family of Cactáceæ. _Cactus coccine´llifer._ The cochineal cactus.
_Cactus opuntia._ Indian fig.
CACA´LIA. Name of a genus of phanerógamous plants of the family of
Compósitæ. Several species are useful as condiments.
CACHALOT, or CACHELOT. Fr. Name of the spermaceti whale. Used to
designate a variety of the order of cetáceans, which has teeth in both
jaws.
COCCINE´LLIFER. From _coccinella_ (the diminutive of the Lat.
_coccinus_, crimson,) a genus of coleopterous insects, and _fero_, I
bear. A specific name.
CAD´MIUM. A white metal, much like tin. Its ores are associated with
those of zinc. Discovered in 1818.
CA´DUCOUS. From the Lat. _cado_, I fall. In Botany when a part is
temporary, and soon disappears or falls off, it is said to be
caducous.
CÆCI´LIÆ. From the Lat. _cæcus_, blind. A tribe of Batrachians.
CÆESPITO´SA. Lat. From _cæspes_, turf or sod. Belonging or relating to
turf.
CAFEINE. Fr. In chemistry the name of the proximate principle of coffee.
CAJAPUTE, } A Malay name for a greenish, volatile oil used as
CAJAPUTA, } a remedy in rheumatism, &c.
CA´LAMUS. A genus of phanerógamous plants of the family of Palms.
_Ca´lamus draco._ An East Indian plant which yields an astringent
substance called Dragon’s blood. _Ca´lamus rotan_ The rattan plant.
CALCA´REOUS. From the Lat. _calx_, _calcis_, lime. Belonging to or
relating to lime. Calcareous rocks are those of which lime forms a
principal part.
CALCEOLA´RIA. From the Lat. _calceolus_, a little shoe. A remarkable
genus of phanerógamous plants of the family of Scrophulariáceæ.
CAL´CIUM. From the Lat. _calx_, _calcis_, lime. A metal discovered by
Sir H. Davy in 1807, which united with oxygen forms oxide of calcium
or lime.
CALLITRI´CHE. From the Gr. _kallithrix_, having luxuriant hair. A genus
of aquatic plants. Also the name of a genus of American monkeys.
CALO´RIC. From the Lat. _caleo_, I am warm. The term used by chemists to
designate _the matter of heat_.
CALORI´FIC. Belonging or relating to caloric.
CALYCA´NTHUS. From the Gr. _kalux_, a calyx, and _anthos_, flower. A
genus of the family of Calycantháceæ.
CALYP´TOMENE. From the Gr. _kaluptos_, concealed, and _meno_, I remain.
Name of a genus of birds.
CAM´BRIAN SYSTEM. From Cambria in Wales. A name given by geologists to
the lowest sedimentary rocks, characterized by fossil remains of
animals, lowest in the scale of organization, such as corallines, &c.
It is also called the Schistose system, on account of its slaty
nature.
CAMEL´LIA. A genus of the family of Aurantiáceæ, named in honor of
Kamel, a botanist. It contains the tea plants. _Came´llia sasanqua._
Lady Bank’s Camellia. _Came´llia odorifera._ Sweet smelling Camellia.
CAMPA´NULA. From the Lat. _campana_, a bell, from the shape of its
corolla. A genus of phanerógamous plants of the family of
Campanuláceæ, of which it is the type. 182 species are described.
CAMPHORÓSMA. From the Lat. _camphora_, camphor, and the Gr. _osme_,
odour. A genus of plants of the family of Chenopodáceæ.
CAMPHO´RA. Lat. Camphor. Belonging or relating to camphor.
CANARIE´NSIS. Lat. Belonging or relating to the Canary islands.
CANDELA´BRUM. Lat. A candlestick.
CA´NINE. From the Lat. _canis_, a dog. Teeth which resemble those of a
dog are so called; the canine teeth of the upper jaw in man are
commonly called the eye-teeth.
CAOU´TCHOUC. Gum elastic; India-rubber, a substance obtained from the
_Jatropha elastica_, the _Ficus indica_ and the _Urceola elastica_.
CAPE´NSIS. Lat. Belonging or relating to the Cape of Good Hope.
CARAGA´NA. A genus of plants of the family of Papilionáceæ.
CAR´BON. From the Lat. _carbo_, charcoal. A chemical element or
undecomposed body. The diamond is pure carbon. It is the basis of
anthracite, and of all the varieties of mineral coal, and is one of
the principal constituents of all organic bodies.
CARBO´NIC ACID. A compound of carbon and oxygen.
CAR´BONATE. Any compound of carbonic acid and a salifiable base, as
_carbonate of lime_, _carbonate of soda_.
CARBONI´FEROUS. From the Lat. _carbo_, coal, _fero_, I bear,
coal-bearing; containing carbon. In geology the term is applied to
those strata which contain coal, and to the period when the coal
measures were formed.
CARDAMINE. Gr. Name of a plant. A genus of the family of crucíferæ.
Lady’s smock. _Cardamine hirsuta._ Hairy Cardamine.
CARDUI. Lat. Genitive case of _carduus_, a thistle. Specific name of a
butterfly.
CARNI´VORA. From the Lat. _caro_, _carnis_, flesh, and _voro_, I eat.
Name of a family of Mammals.
CARTILA´GINOUS FISHES. A term used to designate that division of the
class of fishes which includes only those having cartilaginous instead
of bony skeletons.
CARYO´PHYLLUS. Lat. A garden pink. A genus of plants of the family of
caryophy´lleæ. _Caryo´phyllus aroma´ticus._ The clove-tree.
CARYO´TA. A genus of Palms of equatorial Asia. The _caryota urens_
derives its specific name from a burning sensation its fruit imparts
when eaten.
CA´SPIA. Lat. Belonging or relating to the Caspian Sea.
CAS´SIA. From the Gr. _kassia_, cinnamon. A genus of plants of the
family of Papilionáceæ. The genus contains more than 300 species.
CA´STANOSPE´RRNUM. From the Gr. _kastanon_, chestnut, and _sperma_,
fruit. A genus of the family of Papilionáceæ.
CASUARI´NÆ. A family of plants separated from that of the cónifers. The
_casuari´næ_ are found in New Holland, and in India, and are
remarkable for the absence of leaves.
