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Eagle is the name given to several large birds of prey of the sub-family Aquilinoe.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Earth is the collective noun for a group of foxes.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Ebaeus is a genus of rare small beetle of the family Malachiidae.
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Ebenaceae is a family of trees and shrubs many of which have economic importance by virtue of their hard wood, They mainly occur in tropical and subtropical countries and include the genera Diospyros, Euclaea and Tetraclis.
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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 meters 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.
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The echidna or spiny anteater is two genii of egg-laying, burrowing, nocturnal mammals of the family Tachyglossidae. They have no teeth, but a long extensile tongue. The short nosed echidna (genus Tachyglossus) is found in rocky districts of Australia, the long-nosed echidna (genus Zaglossus), is found in New Guinea.
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Echinococcus is a cestoda.
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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.
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Echinus are a member of the echinoidea class.
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Ecology is a study of the relationship between an organism and its environment.
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Ectoprocta is a class of Phylum polyzoa. They have a u shaped gut and the anus opens outside of the circlet of ciliated tentacles.
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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.
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Edelweiss is a small rosette plant with narrow leaves covered with long, white, silky hairs and white flowers, belonging to the family Compositae. It grows wild in the Swiss Alps.
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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.
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Edmonotosaurus was a flat-headed duck-billed dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. A large dinosaur it was between 10 and 13 meters 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.
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Eel is the popular name for fish of the order Anguilliformes. True eels are elongate in form and lack all trace of the pelvic fin. The body is smooth, muscular and snake-like, usually scaleless and covered with mucous, making the animal very slippery.
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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.
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Egestion is the process of eliminating food which has not been digested.
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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.
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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. The fruit, a large pear-shaped purple fruit, is eaten.
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Egret is a name given to certain small, usually white, herons. The name is properly applied to members of the genus Egretta, found in the warmer parts of the world.
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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.
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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.
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The eider (Somateria mollissima) is a British coastal duck of the family Anatidae. The female lines her nest with down she plucks from her body, this down has been constantly robbed by man to make eiderdown quilts.
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Eimeria is a member of the Coccidia vera order.
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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.
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The eisenia are a species of the order Oligochaeta.
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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.
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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.
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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 meters 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.
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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 meters tall, was about 3.5 meters long and walked on its long slender hind legs. It had short arms and both the feet and hands had three digits.
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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.
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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 meters 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.
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Elasmobranchs is a sub-class of fish distinguished by the absence of bones, the skeleton being entirely cartilaginous. It includes the sharks, rays and skates, and dates back to the Upper Silurian period.
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The elder (Sambucus nigra) is a deciduous shrub or small tree of the family Caprifoliaceae, related to the honeysuckle. It is remarkable for the large quantity of pith contained in its young branches and for the elasticity of its wood. The leaves are stalked, opposite, odd pinnate with five or seven oval to lanceolate serrate leaflets, and have a strong odour. The fruit are globose, shining dark purple or sometimes white, edible drupes. The flowers are small, fragrant, creamy-white in colour and arranged in flat-topped terminal cymes.
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Elecampane (Inula Helenium) is a perennial plant belonging to the Compositae family. It is a stout plant standing just over one meter 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.
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The Electric Eel is an eel-like fish found in rivers and marshes of north South America. It grows to two meters long and 20 centimetres wide. It generates an electric current which it uses to stun and kill other fish which it then eats.
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Eledona is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) that live chiefly in tree fungi on various deciduous trees.
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Eledone is a genus of eight-armed marine animals very similar to the octopus, but with only one row of suckers down the arms.
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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.
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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.
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The elephant seal or sea elephant (Mirounga) is the largest of the seals. The male grows to about six meters 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.
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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.
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The elk or moose, is a large deer (Alces alces) found in north Europe, Asia and Scandinavia. They are distinguished by a swollen, flexible snout, wide palmated antlers, extending horizontally sideways and long legs. They feed mostly on foliage, twigs, mosses and lichens, and in summer wade into rivers for water-lilies and other plants.
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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.
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Ellescus is a genus of Snout Beetles (Curculionidae) that live on willows.
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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.
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The elm (Ulmus) is a genus of tree of the family Ulmaceae. They have alternate, stalked, deciduous leaves, generally serrated and harsh. There are four British 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. Dutch Elm Disease accounted for almost completely wiping out the British elm trees during the 1970s.
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Elmis is a genus of beetle of the family Dryopidae found chiefly in fast flowing mountain streams.
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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.
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In botany, the term emarginate refers to leaves and petals which have a notch at their apex.
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The Embden is a breed of goose.
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Embryology is the study of animal development.
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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.
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The Emperor moth (Saturnia pavonia) is a moth of the family Saturniidae with a wing span of between 40 and 60 mm found across Europe and Asia to the Far East. They are to be seen flying on sunny afternoons in April and May.
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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.
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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.
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In horticulture, emplastration is a method of budding in trees which involves surrounding the bud with a 'plaster' of bark.
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The emu (or emeu) is a large, ostrich-like flightless bird found in Australia and resembling 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. Unusually the female emu is larger, more pugnacious and noisier than the male, resembling in demeanour the cock of other species of bird.
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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.
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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.
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Enchanter's Nightshade is a slender herbaceous plant 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.
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Endive (Cichorium endivia) is a salad plant of the family Compositae. One variety has narrow, curled leaves; another has wide, smooth leaves. It is related to chicory.
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An endogen is an endogenous plant.
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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.
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Endomychus is a genus of comparatively large (four to six millimetres long) beetles of the family Enfomychidae.
