Arachnida is a class of arthropods. They are the spiders, scorpions, king- crabs and mites. They have the body divided into a number of segments or somites, some of which have always articulated appendages (limbs, etc). There is often a pair of nervous ganglia in each somite, although in some forms (as spiders) the nervous system becomes modified and concentrated. They are oviparous and somewhat resemble insects, but they have a united head and thorax, and do not undergo a metamorphosis similar to insects. They respire by tracheae, or by pulmonary sacs, or by the skin. Research Arachnida
Cephalcia is a genus of Web-spinning sawfly of the family Pamphillidae. Cephalcia abietis is widespread over most of the temperate part of Eurasia, living in older strands of spruce in the foothills and mountains. The larvae live communally in brownish silkensacs which they spin on branches of the host tree, falling to the ground and burrowing at the end of summer, resting in its underground chamber for up to three years before pupating. The adults fly from the middle of April to the end of June. Research Cephalcia
Ceramiaceae is a family of cellular sea-weeds (Algae) consisting of thread-like jointed plants of a red or brown-red colour. The spores are in masses in transparent membranous sacs, and the tetraspores are external. The Chondrus crispus, or carrageen moss; the Rhodomenia palmata, or dulse; and the Plocaria tenax, extensively used by the Chinese as a glue and varnish belong to this family. Research Ceramiaceae
The grouse is a fowl like bird common in North America and north Europe of the family Tetraonidae whose distinguishing mark is a naked band, often of a red colour, in place of an eyebrow. They are wild, shy and almost untameable living in families in forests and barren regions and feeding on berries, buds and leaves. They are polygamous, the male abandoning the female, and leaving to her the whole care of the progeny. The eggs number eight to fourteen. The largest species is the capercailzie or wood grouse. Other British species are the black grouse, the red grouse, commonly called simply the grouse, and the white grouse or ptarmigan.
The black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) is about the size of a common fowl. The male has the outer feathers of the tail curved outwards, so that the tail is lyre-shaped. It chiefly lives in high and wooded situations, feeding on various kinds of berries. The female is commonly called gray hen. To this genus belong several species peculiar to North America, the most remarkable of which is the pinnated grouse or prairie hen (Tetrao cupido), which inhabits open desert plains in particular districts of the Union. The male is furnished with wing-like appendages to his neck, covering two loose, orangesacs, capable of being inflated. Another species is the cock of the plains.
The grouse with hairy feet and which undergo seasonal change of plumage form the genus Lagopus. Of these the red grouse (Lagopus scoticus) is the most important. This bird, also called the moor fowl, is found in the Highlands of Scotland, also in Wales, the north of England, Ireland, and the Scottish islands. It pairs in the spring; the female lays eight or ten eggs. As soon as the young have attained their full size they unite in flocks of forty or fifty, and are extremely shy and wild. This bird attracts large numbers of sportsmen every August to the Scottish moors to take part in the grand sporting campaign which follows 'the twelfth.' The ptarmigan or white grouse (Lagopus mutus or vulgaris) is. ash-coloured in summer but its hue changes to a pure white in winter. It is found in Scotland and in the most northern regions, imhabiting the tops of mountains. Research Grouse
Heloderma is a genus of two species of poisonous lizards, the only poisonous lizards known in the world currently, of the family Helodermatidae. Heloderma suspectum (the Gila monster) is a species of lizard found in northern Mexico and the south-west USA. They are about 56 cm long and venomous, the salivary glands of the lower jaw being converted into poison sacs. They have a thick, squat body covered with rough yellow, pink and black scales and form burrows under the roots of trees, &c. A related species, the beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum) occurs in western Mexico and southern Guatemala. Research Heloderma
Mygale is a genus of spiders of the family Mygalidae. They are furnished with four pulmonary sacs and spiracles, four spinnerets, eight eyes, and hairy legs. Popularly known as 'bird-eating spiders' the Mygale spiders grow to about 18 cm across but never actually eat birds, prefering instead insects. Research Mygale
The sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is an American grouse which inhabits the dry plains of the western states, and feeds upon the ' sage brush'. It has a long, pheasant-like tail; the upper surface of the body is mottled, the lower black apart from a white chest. At the sides of the neck in the male are inflatable air-sacs, which are distended during courtship. Research Sage Grouse
Sirex is a genus of Horntail (Siricidea). Sirex juvencus is distributed throughout a large part of Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia, and the British Isles and has been introduced into Australia. Sirex juvencus is found in coniferous woodlands, typically pine where the adults fly in clearings on sunny days between June and August and sometimes September. The female lays her eggs in damaged and dead trees on branches with thin bark, the eggs being laid in pairs. The eggs are covered in a mucous containing spores of a wood-attacking fungi which are kept in sacs on the females body. The fungi spreads with the burrowing larvae and provides food for them. Research Sirex
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Alveoli