CATA´LPA. A genus of plants of the family of the Bignoniáceæ.
CAT´ECHU. An astringent extract, used in medicine.
CAT’S EYE. A beautiful silicious mineral, penetrated by fibres of
asbestos, which, when polished, reflects an effulgent, pearly light,
much resembling the mutable reflections from the eye of a cat.
CAULE´RPA. From the Gr. _kaulos_, a stem, and _erpo_, I creep. A genus
of algæ of the family of Zoosper´meæ. There are about 35 species of
caulérpa, which inhabit equatorial seas. The _caule´rpa proli´fera_
belongs to the Mediterranean.
CA´VIA. Genus of mammals of the family of rodents, including the
guinea-pig.
CE´BUS. Lat. Name of a genus of monkeys; the marmoset.
CECRO´PIS. A genus of birds.
CEDRE´LA. Genus of plants of the family of Cedreláceæ.
CEI´BA. Synonym of _Bombax_, cotton. Specific name of a kind of cotton.
CENTA´UREA. A genus of plants of the family of Synanthéreæ Cyanáreæ and
type of the tribe of Centaúrieæ.
CERATI´TES. From the Gr. _keratetes_, horned. A generic name of certain
insects.
CERATO´DES. From the Gr. _keratodes_, formed of horns. A genus of
mollusks.
CER´EAL. From the Lat. _Ceres_, corn. Applied to grasses which produce
the bread corns; as wheat, rye, barley, oats, rice, &c.
CEREA´LIA. Lat. Name of a tribe of grasses.
CEREO´PSIS. From the Gr. _keros_, wax, and _opsis_, aspect. A genus of
birds of the order of palmípedes and family of lamelliróstres. It is
marked by a wax-like membrane on the beak. _Cereopsis striata._ A kind
of goose.
CE´RIUM. Named after the planet Ceres. A white brittle metal discovered
in 1803, by Hisinger and Berzelius.
CER´THIA. Latin. Name of a genus of passerine birds, commonly called
creepers.
CER´VUS. Latin. A stag. A genus of mammals.
CETA´CEA. From the Gr. _ketos_, a whale. A genus of pisciform mammals
that have fins in place of feet, and inhabit the sea. Name of an order
of aquatic mammals.
CHALK. Earthy carbonate of lime.
CHAMBERED SHELLS. A term used to designate those shells of mollusks
which are divided internally into cells or chambers by partitions.
CHAM´ÆROPS. From the Gr. _chamai_, on the ground, and _rops_, a brush.
Name of a genus of palms. _Chamærops humilis._ The dwarf fan palm.
CHEIRO´PTERA. From the Gr. _cheir_, hand, and _pteron_, a wing;
signifying the hand has become a wing. Name of a family of mammals,
including the bats.
CHEIROS´TEMON. From the Gr. _cheir_, hand, and _stemon_, filament. A
genus of plants of the family of Sterculiáceæ, and tribe of bombáceæ.
CHELO´NIAN. From the Gr. _chelone_, a tortoise. Applied to reptiles
resembling tortoises.
CHEL´YDÆ. From the Gr. _chelus_, a tortoise. A tribe of reptiles of the
family Emy´des.
CHLAM´YPHORE. From the Gr. _chlamus_, a cloak, and _phero_, I bear. A
genus of mammals of the tribe of armadillos.
CHLENA´CEÆ. From the Gr. _chlaina_, a cloak. A tribe of plants, native
in Madagascar.
CHLOA´NTHES. From the Gr. _chloros_, greenish yellow, and _anthos_,
flower. A genus of plants of the family of chloantháceæ.
CHLORI´TIC. From the Gr. _chloros_, green. Belonging or relating to
chlorite, an earthy mineral found in the cavities of slate rocks.
CHROME, CHRO´MIUM. From the Gr. _chroma_, colour. A whitish brittle
metal, discovered by Vauquelin in 1797. In union with oxygen it forms
chromic acid.
CICHORA´CEÆ. From the Gr. kichore, chichory. A tribe of plants of the
family of Compósitæ.
CI´RRI. Plural of _cirrus_.
CI´RRO-CUMULUS. A sondercloud; a kind of cloud. The cirro-cumulus is
intermediate between the cirrus and cumulus, and is composed of small
well defined masses closely arranged.
CI´RRO-STRATUS. A wanecloud. The cirro-stratus, intermediate between the
cirrus and stratus, consists of horizontal masses separated into
groups, with which the sky is sometimes so mottled as to suggest the
idea of resemblance to the back of a mackerel.
CI´RRUS. Lat. A tendril. A kind of cloud. Applied to certain appendages
of animals; as the beard from the end and sides of the mouth of
certain fishes. The cirrus cloud consists of fibres or curling streaks
which diverge in all directions. It occupies the highest region, and
is frequently the first cloud which is seen after a continuance of
clear weather.
CI´STUS. A genus of plants of the family of cistáceæ.
CLA´RKIA. Proper name. A genus of plants of the tribe of epilóbiæ.
CLAY-SLATE. A rock which resembles clay or shale, but is generally
distinguished by its structure; the particles having been re-arranged,
and exhibiting what is called slaty cleavage. It is one of the
metamorphic rocks.
CLAYTO´NIA. A genus of plants of the family of Portuláceæ-calandríneæ.
CLEAVAGE. The mechanical division, the laminæ of rocks and minerals, to
show the constant direction in which they may be separated.
CLERODE´NDRON. From the Gr. _kleros_, accident, and _dendron_, tree. In
allusion to its accidental effects in medicine. A genus of plants of
the family of Verbenáceæ-Lantáneæ.
COAL MEASURES. The geological formation in which coal is found.
CO´BALT. From the Germ. _kobold_, a devil, A brittle metal of a reddish
gray colour. Its ores are always associated with arsenic.
COBRA CAPELLO. Portu. _cobra_, snake, and _capello_, a cawl or hood.
Hood snake, a venomous serpent.
COCA. Quechua or aboriginal Peruvian word. Specific name of the genus
Erythróxylum.
