Asclepiadacese is an order of gamopetalous exogenous plants, the distinguishing characteristic of which is that the anthers adhere to the five stigmatic processes, the whole sexual apparatus forming a single mass. The members of this order are shrubs, or sometimes herbaceous plants, occasionally climbing, almost always with a milky juice. Many of them are employed as purgatives, diaphoretics, tonics, and febrifuges, and others as articles of food. Asclepias (Swallow-Wort) is the typical genus. Research Asclepiadacese
The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is a common bird of the swallow family, Hirundinidae. It is a long-distance migrant and breeds around the world in the northern hemisphere and winters in the southern hemisphere. The North American subspecies, Hirundo rustica erythogaster, ranges from Alaska and Greenland to Tierra delFuego. Male barn swallows are glossy blue above; the under parts vary from white to deep chestnut, depending on the subspecies. The forehead and throat are bright chestnut, bordered by a complete or partial band of blue across the chest. The tail is deeply forked, and each tail feather, except the central pair, has a white spot on its inner web. Females are similar, but slightly duller in colour, with a shorter tail. Most barn swallows now nest in man-made structures, usually near water; buildings, culverts, bridges, or even ferries though their original nest sites were probably caves and crevices in cliffs. Research Barn Swallow
The boa is a genus of serpents of the family Boidae. They are distinguished by having jaws which can dilate to enable them to swallow prey thicker than themselves. They also have a hook on each side of the vent; the tail prehensile; the body compressed and largest in the middle, and with small scales, at least on the posterior part of the head.
The genus includes some of the largest species of serpents, reptiles endowed with immense muscular power. They seize sheep, deer, etc, and crush them in their folds, after which they swallow the animal whole. The boas are peculiar to the hot parts of South America. The Boa constrictor is not one of the largest members of the genus, rarely exceeding six metres in length; but the name boa or boa constrictor is often given popularly to any of the large serpents of similar habits, and so as to include the Pythons of the Old World and the Anaconda and other large serpents of America. Research Boa
Colubrinae is a subfamily of reptiles of the family Colubridae (the Typical Snakes) of the sub-order Serpentes (Snakes). The subfamily comprises about fifty genera and 300 species found in Africa, Asia and the Americas, with a few species found in Europe and one in Australia. Many of the species are quite long, between 150 and 300 centimetres, they are slender and agile. None of the species are venomous, some are constrictors and others simply grab and swallow their prey. Research Colubrinae
Hirundinidae is the Swallow family of Fissirostal birds. They are characterized by broad beaks, opening almost to the eyes, small, weak feet, and a long, forked tail. The wings are long and powerful, adapted for sustaining a protracted flight in pursuit of winged insects which form their sole source of food. They are migratory birds, spending the summer in temperate climates, but disliking the cold withdraw in winter to equatorial regions. Research Hirundinidae
The Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the world's largest living lizard. The Komodo dragon measures almost three metres in length and weighs well over 70 kilograms. It lives in the Indonesianarchipelago where it feeds primarily on deer and wild boar, but also eating other Komodos and the occasional human. The Komodo dragon is capable of taking prey up to 15 times its size, unhinging its jaws to swallow food larger than its head, and downing as much as 80 percent of its weight in a single meal. Research Komodo Dragon
The martin (Chelidon) is a member of the swallow family, which always has the metatarsus and toes feathered, and bears white feathers over the rump; the tail is sometimes forked, and sometimes square. The best known form is the house-martin (Chelidon urbica) which breeds in Britain. Research Martin
Abbreviations
Research Asclepiadacese
