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Ianthina (purple shell or violet snail) is a genus of beautiful pelagic gastropods of a violet colour. They float at the surface of the sea, with the thin shells upturned and feed on various kinds of jelly-fish. A special peculiarity is the 'raft', which is attached to the foot, and has the egg capsules suspended from its under surface. This raft or float consists of a mucoid substance, and is filled with air-bubbles, by means of which it sustains the attached animal at the surface of the water. The ancient Tyrian purple dye was obtained in part from these animals.
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The ibex (or steinbok) is several species of wild goat. The horns of the male are flattened, have two longitudinal ridges at the sides, and are crossed by numerous transverse knots. The horns of the female are short, more erect, with three or four knots in front. The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) is the best known. The Spanish, or Pyrenean ibex (Capra Hispanica) has smoother and more spreading horns.
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The Ibis (Ibididae) is a family of birds related to the storks, and mostly found in warm countries. The bill is long, slender, and nearly cylindrical, tapers towards the tip, and is more or less arched. The head is always more or less bare of feathers, the tail is short, and there are generally tufts of plume-like feathers near the posterior end of the body.
The most famous member of the family is the sacred ibis (Ibis aethiopica or Ibis religiosa) of the ancient Egyptians, often found as a mummy in temples. This is found throughout Africa. It is about the size of a common fowl, with its head and neck bare, and white plumage, the primaries of the wings being tipped with black and the secondaries being bright black, glossed with green and violet. It was reared in the temples of ancient Egypt with a degree of respect bordering on adoration, and after death was preserved in a mummified condition. The cause of its being deemed sacred was no doubt because it appeared in Egypt with the rise of the Nile; but it is now rare in that country, living farther south.
There are several other species, as the Ibis falcinellus, or glossy ibis, nearly 60 cm in length, which nests in Asia, but migrates also to Egypt, sometimes visiting England; the Ibis rubra of tropical America, remarkable for its scarlet plumage; the Ibis alba, or white ibis of Florida; the Ibis or Geronticus spinicollis, or straw-necked ibis of Australia; etc.aqws
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The Ibizan hound is a breed of dog, possibly descended from greyhound-like dogs of pre-Christian Egypt, developed in more recent centuries on the island of Ibiza. It became a strong, hardy breed, able to hunt with speed and skill, to jump unusually well, and to withstand hardships. Its keen eyesight makes it good for standing watch as well as for coursing game. The Ibizan has a long, narrow head and muzzle; small, yellowish-brown eyes; large, mobile ears; and long, slightly arched neck. The back is horizontal, the legs long, and the tail long and somewhat curved. Its weight ranges from 19 to 23 kg; average height is from 57 to 70 cm. The coat is generally short and lies flat, but there is also a wire-haired variety, and the colour may be white, red, yellowish red, or combinations of these. The breed is easy to train and affectionate.
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The Ibizian Hound is an ancient Ibizian breed of dog, popular in Spain and only reaching the USA in 1956. The Ibizian Hound stands about 70 cm tall, and has a sleek, alert demeanour. They have acute hearing and are now popular as gundogs.
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The ice-plant (Mesembrynthemum crystallinum) is a procumbent plant covered with glittering spots resembling ice, found in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, and in South Africa. All through the summer it bears white, axillary flowers close to the stems.
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Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica) is a shrub-like lichen (and not a moss at all) with an erect, much branched thallus which forms entangled mats. The lobes of the thallus are brown to olive green in colour, fringed and may be slightly incurved, especially when dry. Iceland moss grows on poor, acidic soil, generally in the ground layer of pine woods, on trees, rocks and walls, in mountain and moorland regions of central and northern Europe and other northern parts of the world. In arctic regions it forms an important food source for reindeer, and has also long been eaten and used in medicine.
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The Icelandic Pony is an Icelandic breed of small horse thought to have developed from European Forest ponies and Celtic ponies brought by settlers to Iceland in the 9th century. The Icelandic Pony occurs in various colours, stands between 12 and 13 hands high, and while normally placid may play up at times. They are sturdy and stocky horses with good eyesight and an uncanny homing instinct.
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Ichneumon (Herpestes) is a genus of digiti-grade carnivorous animals belonging to the civet family. They have a long slender body, a sharp and pointed muzzle, and short legs. The most celebrated species, Herpestes Ichneumon, inhabits Egypt, where it is called Pharaoh's rat. It was adored by the ancient Egyptians on account of its antipathy to crocodiles, whose eggs it digs out of the sand and sucks. It is expert in seizing snakes by the neck so as to avoid any injury to itself. It is domesticated in Egypt, and more useful than a cat in destroying rats and mice. Their disadvantage, as domestic animals, is their predilection for poultry. The mongoose, or Indian ichneumon, is another species, not so large as the Egyptian, which it resembles in habits, being kept in many families as a useful domestic animal.