COCCINE´LLA. From the Gr. _kokkinos_, scarlet. A genus of coleopt´erous
insects: commonly called Lady birds.
COC´CUS. From the Gr. _kokkos_, a seed which dyes scarlet. A genus of
insects of the order Hemíp´tera. _Coccus lacca._ A species of
cochineal insect. _Coccus ilicus._ Green oak cochineal.
CO´COS. Gr. A genus of palms; the cocoanut. _Cocos olera´cia._ The oil
cocoanut.
CODI´UM. From the Gr. _kodion_, a fleece. A genus of plants of the tribe
siphóneæ. _Codium bursa_ and _Codium flabelliforme_ are species.
COLO´BUS. From the Gr. _kolobos_, mutilated. A genus of monkeys which
belong to the old world. _Colobus comosus._ A hairy monkey.
COLU´BRIFORM. From the Lat. _coluber_, a serpent, an adder, and _forma_,
shape. Adder-shape.
COLUM´BA. Lat. A pigeon. A genus of birds. _Columba migrato´ria._ Wild
pigeon.
COLUM´BIUM. A metal discovered in a mineral found in Massachusetts by
Mr. Hachett, in 1801.
COLU´MNAR. In the form of columns.
COMBU´STION. The combination of two bodies accompanied by the
extrication of heat and light. When a body rapidly combines with
oxygen, for example, with a disengagement of heat and light, it is
said to undergo combustion.
COMPARATIVE ANATOMY. The comparative study of the various parts of the
bodies of different animals.
COMPO´SITE. A family of monopetalous plants.
CONDUCTOR. Those substances which possess the property of transferring
caloric or heat, and electricity, are termed conductors of heat or
caloric, and conductors of electricity.
CONFE´RVÆ. Tribe of plants of the family of Zóospérmeæ. It includes many
sea-weeds.
CON´GENER. From the Lat. _con_, with, and _genus_, race. Species
belonging to the same genus, are termed congeners.
CONGLO´MERATE. From the Lat. _conglomero_, I heap together. Any rock
composed of pebbles cemented together by another mineral substance,
either calcareous, silicious or argillaceous.
CO´NIFER. From the Lat. _conus_, a cone, and _fero_, I bear. A tree or
plant which bears cones, such as pines, fir-trees, &c.
CONI´FERÆ. A family of plants which includes the conifers.
CO´RAL. From the Gr. _koreo_, I ornament, and _als_, the sea. The hard
calcareous support formed by certain polypi.
CORA´LLINE. Belonging or relating to coral.
CORALLI´NEÆ. The corallines, a tribe of calciferous polypi.
COREO´PSIS. From the Gr. _koris_, a bug, and _opsis_, aspect. A genus of
plants.
COR´DIA. A genus of plants of the family of Cordiáceæ. It contains about
150 species.
CORIA´CEOUS. From the Lat. _corium_, the hide of a beast. Leathery.
CORO´NA. Lat. A crown. A genus of plants.
CORO´NÆ. Plural of corona.
CORU´NDUM. A crystallized or massive mineral of extreme hardness, almost
opaque, and of a reddish colour. It is allied to the sapphire, and is
composed of nearly pure alúmina.
COT´TUS. A genus of fishes.
COTY´LEDON. From the Gr. _katuledon_, a seed-lobe.
COTYLE´DONOUS. Belonging or relating to a cotyledon or seed lobe.
CRA´TER. Lat. A great cup or bowl. The mouth of a volcano.
CRATE´RIFORM. In form of a crater.
CRATERI´FEROUS. Containing craters.
CRETA´CEOUS. From the Lat. _creta_, chalk. Of the nature of chalk,
relating to chalk.
CRINOI´DEÆ. From the Gr. _krinon_, a lily, and _eidos_, resemblance. A
family of radiate animals.
CROP OUT. When a rock, in place, emerges on the surface of the earth, it
is said to crop out.
CRO´TON. A genus of plants of the family of Euphorbiáceæ.
CRUCIFE´RÆ. From the Lat. _crux_, _crucis_, a cross, and _fero_, I bear.
A family of plants which have flowers in form of a Maltese cross.
CRU´CIFORM. In shape of a cross.
CRUSTA´CEA. From the Lat. _crusta_, a crust. A class of articulated
animals.
CRUSTA´CEAN. An animal of the class of crustacea; a crab.
CRYPTOGA´MIA. From the Gr. _kruptos_, concealed, and _gamos_, marriage.
A class of plants, which are propagated without apparent seeds.
CRYTO´GAMOUS. Belonging or relating to crytogámia.
CRYPTO´NYX. From the Gr. _kruptos_, concealed, and _onux_, a nail. A
genus of birds; also, a genus of insects.
CRYST´AL. From the Gr. _krustallos_, ice. This term was originally
applied to those beautiful transparent varieties of silica or quartz
known under the name of _rock-crystal._ When substances pass from the
fluid to the solid state, they frequently assume those regular forms
which are generally termed crystals. A crystal is any inorganic solid
of homogeneous structure, bounded by natural planes and right lines,
symmetrically arranged.
CRYS´TALLINE. Relating to, or resembling crystals.
CRYSTALLIZA´TION. The process by which crystals are formed.
CUCIFE´RA THEBAI´CA. A palm of Egypt which grows to the height of 20
feet. Also known as the genus _Hyphæne_, from the Gr. _Huphaino_, I
entwine. A fan-leaf palm of the tribe of Borassíneæ.
CU´CULUS. Lat. A cuckoo. A genus of passerine birds.
CU´LEX. Lat. A gnat. A genus of insects of the family of Dip´tera, and
type of the tribe of Culícides: _culex pipiens_, the common gnat.
CU´MULI. Plural of cumulus.
CU´MULO-STRA´TUS. Twain cloud: it partakes of the appearance of the
cumulus and stratus.
CU´MULUS. A form of cloud. A convex aggregate of watery particles,
increasing upwards from a horizontal base, and assuming more or less
of a conical figure.
CUR´VIDENS. Lat. _Curvus_, bent, and _dens_, tooth. Having a bent tooth.
CUSPA´RIA. A genus of plants, named after the tree which yields the
Angustura bark.
CYANAP´TERA. From the Gr. _kuanos_, blue, and _pteron_, wing. A specific
name.
