wormlike and the pupa quiescent. The section Ametabola (which in the opinion of many naturalists are scarcely within the pale of the true Insecta) is divided into three orders - Anoplura (lice), Mallophaga (bird-lice), and Thysanura (springtails). The section Hemimetabola comprises the orders Hemiptera (cicadas, bugs, plant-lice, etc), Orthoptera (cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, locusts, earwigs, etc), and Neuroptera (dragon-flies, may-flies, white-ants, etc). The Holometabola comprises the orders Aphaniptera (fleas), Diptera (gnats, bot-flies, gad-flies, mosquitos, house-flies, etc), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and ants), Strepsiptera (stylops, minute and parasites), and Coleoptera (ladybirds, glow-worms, cockchafers, weevils, and all of the beetle tribe).
A division is sometimes made into Mandibulate and Haustellate groups, the oral apparatus of the former being adapted for mastication, the latter for imbibition of liquid food. Both types are, however, sometimes modified, and occasionally combined.
Research Entomology
Entomophaga ('insect eaters') is a term applied to (1) a group of hymenopterous insects whose larvse feed upon living insects. (2) A tribe of marsupials, as the opossums, bandicoots, etc, which are insectivorous, though not exclusively so. (3) A section of the edentates, as the ant-eater and pangolin.
Research Entomophaga
Entomophilous is a term applied to plants that are dependant upon insects for the transference of pollen. The flowers are brightly coloured and sweetly scented to attract insects, and frequently secrete honey from glands in the petals.
Research Entomophilous
The entomostraca are a sub-class of the Crustacea, which includes all the lower and simpler forms. The number of segments and appendages varies very much in the different orders, and the gizzard of the higher forms is not represented. The larva is of the simple type known as the nauplius.
Research Entomostraca
Entophyte was originally a term first applied in the 19th century to minute plant-like organisms growing on or in living animals, or in the tissues of plants. They were believed to all belong to the orders Algae or Fungi. In many cases the growth of the plant appears to be a consequence of the diseased state of the structure, which, in this condition, presents the circumstances favourable for the development of the germ or spore into the plant. The broad term entophyte originally encompassed the then unknown bacteria and viruses (though it was correctly suspected that these organisms could be air-borne and some were responsible for epidemic diseases), by the late 20th century the term entophyte was restricted to a plant living within another plant, bacteria, viruses and the like being removed from the classification.
Research Entophyte
Entoprocta is a class of Phylum polyzoa. They have a u shaped gut and the anus opens within a circlet of ciliated tentacles.
Research Entoprocta
An enzyme is a biological catalyst that is not itself destroyed in the conversion process. Enzymes convert organic compounds into simpler substances and are formed by micro-organisms and cells.
Research Enzyme
Epacris is a genus of monopetalous exogens, the typical genus of the natural order Epacridaceae, distinguished by having a coloured calyx with many bracts, a tubular corolla with smooth limb, stamens affixed to the corolla, and a five-valved many-seeded capsule. The species are shrubby plants, with axillary, white, red, or purple flowers, generally in leafy spikes. Among those cultivated in Britain we may mention Epacris grandiflora, which has flowers nearly an inch in length, of a brilliant reddish purple at the base and pure white at the apex. The order Epacridaceae consists of plants allied to the heaths, chiefly natives of Australia. The fruit of some species is eaten under the name of Australian cranberry, and they are cultivated in. greenhouses for their flowers.
Research Epacris
The Epaulette Shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) is a group of species of longtailed shark found in the West Pacific. They are small fish, about one metre long, with thin, slightly flattened and elongated bodies, two large spineless dorsal fins about the same size, and an anal fin placed far back on the underside. The epaulette shark is distinguished, however, by a characteristic prominent black spot. The epaulette shark feeds on small bethric invertebrates and fishes inshore and on coral and rocky reefs.
Research Epaulette Shark
Epeira is a genus of spiders, comprising the largest and best-known British species. Epeira diadema, the common Garden Spider, which is a handsomely marked species.