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Ichneumonoidea is a super-family of insects of the sub-order Apocrita, order Hymenoptera distinguished by an areole on the fore wing and deposit their eggs either in or on the bodies, eggs, or larvae of other insects. These apparently insignificant creatures confer inestimable benefits on man, as they destroy hosts of insects injurious to crops.
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Ichthyology is the branch of zoology which relates to fishes, including their structure, classification, and habits.
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Icica is a genus of plants, of the natural order Amyridaceae, mostly large trees, natives of South America. Icica altissima, the cedar-wood of Guiana, is a useful timber. All of these trees yield a transparent fluid resembling turpentine in many of its properties, and sometimes named idea, also elemi or copal.
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Icteridae are a family of American passerine birds, allied to the starlings, remarkable for the hammock-like nests which they construct, and hence called hangnests. The Baltimore bird may be regarded as typical of the family
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Idared is a variety of apple produced from a cross of Jonathan and Wagener and first raised in Penn Yan in 1791. The fruit is particularly suited to baking as it keeps its shape.
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The Ide (Leuciscus idus) is a fish of the carp family (Cyprinidae), found in rocky lakes of Northern Europe. It is a good table-fish, which around 1900 was considered for introduction into British waters.
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The iguana is several species of lizard of the genus Iguana, family Iguanidae.
Iguana are found in the Caribbean, northern South America, southern North America and Central America.
The common iguana (Iguana iguana) grows to about two metres long, is green in colour and has dark bands forming rings on its tail. Primarily a herbivore, the Iguana will eat invertebrates, small birds and mammals in addition to its main diet of leaves, buds flowers and fruit.
The head is large, the mouth wide. Along the whole length of the back to the tip of the tail there is a crest of elevated, compressed, pointed acales; the lower part of the head and neck is furnished with a dew-lap or throat-pouch. The toes are furnished with sharp claws, which enable the Iguana to climb trees with ease, while a rapid serpentine movement of its tail propels it swiftly through the water.
Iguanas communicate using non-verbal movements and postures - body language to convey crude concepts such as agression, courtship and submission, and also with an intricate system of head bobbing movements which appears to be much more than a crude display of aggression, submission or courtship, but a sophisticated system of communication.
The flesh of the iguana is considered a delicacy, being tender and delicately-flavoured, resembling that of a chicken. The eggs, of which the female lays from four to six dozen, are also eaten, having an excellent flavour. They are about the size of those of a pigeon, are laid in the sand, and hatched by the heat of the sun.
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Iguanidae is a family of lizards of which the iguana is the typical type. They have the body rounded, sometimes laterally compressed and furnished with a ridge or serrated crest along the middle line of the back from snout to tip of tail, sometimes a throat-pouch or dewlap present.
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Iguanodon was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Iguanodon was about ten metres long and walked on its hind legs and also in all-fours - indicated by the presence of small hooves on three of the fingers. It had short arms furnished with four fingers and a spike-like thumb. The mouth comprised a bony beak and strong, ridged cheek teeth, indicating a herbivore. Remains of Iguanodon were first found in the early 19th century and have been found in southern England, Belgium, Germany and possibly in North Africa and the USA.
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The ilang-ilang (Cananga odorata) is a large tree of the order Anonaceae, cultivated in India and the Philippines, and yielding from its flowers a rich perfume.
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The Ilex Hairstreak (Nordmannia ilicis) is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found in the warmer regions of Europe and the Middle East found in the vicinity of oak trees.
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Illicium is a genus of eastern Asiatic and North American evergreen shrubs, belonging to the natural order Magnoliaceae. The plants of this genus are called aniseed-trees, from their fine aromatic scent. The fruit of Illicium anisatum (Chinese anise) is the star-anise of cooking. Illicium religiosum is a Japanese species, held sacred by the Japanese, who ytaditionally decorated the tombs of their dead with wreaths of it, and burned the fragrant bark as incense before their deities.
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Ilybius is a genus of predacious diving beetles of the family Dytiscidae with seven species occurring in Britain. They range from nine to fourteen millimetres in length.
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Ilyobates is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae, represented by two British species found on damp soil, under wet leaves and in the debris around ant nests.
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Imagines is the plural of imago.
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In entomology, an imago is a fully developed adult form of an insect after it has passed through all the stages of metamorphosis.