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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.
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Endosperm is the nutritive tissue in plant seeds which feeds the growing embryo.
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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.
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Endromidae is a small family of moths, comprising a single genus and species - Endromis versicolora or Kentish Glory.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Ennearthron is a genus of tiny beetles of the family Cisidae closely related to the genus Cis.
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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.
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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.
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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'.
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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.
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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.
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Entoprocta is a class of Phylum polyzoa. They have a u shaped gut and the anus opens within a circlet of ciliated tentacles.
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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.
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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.
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Ephistemus is a genus of tiny beetles of the family Cryptophagidae.
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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.
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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.
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Epiphyllum is a genus of handsome climbing Brazilian plants belonging to the Cactaceae. They have large, brightly coloured flowers.
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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.
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Episernus is a genus of small beetle of the family Anobiidae.
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Epistylis is a member of the order of Peritricha.
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Epuraea is a genus of small sap-beetle (Nitidulidae).
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Equidae is a family of hoofed mammals of the order Perissodactyla, including the horse, zebra and ass.
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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.
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Eranthis is a genus of small, hardy, tuberous-rooted herbs, belonging to the Ranunculaceae.
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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.
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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.
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Ergates is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) which are active at night.
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Ergot (Claviceps purpurea) is a fungoid parasite found on several cereals, principally rye. It causes the disease of ergotism (formerly known as St Anthony's Fire), resulting from eating infected cereals, and is widely used in medicine as it contains more than a dozen potent alkaloids.
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Ericaceae is a dicotyledonous family of shrubs or small bushy trees with evergreen, often rigid, opposite or whorled leaves.
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Erigeron is a genus of hardy composite plants of several species.
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Erinus is a genus of plants belonging to the Scrophulariaceae.
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Eriocraniidae is the primitive moths family of insects of the order Lepidoptera.
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Eriostemon is a genus of dwarf Australian evergreen shrubs belonging to the family Rutaceae.
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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.
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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.
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Ernoporus is a genus of tiny beetles of the family Scolytidae that live in the twigs of deciduous trees.
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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.
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Erst is the collective noun for a group of bees.
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Erycinae is the 'Sand Boas' subfamily of reptiles of the family Pythoninae, suborder Serpentes (snakes). The subfamily contains some 14 species in three genera.
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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.
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Erysimum is a genus of plants belonging to the family Cruciferae, 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.
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Erythraea is a genus of hardy plants belonging to the Gentianaceae. They are mostly small-habited and possessed of considerable beauty.
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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.
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Erythroxylon is a genus of evergreen trees, natives of warm countries.
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Erythroxylon Coca is a South American shrub which grows from one to two meters tall and is cultivated for its leaves (Coca) which are a powerful stimulant and the alkaloid derived from the leaves, cocaine.
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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.
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Esolus is a genus of beetle of the family Dryopidae found under stones in running water.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Euaesthetus is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae. Three species occur in Britain and Europe, where they live in marshes and on river banks.
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The eubacteria are the true bacteria, that is those typically having simple unbranched cells, rigid cell walls, and flagella for movement.
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Eubrychius is a genus of tiny Snout Beetles (Curculionidae) found on aquatic plants in clean stagnant water.
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Eucalyptus is a tree native to Australia where it is called the gum tree.
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Euchlora is a genus of beetle of the family Scarabaeidae.
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Eucnemidae is the false click beetle family of insects of the order Coleoptera. The larvae live in rotting or splitting wood.
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Eucnemis is a genus of false click beetle (Eucnemidae).
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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.
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Euconnus is a genus of beetles of the family Scydmaenidae found all over the world, particularly in the tropics, six species occur in Britain.
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Eugenia is a genus of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs belonging to the family Myrtaceae. They produce whitish flowers followed by globular one- seeded berries.
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Euglena is an indeterminate organism, part animal and part plant. They are tiny organisms found in ponds and puddles.
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The euglenoidina are an order of Phytomastigina. They have an elongated spindle-shaped body and swim in a spiral path.
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Euhelopus was a large sauropod dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Euhelopus was between 10 and 15 meters 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Euphausiacea is an order of crustaceans of the sub-class Malacostraca. The carapace encloses the thorax. There is one set of gills.
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Euphorbiaceae is a 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.
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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.
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The euplectella is a member of the hexactinellida class.
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Euplectus is a genus of beetles of the family Pselaphidae.
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Euplotes is a member of the order of Hypotricha.
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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.
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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 meters. The European Silver Fir is cultivated for timber (pine).
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Eurythyrea is a genus of large jewel beetle (Buprestidae), mostly bright green in colour.
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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 meters long.
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Eusomus is a genus of Snout Beetles (Curculionidae).
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Eusphalerum is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae, represented by six species in Britain, the adults feeding on pollen and plants sexual organs.
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The euspongia, or bath sponge, is a member of the demospongia class.
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Eustreptospondylus was a carnivorous dinosaur of the order Saurischia that lived in the Jurasic period. Eustreptospondylus was about seven meters 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.
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Eustrophus is a genus of false darkling beetles (Melandyridae), about five millimetres in length and living on fungus infested oak and willow trees.
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Euterpe is a genus of tall, slender, tropical, spineless palms, chiefly natives of Brazil and Central America. 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.
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The Eutheria are a subclass of higher mammals. The young are born as miniature adults after a prolonged period of gestation.
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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.
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Evodinus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae).
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Exaltation is the collective noun for a group of larks in flight.
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Excretion is the process of getting rid of unwanted substances from within the body.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Abbreviations
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