Research Epeira
Ephedra (Ephedra vulgaris), also known as Ephedrine, Epitonin and Ma Huang, is an Asiatic plant of the order Gnetaceae found on sandy seashores in temperate climates of both hemispheres in China, Siberia and Japan. The plant has stamens and pistils on separate flowers, the staminate flowers occurring in catkins and a membranous perianth, pistillate flowers occurring terminal on axillary stalks within a two-leaved involucre. The fruit has two carpels with a single seed in each and is a succulent cone. The plant's branches are slender and erect with small leaves which are scale-like, articulated and joined at the base into a sheaf. The plant contains Ephedrine, a sympathetic nerve stimulant resembling adrenaline and has antispasmodic properties.
Research Ephedra
Ephemera is the typical genus of the insect family Ephemeridae, They are neuropterous insects, so named from the extreme shortness of their lives in the perfect state. They are known as may-flies or day-flies, and are characterised by the slenderness of their bodkin; the delicacy of their wings, which are erect and unequal, the anterior being much the larger; the rudimentary condition of the mouth; and the termination of the abdomen in three filiform appendages. In the state of larvae and pupae they are aquatic and exist for years. When ready for their final change they creep out of the water, generally towards sunset of a fine summer evening, beginning to be seen generally in May. They shed their whole skin shortly after leaving the water, propagate their species, and die, taking no food in the perfect state. The may-fly is well known to anglers, who imitate it for bait.
Research Ephemera
Ephistemus is a genus of tiny beetles of the family Cryptophagidae.
Research Ephistemus
Epidendrum is a large genus of epiphytal orchids of wide geographical distribution, the distinguishing feature of which consists in the lip being more or less united by a fleshy base to the edge of a column, which is hornless and considerably elongated, but not petaloid, and winged; in the pollen masses being four, equal and compressed; and in the presence of a passage, more or less deep, at the base of the lip.
Research Epidendrum
Epigaea is a genus of shrubs of the heath order, characterized by having three leaflets on the outside of the five-parted calyx; and by the corolla being salver-shaped, five-cleft, with its tube hairy on the inside. Epigaea repens, the trailing arbutus, is the May-flower of North America.
Research Epigaea
In botany, epigynous refers to growing on the top of the ovary or appearing to do so. The term is said of stamens and petals.
Research Epigynous
Epilobium is a genus of the Onagraceae family of plants. They have a long four-sided, four-valved, four-celled capsule containing numerous seeds tufted with down. The rosebay willowherb is a tall handsome species with long racemes of rose-coloured flowers.
Research Epilobium
Epimachus is a genus of slender-billed (tenuirostral) birds of the hoopoe family, resembling the birds of paradise in the exceeding luxuriance and brilliancy of their plumage.
Research Epimachus
Epiphyllum is a genus of handsome climbing Brazilian plants belonging to the Cactaceae. They have large, brightly coloured flowers.
Research Epiphyllum
An epiphyte is a plant which grows and flourishes on the trunks and branches of trees, adhering to the bark, as a moss, lichen, fern, etc, but which does not, like a parasite, derive any nourishment from the plant on which it grows. Many orchidaceous plants are epiphytes.
Research Epiphyte
Episcea is a genus of tropical plants belonging to the Gesneraceae. They are mostly natives of the West Indies and Central America. The flowers have trumpet-shaped corollas, usually scarlet in colour.
Research Episcea
Episernus is a genus of small beetle of the family Anobiidae.
Research Episernus
Epistylis is a member of the order of Peritricha.
Research Epistylis
Epizoa is a term applied to those parasitic animals which live upon the bodies of other animals, as lice, the itch-insect, etc.
Research Epizoa
Epuraea is a genus of small sap-beetle (Nitidulidae).
Research Epuraea
Equidae is the horse family, a family belonging to the order Ungulata, or hoofed mammals, and subdivision Perissodactyla, characterized by an undivided hoof formed of the third toe and its enlarged horny nail, a simple stomach, a mane on the neck, and by six incisor teeth on each jaw, seven molars on either side of both jaws, and by two small canine teeth in the upper jaw of the males, and sometimes in both jaws. It is divided into two groups - one including the asses and zebras, the other comprising the true horses (genus Equus).
Research Equidae
Equisetum is the Horse-tail genus of flowering plants belonging to the Equisetaceae. They are mostly natives of northern temperate regions, occurring usually in wet, marshy ground. They have a creeping rootstock, from which rise vertical jointed stems with small leaves arranged in whorls. In many species the first vertical stems are unbranched and end in cones of sporangia, the later stems being branched and sterile.