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In botany, the term imbricate refers to leaves and scales etc that overlap each other.
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The impala is an African antelope.
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The Impatiens are a genus of plants with elastic valves of the seed-pod which discharge the seeds when ripe or when touched.
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Impennes is a name given to swimming birds which have only rudimentary feathers, such as penguins.
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The Impey Pheasant (Monaul, Lophophorus refulgens) is a bird of the pheasant family with splendid plumage found in the higher regions of the Himalayas. It is the size of a small turkey.
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The Inaja Palm is a South American palm growing to heights of over 30 metres with leaves ten to 12 metres long.
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Indian Cress (Tropaeolum majus, formerly Nasturtium indicum) is a perennial or annual herb of the family Tropaeolaceae native to South America but introduced to Spain in the 16th century and from there to the rest of Europe.
Indian cress has a climbing or twining stem, alternate, long-stalked leaves which are reniform to rounded and entire. The flowers are large, long- stalked, trumpet-shaped with a prominent spur, orange, white or yellow (rarely scarlet or a dark red) in colour and grow from the leaf axils. The fruit is a three-celled capsule. The seeds contain effective antiseptic and antibiotic substances which is effective against Salmonella, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus Proteus.
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The Indian Game is a breed of chicken.
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The Indian Half-Bred is an Indian breed of cavalry horse developed around the beginning of the 20th century from Kathiawari, Australian Waler and English Thoroughbreds. As well as being used by the army, the Indian Half-Bred is also used by the police and by civilians as a riding horse. The Indian Half-Bred stands between 15 and 16 hands high and occurs in many colours, and are exceptionally calm and willing.
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The Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella) is a moth of the family Pyralidae with a wing span of between 15 and 20 mm. The caterpillars feed on seeds, nuts, dried fruit, corn, pastry and similar foods and are a serious storehouse pest. The adult moths fly from May to September in several generations.
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Indian millet (Sorghum vulgare) is a grass of the genus Sorghum.
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Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora) or ghostflower, is a chlorophyll-less saprophytic herb found in moist woodlands throughout most of temperate and warm North America, the Himalayan mountains and Japan. It is a smooth waxy- white plant which grows on decaying vegetation upon which it is parasitic through its roots. The stems are erect, usually clustered, and grow to 25 cm high and bear small scales representing leaves, and terminate in a single nodding flower about 2.5 cm long which is followed by a seeded capsule which becomes erect upon ripening. Sometimes specimens are found with a pink tinged flower or the whole plant tinged pink or red.
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The Indian Runner is a breed of duck.
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Indian Shot (Canna indica) is an ornamental plant of the Arrow-root family found in most tropical countries. The seeds are round, black and hard, hence the name Indian Shot.
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The Indigo-bird (Cyanospiza cyanea) is a North American bird of the Finch family. It is a deep-blue colour and a good songster.
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Indigofera is a genus of plants, the Indigo plants. They are herbaceous or shrubby plants with pinnate leaves and small, blue, purple or white pea shaped flowers disposed in axillary racemes. The dye Indigo was formerly obtained from the leaves of the plant by fermentation.
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Indosuchus was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Indosuchus was about six metres long, walked on its hind-legs and was a carnivore. Remains of Indosuchus reveal a mouth filled with long, sharp teeth with serrated edges and new teeth in the jaw bone waiting to replace existing teeth when they were lost.
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In botany, the inflorescence is the part of a plant that consists of the flower-bearing stalks.
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Infusoria is a class of minute animals. They are provided with a mouth, are without pseudopodia, and are furnished with vibratile cilia.
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Ingestion is the process of getting food within the confines of the body.
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The Ingrailed Clay (Diarsia mendica) is a moth of the family Noctuidae widespread in the forests of Europe and Asia where a single generation flies from June to August.
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Insecta is the insect class of arthropods. The body is divided into; head, thorax and abdomen. When wings are present they arise from the second and third thoracic segments. There are three thoracic segments each with a pair of walking legs.
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Insectivora is an order of small Eutheria which eat insects. The teeth are small and have pointed cusps.
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An insectivore is a mammal which feeds predominantly on insects.
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Something which is insectivorous feeds predominantly upon insects.
Insectivorous plants and animals both occur.
Insectivorous plants are unique in their ability to digest animal protein as a source of nitrogen and are common to marshy ground where there is a shortage of nitrogen. Examples of insectivorous plants are the sundews, the butterwort, the bladderworts and the venus fly trap.
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Insessorial is an ornithology term for a bird adapted for perching.
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An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone.