CYANEROI´DES. From the Gr. _kuanos_, blue, and _eidos_, resemblance. A
family of medusæ.
CY´CAS. A genus of plants, the type of the family cycádeæ. _Cycas
revoluta._ Narrow-leaved cycas.
CYCA´DEÆ. A family of plants allied to the cónifers.
CYCADA´CEOUS. Belonging or relating to the cycádeæ.
CY´CLAS. From the Gr. _kuklos_, a circle. A genus of gasteropods.
CYGNUS. Lat. A swan. A genus of birds. _Cygnus musicus._ The whistling
swan.
CYNOCE´PHALUS. From the Gr. _kuon_, a dog, and _kephale_, head. A genus
of mammals. Dog headed monkey or baboon.
CYPERA´CEÆ. Name of a family of herbaceous plants.
CYP´RÆA. From the Gr. _kupris_, Venus. A cowry. A genus of mollusks.
_Cypræa moneta._ The money cowry.
CYPRI´NIDÆ. From the Gr. _kuprinos_, a carp. Name of a family of fishes.
CYSTOSEI´RIÆ. From the Gr. _kustis_, a vesicle, and _seira_, a chain. A
tribe of sea-weeds.
DAC´TYLIS. From the Gr. _daktulos_, a finger. A genus of the family of
Gramíneæ. _Dactylis cæspitosa._ Tussock grass.
DAHLIA. After Dahl, a Swedish botanist. Genus of plants of the family of
Compósitæ.
DALBE´RGIA. After Dalberg, a Swedish botanist. A genus of plants of the
family of Papilionáceæ, and of the tribe of Dalbergiæ.
DAMAN. Alteration of the Arabic word _Ghannem_, the name of an animal.
Specific name of a mammal.
DANAIS. Genus of plants of the family of Rubiáceæ.
DAPH´NE. A genus of plants of the family Daphnáceæ.
DARWI´NII. The name of Darwin latinized. Belonging or relating to
Darwin.
DASY´URIDÆ. From the Gr. _dasus_, thick, hairy, and _oura_, tail. A
family of mammals.
DEBRIS. Fr. Wreck, ruins, remains. In geology the term is applied to
large fragments, to distinguish them from _detritus_, or those which
are pulverized.
DECI´DUOUS. From the Lat. _decido_, I fall off. Applied to plants whose
leaves fall off in autumn, to distinguish them from evergreens.
DEC´LINATION of any celestial body, is the angular distance of the body,
north or south, from the equator.
DEINOTHE´RIUM. From the Gr. _deinos_, terrible, and _thereion_, wild
beast. A genus of fossil pachyderms.
DELESSE´RIÆ. Proper name. Tribe of plants of the family of Flori´deæ.
DELPHI´NUS. Lat. Dolphin. A genus of aquatic mammals.
DEL´TA. The Gr. letter Δ. The triangular deposits, shoals or islands, at
the mouths of rivers are called deltas.
DEL´TOID. From the Gr. letter Δ and _eidos_, resemblance. Resembling the
letter delta.
DENUDA´TION. From the Lat. _denudo_, I strip. A removal of a part of the
land, so as to lay bare the inferior strata.
DEODA´R. A kind of pine tree.
DE´POSITION. From the Lat. _depono_, I let fall. In geology the falling
to the bottom of matters suspended or dissolved in water.
DEVONIAN SYSTEM. So called because it is largely developed in
Devonshire, England. It is synonymous with the old red sand formation.
It is composed at first of pudding stone, and then passes into
sandstone, with which it alternates at different places.
DE´TINENS. Lat. Detaining; that which has the power to detain.
DE´TRITUS. A geological term applied to deposits composed of various
substances which have been comminuted by attrition. The larger
fragments are usually termed _debris_; those which are pulverized, as
it were, constitute _detritus_. Sand is the detritus of silicious
rocks.
DIAMAGNETIC. If a bar of iron be suspended between the poles of an
electro-magnet, it will be attracted by both poles on the line of
force. But if a bar of bismuth be suspended in the same manner, it
will be repelled by both poles, and rest at right angles to the line
of force. Substances which are attracted by both poles of an
electro-magnet are said to be _magnetic_, and those which are repelled
by both poles are termed _diamagnetic_.
DICHOTO´MA, } From the Gr. _dicha_, divided, and _tomos_,
DICHOTO´MU, } section. In zoology this term is applied to a species
DICHOTO´MUS, } of the genus Iris, the body of which is bifurcate. In
botany it is applied to the stem, branches, peduncles, leaves, hairs,
styles, &c., when they are bifurcated in form.
DICOTY´LEDON. From the Gr. _dis_, two, and _kotuledon_, seed lobe. A
double seed lobe.
DICOTYLE´DONOUS. Relating to dicotyledon; having a double seed lobe.
DIDEL´PHOUS. From the Gr. _dis_, double, and _delphus_, womb. Applied to
opossums and other marsupial mammals.
DIDEL´PHIS. A genus of marsupial mammals.
DIDEL´PHIDÆ. A tribe of marsupial mammals.
DIGITA´TA. Lat. Digitate; spread out like the fingers.
DINO´RNIS. From the Gr. _deinos_, great, terrible, and _ornis_, a bird.
A genus of fossil, or extinct birds.
DIO´TIS. From the Gr. _diôtos_, having two ears: referring to the
flower. A genus of plants of the family of heliantháceæ.
DISLOCATION. Displacement. In geology where strata or veins have been
displaced from the position where first deposited or formed, they are
said to be dislocated.
DI´SA. A genus of plants of the family of Orchi´deæ. _Di´sa
grandiflora._ Large-flowered Disa.
DIO´SMA. From the Gr. _dios_, divine, and _osme_, smell. A genus of
plants of the family of Dios´meæ.
DILLENIA´CEÆ. Proper name. A family of plants.
DIONÆ´A. One of the names of Venus. A genus of plants of the family of
Droserácea. _Dionæa musci´pula._ Venus’ Fly-trap.