Research Equisetum
Eranthis is a genus of small, hardy, tuberous-rooted herbs, belonging to the Ranunculaceae.
Research Eranthis
Erect clematis (Clematis recta) or upright virgin's bower is a highly poisonous perennial herb of the family Ranunculaceae with a hollow, erect (not climbing or twining) stem, hairy in the upper part. The basal leaves are entire; the stem leaves are opposite and pinnate. The numerous fragrant, white flowers with conspicuous yellow anthers are arranged in dichasiums which grow from the leaf axils. The fruit is an achene with a persistent, long, feathery style. Erect clematis grows in woodland margins, thickets, hedgerows and dry bushy slopes chiefly in the warmer regions of southern, eastern and central Europe.
Research Erect Clematis
Eremurus is a genus of desert plants belonging to the Liliaceae. Many of them produce flower-stalks upwards of 150 centimetres in height, surmounted by great hyacinth-like spikes of bell-shaped flowers.
Research Eremurus
Ergates is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) which are active at night.
Research Ergates
Ergot (Claviceps purpurea) is a fungoid parasite found on several cereals, principally rye. The seed is replaced by a dense homogeneous tissue largely charged with an oily fluid. In its perfect state this germinates and produces the Claviceps. When eaten it causes the disease of ergotism (formerly known as St Anthony's Fire) which can be fatal. It is widely used in medicine as it contains more than a dozen potent alkaloids and was used in obstetric practice to promote the contraction of the uterus.
Research Ergot
Erica, the heath, is a large genus of branched rigid shrubs, forming the type of the natural order Ericaceae, most of which are natives of South Africa, a few being found in Europe and Asia. The leaves are narrow and rigid, the flowers are globose or tubular, and four-lobed. Five species are found in Britain.
Research Erica
Ericaceae is a dicotyledonous family of shrubs or small bushy trees with evergreen, often rigid, opposite or whorled leaves.
Research Ericaceae
Erigeron is a genus of hardy composite plants of several species.
Research Erigeron
Erinus is a genus of plants belonging to the Scrophulariaceae.
Research Erinus
Eriocraniidae is the primitive moths family of insects of the order Lepidoptera.
Research Eriocraniidae
Eriodendron is the wool-tree genus of plants of the natural order Malvaceae (the mallows). There are eight species natives of America, but one belongs to Asia and Africa. The species are noble plants, growing from 15 to 30 metres high, having palmate leaves, and red or white flowers. The woolly coat of the seeds of some of the species is used in different countries for stuffing cushions and similar purposes.
Research Eriodendron
Eriostemon is a genus of dwarf Australian evergreen shrubs belonging to the family Rutaceae.
Research Eriostemon
Ermine is a name for the stoat in its winter dress of a white coat which it assumes in winter in cold countries. The term is also used to describe the white fur obtained from a suitable stoat in winter.
Research Ermine
The Erne or Sea Eagle (Haliaetus albicilla) is a brown bird of prey with a white tail. It feeds on carrion and also lambs. The nest is built on a sea- cliff, an inland rock, in trees and bushes or on the ground. The Erne breeds in Norethern and Western Scotland and in Norway, but sometimes visits England.
Research Erne
Ernoporus is a genus of tiny beetles of the family Scolytidae that live in the twigs of deciduous trees.
Research Ernoporus
Erotylidae is a family of beetles of the order Coleoptera. The members somewhat resemble members of the family Cryptophagidae, and both adults and larvae live in wood fungi.
Research Erotylidae
Erst is the collective noun for a group of bees.
Research Erst
Erycinae is the 'Sand Boas' subfamily of reptiles of the family Pythoninae, suborder Serpentes (snakes). The subfamily contains some 14 species in three genera.
Research Erycinae
Eryngium is a genus of hardy umbelliferous plants characterized by bearing the flowers in a hard, prickly head, the succeeding fruit being covered with scales. Around the heads of the flowers is arranged an involucre of bracts. A common British species is the sea holly (Eryngium maritimum), whose hard, thistle-like structure and greyish colour make it a conspicuous object on many sandy shores around the British coast. It bears beautiful bluish flowers in late summer, and has large fleshy roots, once much valued in the candied state.