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In botany, an involucre is a ring of bracts at the base of an inflorescence.
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The Iomud (also known as the Iomudskaya or Yamud) is a breed of Turkmenistan horse originating from the ancient Turkmenian horses. It was developed by the
Iomud tribe in the Tashauz oasis in southern Turkmenia. As the breed occupied the margin of the Turkmenian breed area, it was influenced by steppe breeds. During the 14th century, it was further influenced by Arabian stallions. In contrast to the Akhal-Teke, the Iomud breed is kept in herds in the desert and semi-desert. The Iomud stands 15 hands high, has a large clean-cut head, sometimes Roman-nosed, a medium-long neck; medium-high withers, a solid back with small curve to the withers, nicely turned and regularly sloping croup, a shallow chest; clean fine legs, often bowed; a sparse mane and tail and delicate skin. The colour is grey or chestnut, rarely golden chestnut or black. The Iomud is a long-lived healthy horse. It shows soft 'floating' action. The purebred population has declined substantially. Stud farms to preserve the Iomud genotype were set up in Turkmenia in 1983. They are charged with protecting the breed and restoring the breeding nucleus to a size of 240-250 mares from the present 140 mares. A conservation farm is being established in
the Kyzyl-Atrek district.
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Ipecacuanha (Psychotria ipecacuanha) is a small shrubby plant found in Brazil and Columbia. the root is used in medicine as an emetic, digestive aid and as an expectorant.
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Ipomaea is a genus of plants of the family Convolvulaceae. They bear bell- shaped or salver-shaped flowers of every colour. Many of the species are climbers or twiners.
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The Ipomoea is a genus of twining tropical plants which includes the sweet potato.
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The Iranian Poppy (Papaver bracteatum) is a very poisonous perennial herb of the family Papaveraceae, with a branched tap root. In the first year it forms a basal rosette of pinnately divided and toothed leaves; in the second and subsequent years it produces robust stems terminated by large, red, solitary flowers with bracteoles beneath that distinguish it from the similar Oriental Poppy. The fruit is a globose capsule with brown seeds. It is possible to derive codeine from the Iranian Poppy (which contains thebaine), in much larger quantities than can be obtained from the Opium Poppy, and unlike the Opium Poppy it is very difficult to obtain morphine from the
Iranian Poppy.
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The Irish Draft is a breed of Irish heavy horse, very versatile they are normally used as riding horses rather than for draught work. The Irish Draft stands between 15 and 17 hands high and is bay, chestnut or grey in colour. Irish Draft horses are often cross bred with Thoroughbreds to produce excellent competition horses.
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The Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus) is a species of hare distinguished by its rather large size, and much redder brown colour, and by its rarely turning white in winter. It is confined to Ireland, where it is usually found in the mountainous parts. It has also been introduced into Wales and north-west Scotland.
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The Irish Hunter is a versatile Irish half-breed of horse, a cross of the Irish Draft and the English Thoroughbred. The Irish Hunter stands between 15.3 and 17 hands high and is bay, grey, brown, chestnut or black in colour. They have a good nature and also athletic ability which makes them suitable for eventing and show jumping as well as being able to hunt all day.
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The Irish Moiled is a breed of cattle.
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The Irish Setter (often known as the Red Setter) is an Irish breed of gundog, about 60 cm tall, and a rich chestnut reddy-brown in colour. The breed evolved from a combination of other setters and certain spaniel breeds. The
Irish Setter is an affectionate and sensitive breed, sometimes wayward and enthusiastic for plenty of exercise.
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The Irish Water Spaniel is an Irish breed of gundog notable for its tightly curled coat. The breed are powerful swimmers, at home in water and able to dive without hesitation and will plunge into ponds if the opportunity arises. They make lively and affectionate pets.
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The Irish Wolfhound is an ancient Irish breed of large dog, developed prior to the Romans, for hunting Wolves. Standing up to 86 cm tall, the
Irish Wolfhound is the world's tallest breed of dog, but despite its size is also a trustworthy and friendly companion but needs training and plenty of exercise as do all large dogs.
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The Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) is a moth of the family Notodontidae with a wing span of between 35 and 40 mm found in central and eastern Europe in deciduous woods with birch trees and urban parks. Two generations are produced each year flying from May to August.
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Ischisaurus was a dinosaur of the Triassic period. Ischisaurus was about two metres long, walked on its hind legs and had short arms and was one of the earliest dinosaurs yet discovered.
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Ischnomera is a genus of beetle of the family Oedemeridae.