DIP´TERYX. From the Gr. _dis_, double, and _pterux_, a wing, in allusion
to the two appendages of the calyx. Tonquin Bean. A genus of plants of
the family of Leguminósæ. _Dip´teryx odora´ta._ Sweet-scented Tonquin
Bean.
DIC´TYOTA. From the Gr. _dictuon_, a net. A genus of plants of the
family of Phy´ceæ, and tribe of dictyóteæ.
DICTYO´NEMA. From the Gr. _dictuon_, a net, and _nema_, a filament. A
genus of plants of the family of Phy´ceæ.
DIP. In geology direction of the inclination of strata. “To take a dip,”
is to measure the degree that a stratum inclines or dips from a
horizontal line.
DIS´INTEGRATE. From the Lat. _de_, privative, and _integer_, a whole. To
separate or break up an aggregate into parts.
DO´LOMITE. Magnesian marble, or granular magnesian carbonate of lime.
Named after Dolomieu.
DOMBE´YA. In honor of Joseph Dombey. A genus of plants of the family of
Byttneriácea: it is found in Madagascar and the Isle of Bourbon.
DORSIGE´RA. Lat. From _dorsum_, the back, a ridge, and _gero_, I carry
or wear. A specific name.
DORYA´NTHES. From the Gr. _doru_, _doratos_, a lance, and _anthesis_, a
flowering. A genus of plants of the family of Amaryllidáceæ.
DRABA. A genus of plants of the family of Cruciferæ.
DRACÆNA. Lat. A genus of Saurians.
DRACÆNÆ. Plural of Dracæna.
DRYOBA´LANOPS. From the Gr. _drus_, _os_, an oak, _balanos_, an acorn,
and _ops_, aspect. A genus of plants of the family of Dip´terocárpeæ.
_Dryobalanos camphora._ The camphor tree of Sumatra.
DYNA´MIC. From the Gr. _dunamis_, power, force. Belonging or relating to
dynamics.
DYNAMICS. The doctrine of forces as exhibited in moving bodies which are
at liberty to obey the impulses communicated to them. The motions of
celestial bodies in their orbits, or of a stone falling freely through
the air, are embraced in the study of dynamics.
DI´DYMIUM. A metal discovered recently by Mosander.
EARTHS. Formerly chemists, believing them to be simple bodies, included
the following substances under the name of earths: Baryta, Strontia,
Lime, Magnesia, Alumina or clay, Silica, Glucina, Zirconia, and
Yttria. Research has shown that all have metallic or metalloid bases.
ECHID´NA. Greek name of a monster, supposed to have the body of a
beautiful woman, and the tail of a serpent. A genus of mammals of the
family of Monotrema.
E´CHIMYS. From the Gr. _echinos_, spiny, and _mus_, a rat. A genus of
mammals; a sort of rat found in South America.
ECLIPTIC. In Astronomy the great circle of the heavens which the sun
appears to describe in his annual revolution.
EDENTA´TA. From the Lat. _e_, without, and _dens_, tooth: without teeth.
An order of mammals which are destitute of teeth.
E´DULIS. Lat. Eatable; that which may be eaten.
EFFLORE´SCENCE. The pulverulent covering formed on the surface of saline
substances from which the atmosphere has removed the water of
crystallization. When saline substances give up their water of
crystalization to the air, they are said to effloresce.
ELAIS. } From the Gr. _elaia_, the olive. A genus of plants
ELÆIS. } of the family of Palms. The _Elais Guinea´ensis_
yields the Palm oil.
ELAPS. Gr. Name of a serpent. A genus of ophidians.
ELECTRICITY. From the Gr. _elektron_, amber, the substance in which it
was first observed. The property acquired by glass and resin from
friction to attract light substances. Electricity exists in all
bodies, and becomes manifest, at least partially, whenever the natural
state of equilibrium of their molecules is disturbed by any cause.
ELECTRO-MAGNETISM. The phenomena produced when a current of electricity
is traversing any substance, or when electricity is in motion,
magnetism is at the same time developed.
ELECTRO-MAGNET. An apparatus for exhibiting the phenomena of
electro-magnetism.
ELEC´TRICUS. Lat. Electric. Belonging to, or relating to electricity.
ELLIP´TICA. Lat. Elliptic.
E´LEPHAS. Lat. Gr. name of the elephant. A genus of mammals of the order
of pachydemus.
ELEPHANTI´NA. Lat. Belonging or relating to an elephant; elephantine.
EM´BRYO. From the Gr. _embruon_, from, _bruô_ I bud forth. A germ at the
early stages of development.
E´MERALD. A mineral of a beautiful green colour, much valued for
ornamental jewelry. It consists of silica, alumina, glucina, oxide of
chromium, which is the colouring matter, and a trace of lime.
E´MYS. Lat. From the Gr. _emus_, a water tortoise. A genus of reptiles
of the family of emydians.
EMY´DIANS. A family of reptiles of the order of Chelónia.
ENCRI´NITES. From the Gr. _krinon_, a lily. A genus of fossil
_Echinoderms_. The skeleton of this animal is said to consist of not
less than 26,000 separate pieces.
E´OCE´NE. From the Gr. _eôs_, dawn, and _kainos_, recent. In geology a
name for the older tertiary formation, in which the first dawn, as it
were, of existing species, appear.
EPACRI´DEÆ. From the Gr. _epi_, upon, and _akros_, an elevated place, a
hill. A family of plants.
EP´IPHYTE. From the Gr. _epi_, upon, and _phutos_, a plant. Applied to
plants which grow upon other plants.
EQUINOCTIA´LIS. Lat. Equinoctial.
EQUISE´TUM. From the Lat _equus_, a horse, and _seta_, hair. A genus of
plants of the family of equisitáceæ.
EQUUS. Lat. A horse. A genus of mammals.
ER´BIUM. A metal, recently discovered.
ERICA. A genus of plants of which there are 429 species.
ERI´OCAULON. From the Gr. _erion_, wool, and _kaulon_, stem or stalk. A
genus of plants of the family of eriocaulóneæ.
ERYTHRI´NA. From the Gr. _eruthros_, red. A genus of plants of the
family of Papilionáceæ.
ERYTHROX´YLON. From the Gr. _eruthros_, red, and _xulon_, wood. A genus
of plants.