Research Eryngium
Eryngo (Eryngium) is a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Umbelliferae. There are upwards of 100 species found in temperate and sub-tropical climates, but chiefly in South America. Eryngium maritlmum, also called sea-holly, is the only truly native British species. It frequents sandy shores, and is distinguished by its rigid, spiny, glaucous, veined leaves, and its dense heads of blue flowers. The roots are sometimes candied, and are reputed to be stimulating and restorative, as well as to have aphrodisiac properties. Eryngium campestre was formerly much employed in Europe as a tonic, and as tending to promote appetite. Eryngium aquaticum is an American species known by the name of rattlesnake weed.
Research Eryngo
Erysimum is a genus of plants belonging to the family Cruciferae, chiefly biennials, with narrow entire leaves, and yellow, often fragrant, flowers, characterized by producing a four-sided pod which opens to two heeled valves, and smooth seeds in a single row. The flowers are borne in many- flowered terminal racemes. There are about 100 species, natives of northern temperate and cold countries. Erysimum cheiranthoides, a native of Europe and North America, is found in waste places in the south of England, and from being used as an anthelmintic, is called worm-seed.
Research Erysimum
Erythraea is a genus of hardy annual plants belonging to the Gentianaceae. They are mostly small-habited and possessed of considerable beauty. Centaury is the best-known species.
Research Erythraea
Erythronium is a genus of liliaceous plants, natives of temperate regions, nearly stemless herbs, with two smooth shining flat leaves, and large generally reddish flowers, which are solitary. They have a long narrow, solid, scaly bulb. One of them is dog's-tooth violet.
Research Erythronium
Erythrophloeum is a genus of leguminous evergreen trees natives of tropical countries. They are commonly known as red-water trees, because of the red juice which escapes when the bark is injured. The small flowers are borne in long spikes and the leaves are bipinnate. There are three species, two found in Africa, and the third in Australia. The Erythroploeum guineense of Guinea has a poisonous juice, which is used by the natives as a test of innocence and guilt, and hence the name ordeal-tree.
Research Erythrophloeum
Erythroxylaceae is a natural order of exogenous plants, having alternate stipulate leaves, small pallid flowers, and drupaceous fruit. The principal genus is Erythroxylon, some of whose species have a bright-red wood (hence the name from the Greek erythros meaning red and xylon meaning wood), occasionally they are used for dyeing.
Research Erythroxyleae
Erythroxylon is a genus of evergreen trees, natives of warm countries.
Research Erythroxylon
Erythroxylon Coca is a South American shrub which grows from one to two metres tall and is cultivated for its leaves (Coca) which are a powerful stimulant and the alkaloid derived from the leaves, cocaine.
Research Erythroxylon Coca
Escherichia coli (commonly called E. coli) is a species of Gram-negative aerobic bacteria that is found in the intestine and is also widely used in microbiological and genetic research. The motile rod-shaped cells ferment lactose and are usually harmless commensals, although certain strains are pathogenic. Studies of E coli laboratory cultures have revealed much about the genetics of prokaryotes; the species is also frequently used in genetic engineering, particularly as a host for gene cloning and the expression of recombinant foreign genes in culture.
Research Escherichia coli
Eschscholtzia is a small genus of glabrous whitish plants, of the poppy order, natives of California and the neighbouring regions. They have divided leaves, and yellow peduncled flowers. The sepals cohere and fall off as the flower opens in the form of a calyptra. They have been common in the gardens of Great Britain since the 19th century.
Research Eschscholtzia
The Eskimo dog is a breed of dogs extensively spread over the northern regions of America and of Eastern Asia. It is rather larger than the English pointer, but appears less on account of the shortness of its legs. It has oblique eyes, an elongated muzzle, and a bushy tail, which give it a wolfish appearance. The colour is generally a deep dun, obscurely barred and patched with darker colour. It is the only beast of burden in these latitudes, and with a team of such dogs attached to his sledge an Innuit can cover 90 or 100 km a day for several successive days.
Research Eskimo Dog
Esolus is a genus of beetle of the family Dryopidae found under stones in running water.
Research Esolus
Esparto grass (Stipa tenacissima) is a tall-growing grass formerly grown in Spain and other Mediterranean countries, and used initially by the Romans for making whip-thongs, and later for weaving and plaiting into mats and light baskets. It was later still used for making paper. Esparto grass is a species of grass about one metre high, covering large tracts in its native regions, and also cultivated, especially in Spain. Formerly the supply of esparto was almost wholly obtained from Spain, but it was later obtained in still, larger quantity from Algeria (where it is called a1fa), and from Tripoli and Tunis. The paper made from it is excellent; it was also reduced to a fibrous state and used for stuffing mattresses, etc.
