The adjutant-bird (Leptoptilus argala) is a large grallatorial or wading bird of the stork family. It is native to the warmer parts of India where it is called Hurgila or Argala. The adjutant-bird stands about 150 cm high, has an enormous bill, nearly bare head and neck, and a pouch hanging from the under part of the neck. It is one of the most voraciouscarnivorous birds known, and in India, from its devouring all sorts of carrion and noxious animals, is protected by law. From underneath the wings are obtained those light downy feathers known as marabou feathers, from the name of an allied species of bird (Leptoptilus marabou) inhabiting Western Africa, and also producing them. Research Adjutant-bird
The agouti is a small rodent of the genus Dasyprocta, forming the family Dasyproctidae. There are eight or nine species found in the forests of Central and South America. The agouti is herbivorous, swift-running, and about the size of a rabbit, but resembling a slender-limbed pig, brown to yellow in colour with a white line along the abdomen. It burrows in the ground or in hollow trees, lives on vegetables, doing much injury to the sugar-cane, is as voracious as a pig, and makes a similar grunting noise. Its flesh is white and well tasted. Research Agouti
The blattidae are a family of insects of the order Orthoptera. They are voracious, some species eating everything which gets in their way. The cockroach (Blatta orientalis) is a member of this family. Research Blattidae
Cabbage Butterfly is a name often given to butterflies of the genus Pieris, but applied especially to Pieris brassicae, the Large White or Cabbage White form so common in gardens in summer. The eggs are laid on the under surface of the leaves of cabbage and other cruciferous plants, and hatch in about a fortnight giving rise to bluish-green larvae. These are exceedingly voracious and very destructive to the host plants. When fully fed the larvae quit the host plant and pupate on walls, trees etc. The autumnbrood remains in the pupa stage until spring, and then hatching gives rise to the early butterflies, whose offspring form the butterflies of full summer. In fine seasons there may be three generations, the rate of development being dependant upon the weather. Research Cabbage Butterfly
The Cat-fish (Anarhichadidae) is a voraciousfish of the gobies family. It was also called the Wolf-fish or Sea-Wolf in the 19th century. Research Cat-fish
The Catfish (Anarhichadidae) is various voracious fishes of the gobies family, natural order Siluriformes having several sensory barbels and scaleless bodies. They were also called the Wolf-fish or Sea-Wolf in the 19th century. Research Catfish
Cedar-bird or CedarWaxwing is a name given to the American wax-wing (Bombycilla cedorum) on account of its fondness for the berries of the red cedar. It is a songless bird of the order Passeriformes, common to North America. It is gregarious in habit, swift in flight, and has a voracious appetite, feeding on berries, fruit, and insects. It is related to the common waxwing. Research Cedar-bird
The cormorant (Phalacrocorax) so named from the Latin meaning sea-crow, is a genus of birds of the Pelican (Pelicaniformes) family or sometimes forming a family by themselves. They have a longish and strongly-hooked bill, long neck, short wings, and rather long rounded tail; all the toes are united by a web, and, though excellent swimmers, they are able to perch on trees. Their colour is generally black or dark. The common cormorant of Europe (Phalacrocorax carto) is larger than a goose, but with smaller wings. It occupies cliffs by the sea, feeds on fish, and is extremely voracious. It dives and swims with great power, and pursues its prey beneath the surface of the water, often to a great depth. Amongst the Chinese cormorants have long been trained to fish for man. At first a ring is placed on the lower part of the bird's neck to prevent it swallowing the prey, and in time it learns to deliver the fish to its master without such a precaution being necessary. Another British cormorant is the green cormorant or shag (Phalacrocorax graculus). It is smaller than the common cormorant. Both these species are found also on the eastern coasts of America, and there are various other American as well as Australian species. Research Cormorant
Coryphaena is a genus of fishes of the mackerel family (Scomberidae). The body is elongated, compressed, covered with small scales, and the dorsal fin extends the whole length of the back, or nearly so. The dolphin of the ancients is the Coryphaena hippuris. All the species, natives of the seas of warm climates, are very rapid in their motions, and very voracious. They are of brilliant colours. Research Coryphaena
Dogfish is a name given to several species of small shark, common around the British isles. The rough skin of one of the species (Scyllium catulus), the lesser-spotted dogfish, is used by joiners and other artificers in polishing various substances, particularly wood. This species is rarely one metre long. Scyllium canicula, the greater dog-fish, is in length from one to one and a half metres. It is blackish-brown in colour, marked with numerous small dark spots. Both species are very voracious and destructive. Their flesh is hard, dry, and unpalatable. The common or picked dogfish (Acanthias vulgaris) is common in British and North American seas, and is sometimes used as food. It is fierce and voracious. Research Dogfish
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Adjutant-bird