ESCARPMENT. From the Ital. _scarpa_, sharp, formed from the Lat.
_carpere_, to cut. The steep face often presented by the abrupt
termination of strata where subjacent beds crop out from beneath them.
ESCULENTA. Lat. Esculent.
EUCALY´PTI. Lat. Plural of eucalyptus.
EUCALY´PTUS. From the Gr. _eu_, well, and _kaluptos_, covered. A genus
of plants of the family of Myrtáceæ.
EUPHO´RBIA. Gr. Name of a plant. A genus of plants of which there are
300 species.
EXCE´LSA. Lat. Noble, tall, stately.
EXCO´RTICA. Lat. Without bark.
EX´OGENOUS. From the Gr. _ex_, from, and _geinomai_, I grow. Applied to
plants which grow by successive external additions to their wood.
EXTENSILE. Having the power to extend itself.
EXU´VIÆ. Lat. The sloughs or cast skins, or cast shells of animals.
FA´GUS. Lat. Beech. A genus of plants of the family of Amentáceæ.
FALCO. Lat. Falcon. A genus of birds. _Falco islandicus._ The Gerfalcon.
FAMILY. In natural history the term is applied to an assemblage of
several genera which resemble each other in many respects.
FAR´INA. Lat. Meal.
FAR´INHA. Portu. Meal, flour.
FARINO´SA. Lat. Meally; belonging or relating to meal.
FAUNA. All animals of all kinds peculiar to a country constitute the
_fauna_ of that country.
FELIS. Lat, A cat. A genus of mammals of the family of carnivóra. _Felis
irbis._ The panther.
FENESTRA´LIS. Lat. Belonging or relating to a window or opening.
FER´BIUM. A recently discovered metal.
FERNS. The filices; an order of cryptogámic plants.
FI´CUS. Lat. A fig. A genus of plants of the family of Moræ´ceæ.
FICOIDE. A genus of plants of the family of _Mesembrya´nthe´meæ_, of
which there are about 200 species.
FICOIDES. } The family of Mesembryánthémeæ. _Ficoides_
FICOIDEÆ. } is applied as a specific name.
FLACOUR´TIA. Proper name. A genus of plants of the family of
Flacourtiáceæ.
FLABEL´LIFORME. From the Lat. _flabellum_, a fan, and _forma_, form.
Fan-shaped.
FLORA. Lat. Name of the Goddess of Flowers. All the plants of all kinds
belonging to a country constitute the _flora_ of that country.
FLO´RIDA. Belonging or relating to flowers; or relating to the State of
Florida.
FOCI. Lat. Plural of focus.
FOCUS. Lat. A hearth. In optics the term describes the point or space
where the rays of light are concentrated by a lens. The apex of a cone
of rays of light, or of heat, formed by a lens, or concave mirror.
FOLIA´CEOUS. From the Lat. _folium_, a leaf. Leafy. Having the form of
leaves.
FOOTSTALKS. In botany the stalks of flowers, or of leaves.
FOSSIL. From the Lat. _fodio_, I dig. Any organic body, or the traces of
any organic body, whether animal or vegetable, which has been buried
in the earth by natural causes.
FOSSILI´FEROUS. Contain fossils.
FORMI´CIDÆ. From the Lat. _formica_, an ant, and the Gr. _eidos_,
resemblance. A family of insects of the family of Hymenóptera.
FROND. Also, _frons_. A name applied to the leaves of palms, and of
cryptógamous plants.
FRONDO´SA. Lat. Full of green leaves.
FRA´GRANS. Lat. Fragrant; odorous.
FRA´GILIS. Lat. Fragile; easily broken.
FRINGI´LLÆ. Lat. _fringilla_, a chafinch. A family of birds, the most
numerous of the group of conirostres, or thick billed birds.
FUCCA. Name of a genus of aquatic plants.
FUCI. Lat. Plural of fucus.
FUCUS. Lat. Sea-weed. A genus of aquatic plants.
FUCHSIA. After Leonard Fuchs, a physician of the 16th century. A genus
of plants.
FUNCTION. From the Lat. _fungor_, I act. The action of an organ, or
system of organs.
FUNGI. Lat. Plural of fungus.
FUNGUS. Lat. A mushroom.
FUNE´REUS. Lat. Funeral: belonging to a dead body.
GA´DUS. Lat. A codfish.
GALLINA´CEOUS. From the Lat. _galle´na_, a hen. Relating to birds of the
order of Gallináceæ.
GALE´NA. From the Gr. _galene_, lead ore. A mineral composed of sulphur
and lead: a natural sulphuret of lead.
GAL´VANISM. From _Galvani_, a distinguished Italian philosopher. That
branch of electrical science in which electricity is made manifest by
the mediate contact of different metals. Also, the phenomena exhibited
by living animal matter when placed between the poles or extremities
of an apparatus for showing electricity by the mediate contact of
different metals.
GALVA´NIC. Belonging or relating to galvanism.
GANGEA´TICUS. Lat. Gangeatic; belonging or relating to the river Ganges.
GARDE´NIA. After a proper name. A genus of plants of the family of
Rubiáceæ; it contains some forty species. The _Gardenia grandiflora_
is the Cape Jasmin.
GAR´NET. A mineral consisting of silicates of alumina, lime, iron, and
manganese. It occurs imbedded in mica-slate, granite, and gneiss, and
occasionally in limestone, chlorite-slate, serpentine, and lava. There
are several varieties of garnet.
GAS. From the Germ. _geist_, spirit. The name given to all permanently
elastic fluids, or airs, different from the atmospheric air.
GASEOUS. Of the nature of gas.
GENRE. Fr. Genus, kind, manner, style. In painting it is applied to
signify the representation of certain kinds of objects, as landscapes,
views, animals, plants, flowers, scenes in common life. Pictures of
_genre_, then, are pictures of a genus or kind as to subject; as
landscapes, marine views, flower pieces, still-life, &c.
GE´NERA. Lat. Plural of genus.
GENUS. Lat. A kindred, breed, race or family.