Research Esparto Grass
The Essex Emerald (Thetidia smaragdaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 25 and 30 mm found in warmer parts of central and southern Europe, and in Palaearctic Asia in steppes, forest-steppes and stony, shrubby slopes flying in two generations from June to July and the second from August to September.
Research Essex Emerald
The Essex is a large breed of English pig, entirely black in colour with a fine rather thin coat. The nose is long and fine.
Research Essex Pig
In botany, an etaerio or eterio is a collection of distinct indehiscent carpels, either dry upon a fleshy receptacle as the strawberry, or dry upon a dry receptacle as the ranunculus, or fleshy upon a dry receptacle as the raspberry, the parts being small drupes.
Research Etaerio
Etiolation or blanching of plants, is a state produced by the absence of light, by which the green colour is prevented from appearing. It is effected artificially, as in the case of celery, by raising up -the earth about the stalks of the plants; by tying the leaves together to keep the inner ones from the light; by covering with pots, boxes, or the like, or by setting in a dark place. The green colour of etiolated plants may be restored by exposure to light.
Research Etiolation
Euaesthetus is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae. Three species occur in Britain and Europe, where they live in marshes and on river banks.
Research Euaesthetus
The eubacteria are the true bacteria, that is those typically having simple unbranched cells, rigid cell walls, and flagella for movement.
Research Eubacteria
Eubrychius is a genus of tiny Snout Beetles (Curculionidae) found on aquatic plants in clean stagnant water.
Research Eubrychius
Eucalyptus is a genus of trees mostly native to Australia where they are called the gum tree from the gum which exudes from their trunks; individual species are known as 'stringy bark', 'iron bark', karri, jarrah, etc. They are members of the natural order Myrtaceae, and are remarkable for their gigantic size, some of them attaining the height of 150 meters.
The wood of some is excellent for building and many purposes. The Eucalyptus globulus, or blue gum, yields an essential oil which is valuable as a febrifuge, antiasthmatic, and antispasmodic; the medicinal properties of this tree also make it useful as a disinfectant, and as an astringent in affections of the respiratory passages, being employed in the form of an infusion, a decoction, or an extract, and cigarettes made of the leaves formerly being also smoked.
The Eucalyptus globulus and the Eucalyptus amygdalina were found to have an excellent sanitary effect when planted in malarious districts such as the Roman Campagna, parts of which were been reclaimed by their use. This result was partly brought about by the drainage of the soil (the trees absorbing great quantities of moisture), partly perhaps by the balsamic odour given out. Eucalyptus mannifera and others yield a sweet secretion resembling manna. Some yield a kind of gum kino. The Eucalyptus has been introduced with success into India, Algiers, Southern France, etc.
Research Eucalyptus
Euchlora is a genus of beetle of the family Scarabaeidae.
Research Euchlora
Eucnemidae is the false click beetle family of insects of the order Coleoptera. The larvae live in rotting or splitting wood.
Research Eucnemidae
Eucnemis is a genus of false click beetle (Eucnemidae).
Research Eucnemis
Eucomis is a genus of bulbous liliaceous plants, natives of South Africa, characterized by a rosette of long radical leaves, from the centre of which proceeds in late summer, a sturdy spike of greenish flowers, surmounted by a canopy of leaf-like bracts.
Research Eucomis
Euconnus is a genus of beetles of the family Scydmaenidae found all over the world, particularly in the tropics, six species occur in Britain.
Research Euconnus
Eugenia (so named in honour of Prince Eugene),is a genus of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs belonging to the family Myrtaceae. They produce whitish flowers followed by globular one-seeded berries. The genus contains numerous species, some of which produce delicious fruits. The allspice or pimento is the berry of the Eugenia Pimento. Eugenia acris is the wild clove.
Research Eugenia
Euglena is an indeterminate organism, part animal and part plant. They are tiny organisms found in ponds and puddles.
Research Euglena
The euglenoidina are an order of Phytomastigina. They have an elongated spindle-shaped body and swim in a spiral path.