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Isoetes is a genus of mostly aquatic club-mosses. The plants have very short stems, from which proceed roots and pointed leaves, each of which bears a sporangium. In the stem is a central vascular bundle and outside this a cambium-like layer, which produces new tissue external and internal to itself.
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Isopoda is an order of crustaceans of the sub-class Malacostraca where the carapace is absent and the body is flattened dorsoventrally. The abdomen is often reduced. The endopodites of the abdominal appendages function as gills. The order are of importance as marine parasites, and in the case of the free-living forms as efficient scavengers. The majority live in the sea, but in addition to the fresh-water forms there are also terrestrial species.
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Isopogon is a genus of Australian evergreen shrubs belonging to the family Proteaceae. They bear crowded spike of brightly coloured flowers.
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Isotomus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae).
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The Istoben is a breed of cow first established in the former Vyatka province by crossing the local Great Russian cattle with the Kholmogory, Swiss Brown, Dutch and East Friesian breeds. The animals of this breed have clearly-defined dairy features; their constitution is strong and conformation compact. The head is somewhat coarse with a long face. The chest is deep and long but not wide enough; the ribs are well sprung, flat with a large distance between them. The withers are narrow and medium in height. The back and loin are long enough; the rump is long and fairly wide at the hips but narrow at the pinbones. The legs are frequently wrongly set; cow hocks and knock knees as well as bowed hind legs are occasionally observed. The musculature is poorly developed. Common defects are as follows: narrow chest, sway back, sloping and narrow rump, wrongly set legs. Coat colour is mostly black or black-and-white (up to 70%), sometimes (about 25%) red or red-and-white. The udder of most cows is cup-shaped and medium in
size.
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The Istrian Pramenka is a breed of sheep that originates in Istria and Karst. The name comes from the peninsula Istria. The sheep belongs to the group (Zackel) which are used for milk production. This breed now exists in two countries, Slovenia and Croatia. In Slovenia about 300 breeding ewes are reared, whereas breeding material and conservation programs are run in both countries.
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The Italian Greyhound is an Italian breed of small greyhound dating back over 2000 years. The breed was particularly fashionable during the 16th century as pets kept by the Italian nobility and whence throughout the rest of Europe. They are quiet, responsive dogs sensitive to the cold.
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The Italian Heavy Draft is an Italian breed of heavy horse from northern Italy produced for agricultural work and draught work, but also formerly used by the Italian army to transport artillery and today mainly bred for the meat industry. The Italian Heavy Draft stands 15 to 16 hands high, is chestnut or roam in colour and resembles a cobb in appearance.
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The itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) is a small parasitic mite. The young after hatching burrow under the skin of man, producing great irritation.
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Itemirus was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Only the brain case of
Itemirus has been found, and this suggests that it was a carnivore with large eyes and a good sense of balance.
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Ivory is a hard white substance of which some animals teeth and tusks are composed.
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Ivy is the common name for woody vines of the genus Hedera , of the family Araliaceae, commonly found growing on woodland trees without harming them, where it provides an important source of winter food for birds. The genus is native to temperate regions of the eastern hemisphere. Ivy plants produce two kinds of leaves during the climbing phase. The leaves have three to five distinct lobes, but during the flowering stage they usually have three indistinct lobes or may even be lobeless. The flowers, borne in terminal umbels, have a five-parted calyx, five-parted corolla, five stamens, and a single pistil. The fruit is a smooth berry that contains a poisonous glucoside. The plant's adventitious rootlets attach to trees or bare walls.
The English ivy, Hedera helix , is commonly cultivated in Europe and North America in gardens where it is trained to cover masonry walls of buildings. It has small leaves that are usually dark green. The African ivy, or Algerian ivy, Hedera canariensis , native to the coast and islands of north-western Africa, produces large, pale-green, lobed leaves.
The Asian ivy, Hedera colchica , bears dark-green leaves that are usually faintly lobed or entirely lobeless. Easily cultivable from cuttings, ivy protects the walls on which it is grown from the corrosive effects of weathering. Ivy has no destructive effect on stone or brick walls except when rootlets are established in fissures. Several plants of the grape family, Vitaceae, are commonly called ivy.
The American ivy, or Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia , and the Boston ivy, or Japanese ivy, Parthenocissus tricuspidata , are shrubby climbers that cling to tendrils. American ivy has long-petioled leaves composed of five leaflets; Boston ivy has three-lobed leaves. Both species grow readily from cuttings.
Ground ivy is a small, creeping member of the mint family, Lamiaceae. Toxicodendron radicans , known as poison ivy, belongs to the cashew family, Anacardiaceae.
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The Ixworth is a breed of chicken.
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