GE´OLOGY. From the Gr. _ge_, the earth, and _logos_, discourse. That
branch of natural history which treats of the structure of the
terrestrial globe. It is divided into _descriptive_ geology; _dynamic_
geology, which treats of the forces by which the surface of the earth
has been modified; _practical_ and _economic_ geology, embracing the
application of geological science to mining, road-making,
architecture, and agriculture.
GEOTHER´MAL. From the Gr. _ge_, the earth, and _thermos_, heat,
temperature. Relating to the temperature of the earth.
GERA´RDIA. Proper name. A genus of plants of the family of
Scrophulárieæ.
GERMINA´TION. The process of the development of the seed, and the embryo
which it contains.
GEY´SERS. From an Icelandic word, signifying raging or roaring.
Celebrated spouting fountains of boiling water in Iceland.
GIBBOSA. Lat. Gibbous; having protuberances or bunches.
GIBRALTA´RICA. Lat. Belonging or relating to Gibraltar.
GIGAN´TEA. } Lat. Gigantic, huge.
GIGAN´TEUS. }
GILEADE´NSIS. Lat. Belonging or relating to Gilead.
GLA´CIAL. Belonging or relating to ice.
GLA´CIERS. Fr. Masses or beds of ice formed in high mountains, derived
from the snows or lakes frozen by the continued cold of those regions.
GLADIO´LUS. A genus of plants of the family of Iri´deæ.
GLAND. An organ formed for the purpose of secreting a peculiar fluid.
GLAU´COUS. From the Gr. _glaukos_, blue. Applied to the bluish and
pulverulent aspect which certain plants present, such as the leaves of
cabbages, &c. Also used to signify the bloom of the color of cabbage
leaves, sometimes observed on polished bodies.
GLEDI´TSCHIA. A genus of plants of the family of Leguminósæ, named in
honor of J. G. Gleditsch, a German botanist. It includes the Honey and
Swamp locust trees among its species.
GLOBBA´RIA. From the Lat. _globum_, a ball. A genus of insects: also a
specific name.
GLUCI´NUM. A metal discovered in glucina in 1798 by Vauquelin.
GLU´TEN. Lat. The viscid elastic substance which remains when wheat
flour is wrapped in a coarse cloth, and washed under a stream of
water, so as to carry off the starch and soluble matters. It exists in
many plants and in animals. It is the basis of glue.
GLYCE´RIA. A genus of plants of the family of grami´neæ, and the tribe
Festucáceæ.
GLY´CINE. From the Gr. _glukus_, sweet. A genus of plants of the family
of Papilionáceæ.
GNAPHA´LIUM. From the Gr. _gnaphalion_, the cotton tree. A genus of
plants of the family of Compositæ.
GNEISS. Germ. A rock resembling granite. It is composed chiefly of
feldspar and mica, and is more or less slaty in its structure. Gneiss
is used for building and flagging.
GOLD. The most valuable and longest known of the metals.
GOODE´NIA. Proper name. A genus of plants of the family of Goodeniáceæ.
GORDO´NIA. Proper name. A genus of plants of the family of Gordonieæ.
GRANDIFLORA. Lat. Large-flowered.
GRAMI´NEÆ. Lat. Grasses. A family of monocotylédonous plants, containing
about 3000 species.
GRANIVOROUS. } Applied to animals which feed upon grains,
GRANIVORA. } especially to passerine birds.
GRÆCA. Lat. Greek.
GRA´NULAR. Composed of grains.
GRANITE. A rock which is a crystaline aggregate of quartz, feldspar, and
mica.
GRANITIC. Of the nature of granite.
GREENSTONE. A rough variety of trap-rock, consisting chiefly of
hornblende.
GRIT. A coarse-grained sandstone.
GUILANDI´NA. A proper name. A genus of plants of the family of
Leguminósæ. _Guilandina Bonduc_, the oval-leaved Nicker-tree.
GUINEAEN´SIS. Lat. Belonging or relating to Guinea.
GUM. A vegetable product, which is tasteless and inodorous, and is
distinguished by being soluble in water, and insoluble in alcohol. Gum
arabic, for example.
GYMNO´TUS. From the Gr. _gumnos_, naked, and _nôtos_, back. A genus of
fishes.
GYPSUM. Native sulphate of lime. It is converted into plaster of Paris
by heat.
GYRO´PHORA. From the Gr. _guros_, a circle, and _pherô_, I give. A genus
of cryptógamous plants.
HABITAT. Lat. He inhabits. Used to designate the place in which animals
and plants are naturally found.
HALIO´TIS. From the Gr. _als_, the sea, and _ous_, the ear. A genus of
mollusks.
HA´LCYON. From the Gr. _alkuo´n_, a king-fisher. A genus of birds.
HELIA´NTHUS. From the Gr. _elios_, the sun, and _anthos_, flower;
sunflower.
HELI´ACAL. From the Gr. _elios_, the sun. Relating to the sun. When a
star rises so as to be visible in morning twilight before the
appearance of the sun, it is said to rise _heliacally_.
HEP´TAPHYLLUM. From the Gr. _epta_, seven, and _phulon_, a leaf.
Seven-leaved. A specific name.
HERBA´CEOUS. In botany, Herb-like; that perishes every year. An annual
stem. Not woody.
HERBIVO´RA. Lat. Herbivorous.
HERBIVO´ROUS. From the Lat. _herba_, a plant, and _vorare_, to eat.
Plant eating. Applied to animals which feed chiefly or exclusively on
plants or herbs.
HERITIE´RA. Proper name. A genus of plants of the family of
Sterculiáceæ.
HIBERNATE. From the Lat. _hibernare_, to winter. Animals which retire
and sleep throughout the winter, are said to hibernate.
HIBI´SCUS. A genus of plants of the family of Malváceæ.
HIEROCH´LOA. From the Gr. _ieros_, sacred, and _chloa_, herb. A genus of
plants of the family of Grami´neæ.
HIPPOPO´TAMUS. From the Gr. _ippos_, a horse, and _potamos_, river.
River Horse. A genus of mammals.
HIRSU´TA. Lat. Hirsute; covered with soft hairs.
HOL´CUS. A genus of plants of the family Grami´neæ.
HOPEA, or HOPPEA. Proper name. A genus of plants.
HO´RRIDA. Lat. Horrid; spiny.