Research Euglenoidina
Euhelopus was a large sauropod dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Euhelopus was between 10 and 15 metres long, walked on four thick, heavy legs, had a long beck and tail and a bulky body and an unusual wedge-shaped skull with nostrils near to the front of the skull. The first remains of Euhelopus were found in China in the 1920's by a Swedish expedition.
Research Euhelopus
Euonymus is a genus of trees and shrubs belonging to the Celastrinae. They produce small, whitish, purplish or greenish flowers in axillary cymes. The members of the genus are popularly known as spindle trees, or burning- bushes.
Research Euonymus
Euoplocephalus was an armoured herbivore dinosaur from the cretaceous period. Even its eyelids were armoured. At the end of its powerful tail was a bulb. The tail could have been used to disable predators attacking it.
Research Euoplocephalus
Eupatorium is a genus of plants of the family Compositae. They are mostly natives of America, though one (hemp-agrimony) is a common British plant. The flowers of the genus are characterized by an imbricated involucre and tubular florets.
Research Eupatorium
Euphausiacea is an order of crustaceans of the sub-class Malacostraca. The carapace encloses the thorax. There is one set of gills.
Research Euphausiacea
Euphorbiaceae is the spurgeworts family of plants, distributed over most of the tropical and temperate regions of the globe, especially the warmer parts of America. They are either trees, shrubs or herbs, some having the external form of the cactus family. Nearly all the members of this large tribe possess a juice, often milky, which is highly acrid and narcotic.
Research Euphorbiaceae
Eupithecia is an abundant genus of moths of the family Geometridae, represented by over 100 species in Europe, most of which are very similar in appearance, but which vary greatly in their food plants and bionomics.
Research Eupithecia
The euplectella is a member of the hexactinellida class.
Research Euplectella
Euplectus is a genus of beetles of the family Pselaphidae.
Research Euplectus
Euplotes is a member of the order of Hypotricha.
Research Euplotes
The European Corn-Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) is a moth of the family Pyralidea with a wing span of between 26 and 30 mm, native to Europe but introduced through maize exports to the rest of the world, where it is a serious agricultural pest. In temperate zones two generations are produced, in tropical zones as many as six generations may be produced. The moths fly from May to September.
Research European Corn-Borer
The European Silver Fir or Common Silver Fir (Abies alba) is a coniferous tree native to central Europe where it grows in mountainous regions to a height of 45 metres. The European Silver Fir is cultivated for timber (pine).
Research European Silver Fir
Eurythyrea is a genus of large jewel beetle (Buprestidae), mostly bright green in colour.
Research Eurythyrea
Euskelosaurus was a large dinosaur of the Triassic period. Remains of
Euskelosaurus were first discovered in Africa in the early 1860's, but very few remains have been found, and no skull, but from discovered thigh bones it is likely the animal walked on all fours and was about 12 metres long.
Research Euskelosaurus
Eusomus is a genus of Snout Beetles (Curculionidae).
Research Eusomus
Eusphalerum is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae, represented by six species in Britain, the adults feeding on pollen and plants sexual organs.
Research Eusphalerum
The euspongia, or bath sponge, is a member of the demospongia class.
Research Euspongia
Eustreptospondylus was a carnivorous dinosaur of the order Saurischia that lived in the Jurasic period. Eustreptospondylus was about seven metres long, walked on its two hind legs and had a large head armed with sharp teeth. The feet were bird-like, furnished with three toes in front and one short toe behind, all armed with a claw. The forelegs had three fingers to each hand. Remains of Eustreptospondylus were found at Oxfordshire, England and were named and partly classified in 1964.
Research Eustreptospondylus
Eustrophus is a genus of false darkling beetles (Melandyridae), about five millimetres in length and living on fungus infested oak and willow trees.
Research Eustrophus
Euterpe is a genus of tall, slender, tropical, spineless palms, chiefly natives of Brazil and Central America, rising to a height of some 30 metres. The leaves are terminal, and as the leaf-sheaths completely fall with the rest of the leaf, the stems are clean and free from signs of previously dead leaves. They produce small white flowers, followed by purple, pea-like fruit.
Research Euterpe
The Eutheria are a subclass of higher mammals. The young are born as miniature adults after a prolonged period of gestation.
Research Eutheria
Evanoidea is a super-family of insects of the sub order Apocrita, order Hymenoptera, distinguished by a small, laterally compressed abdomen with a petiole joining the thorax high above the coxa.
Research Evanoidea
Evening-primrose (OEnothera), is a genus of plants of the natural order Onagraceae. OEnothera biennis, an American species common in cottage gardens, is not unfrequent as an escaped plant in England.
Research Evening-Primrose
An evergreen is a plant that retains its verdure (green colouring) through all the seasons, such as for example the fir, the holly, the laurel, the cedar, the cypress, the juniper,. the holm-oak, and many others. Evergreens shed their old leaves in the spring or summer, after the new foliage has been formed, and consequently are green through all the winter season. They form a considerable part of the shrubs commonly cultivated in gardens, and are beautiful at all seasons of the year.
Research Evergreen
Evodinus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae).
Research Evodinus
Exaltation is the collective noun for a group of larks in flight.
Research Exaltation
Excretion is the process of getting rid of unwanted substances from within the body.
Research Excretion
The Exmoor Pony is a breed of English feral pony, formerly widespread on Exmoor in south-west Devon but now endangered. The Exmoor Pony grows to about 12 hands high, is generally good natured though spirited, with strength, stamina and durability. They are dun coloured with black points. Distinctive features of the
Exmoor Pony are a waterproof winter coat comprised of a double layer of a long and greasy outer layer and a short and woolly under layer. The eyes have a heavy top lid and the tail has a fan-like growth of bushy hair at the top.
Research Exmoor Pony
Exocentrus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) found on the dry branches of deciduous trees, the larvae developing in the dry branches of deciduous trees, chiefly oaks.
Research Exocentrus
Exochomus is the Four Spot Ladybird genus of ladybird (Coccinellidae). They range from three to five millimetres in length, and frequent conifers and hawthorn and eat aphids and scale insects.
Research Exochomus
The exogenous plants or exogens are those plants whose stems are formed by successive additions to the outside. The exogens are the largest primary class of plants in the vegetable kingdom, and their increase by annual additions of new layers to the outside of their stems, formed in the cambium between the wood and the bark, is a feature in which they differ essentially from endogens, whose wood is formed by successive augmentations from the inside. The concentric circles thus annually formed, distinguishable even in the oldest trees, aid in computing the age of the tree. The stem and branches also exhibit a central pith and medullary rays extending outwards to the bark. All the trees of cold climates, and the principal part of those in hot, are exogenous, and are readily distinguished from those that are endogenous by the reticulated venation of their leaves, and by their seeds having two cotyledons (dicotyledonous). The parts of the flower are generally in fours or fives.
Research Exogenous Plants
Exostemma is a genus of plants of the natural order Cinchonaceae. The species are trees or shrubs, natives of tropical America and the West Indies. Exostemma caribceum and Exostemma floribunda possess properties similar to those of the true cinchona, but without any trace of either cinchonine or quinine.
Research Exostemma
The Exotic Shorthair is an American breed of cat that was developed by crossing the American Shorthaired with the Persian Cat, the breed being given its name in 1966. The
Exotic Shorthair is basically a shorthaired Persian Cat, and has the docile and affectionate nature of the Persian Cat, being rather lazy and disinclined towards exercise.
Research Exotic Shorthair
Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) is a small annual plant of the family Scrophulariaceae, standing about five to fifteen centimetres tall, with a short, branched leafy stem and small, deeply cut opposite, toothed and hairy leaves and loose spikes of numerous white or purplish flowers with yellow patches. The eyebright is common in Britain and most parts of Europe, in North Asia, etc.
Under the name of euphrasy it formerly enjoyed a great reputation in diseases of the eyes.
Research Eyebright
The Eyed Hawkmoth (Smerinthus ocellata) is a moth of the family Sphingidae with a wing span of between 70 and 80 mm found in Europe and western Asia flying from May to July.
Research Eyed Hawkmoth
The Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata) is a large, typically eight to nine millimetres long, ladybird (Coccinellidae). It lives on coniferous trees where it feeds on plant-lice.
Research Eyed Ladybird
The eyra or jaguarundi (Felis eyra or Felis yagouaroundi) is a small South American wild cat about the size of the domesticated cat, but remarkable for the elongation of the body, which resembles that of a weasel.
Research Eyra
|
Abbreviations
Nature