HO´RARY. From the Lat. _hora_, an hour. The motion of a celestial body,
or the space it moves through in an hour, is termed its _horary
motion_.
HORSE-SHOE MAGNET. A magnet in form of a horse-shoe.
HUMI´RIA. A genus of plants of the family of humoriáceæ. They inhabit
tropical America.
HYDRAN´GEA. From the Gr. _udôr_, water, and _aggos_, a vessel. A genus
of plants of the family of Saxifragáceæ, and tribe of Hydrangéeæ.
HYDRAU´LIC. From the Gr. _udôr_, water, and _aulos_, a pipe. Relating to
liquids in motion. Hydraulics is that branch of natural philosophy or
physics which treats of the force of water and other liquids in
motion.
HYDROSTA´TIC. From the Gr. _udôr_, water, and _staô_, I stand. Relating
to water in a state of rest. Hydrostatics is the science which treats
of the equilibrium and pressure of water and other liquids.
HY´DROGEN. From the Gr. _udôr_, water, and _gennaein_, to generate. A
colorless, tasteless, inodorous gas, one part of which, by weight,
combined with eight parts of oxygen forms water;—combined with sulphur
it constitutes _sulphuretted_ Hydrogen;—and with carbon, carburetted
Hydrogen, the gas used for illumination.
HYDROGETON. A synonym of _Ouviraudra_. A genus of aquatic plants.
HYLA. From the Gr. _ule_, wood, a tree. A tree frog.
HYMENÆ´A. A genus of plants of the family of Papilionáceæ. A resinous
tree of tropical America.
HYMENO´PTERA. From the Gr. _umen_, a membrane, and _pteron_, wing.
Systematic name of a class of insects, characterized by membranous
wings.
HY´RAX. From the Gr. _urax_, a shrew mouse. A genus of mammals.
IANTHINA. See Janthina.
I´BEX. Lat. A wild goat. A genus of mammals.
I´BIS. A genus of birds.
IGNEOUS ROCKS. Are those rocks whose structure is attributable to the
influence of heat, such as granite and basalt. They are distinct from
stratified rocks, or those formed by deposits from water.
I´GUANA. A reptile of the lizard tribe.
IGUA´NIAN. Applied to Saurians which resemble the iguana.
IGUA´NODON. From _iguana_, and the Gr. _odous_, tooth. A genus of
extinct or fossil reptiles of gigantic size discovered in the south of
England.
I´LEX. Lat. The Holly.
ILI´CIS. Lat. Of the Holly; belonging or relating to the holly.
ILLI´CIUM. From _illicio_ to attract; from its agreeable perfume. The
aniseed tree. A genus of plants of the family of Magnoliáceæ.
IM´BRICATE. Laid one over another like tiles.
INCONSPICUUS. Lat. Not conspicuous or remarkable.
INCISOR. From the Lat. _incido_ I cut. Applied to those teeth which
occupy the anterior or centre of the upper and lower jaws, because
they are used for cutting the food.
INCA. Designation of the aboriginal Peruvian princes; used as a specific
name. Also, a genus of insects.
INDICA—INDICUS. Lat. Indian: Belonging or relating to India.
INDICA´TOR. Lat. Indicator; one who points out. A genus of birds.
INFUSO´RIA. Animals of infusions; microscopic animalcules.
INFUSO´RIAL. Belonging or relating to the Infusoria.
INORGANIC. Without organs or organization.
INSECT. From the Lat. _in_, into, _seco_, I cut. Applied to animals
whose bodies are cut, as it were, into three parts—head, thorax, and
abdomen.
IRID´EÆ. A family of monocotylédonous plants.
IRIDIUM. From the Lat. _iris_, the rainbow. A grey, brittle, very
infusible metal, which is found associated with the ores of platinum.
ISATIS. From the Gr. _isazô_, I render equal. Woad. A genus of plants of
the family of Cruciferæ. Also the name of a species of dog.
ISLA´NDICUS. Lat. Belonging or relating to Iceland.
ISO´GEO´THERMAL. From the Gr. _isos_, equal, _ge_, the earth, and
_thermos_, heat. Applied to lines which are supposed to pass through
all parts of the earth’s structure on the surface where the mean heat
is the same.
ISOTHE´RMAL. From the Gr. _isos_, equal, and _thermos_, heat. Isothermal
lines are supposed to pass through all places where the mean
temperature of the air is the same.
ISOTHERIAL. From the Gr. _isos_, equal, and _thereios_, having the heat
of summer. Isotherial lines are supposed to be drawn through all
places having the same mean summer temperature.
ISOCHI´MENAL. From the Gr. _isos_, equal, and _cheima_, winter.
Isochimenal lines pass through all places where the mean winter
temperature is the same.
IXIA. A genus of plants of the family of Irideæ.
JANTHI´NA. From the Gr. _ianthinos_, violet. A genus of mollusks.
JAPO´NICA—JAPO´NICUS. Belonging or relating to Japan.
JASPER. A silicious mineral of various colors; sometimes spotted, banded
or variegated. It takes a fine polish.
JERBO´A. A genus of mammals of the family of Rodents, or gnawers.
JURA´SSIC. Belonging or relating to the Jura mountains. Applied to a
system of rocks of the middle secondary geological period. Also termed
oolitic.
KA´LMIA. A genus of plants of the family of Ericáceæ.
KER´RIA. Proper name. A genus of plants of the family of Rosáceæ.
KE´URVA. Synonym of Pandanus.
KING´IA. Proper name. A genus of plants of the family of Joncáceæ, found
in New Holland. _Kingia australis_; the grass tree.
LABIA´TÆ. From the Lat. _labium_, lip; in allusion to the form of the
corolla. A family of dicotylédonous plants.
LAGO´PUS. From the Gr. _lagôs_, a hare, and _pous_, foot: hare-footed. A
genus of birds of the order Gallináceæ.
LAM´ANTIN. The manatus. A genus of mammals of the order of Cetácea.
LAMINA´RIA. A genus of aquatic plants of the family of Phy´ceæ.
LAMPRATO´RNIS. A genus of birds. _Lampratornis superba._ A kind of
raven.
LANA´TA. Lat. Woolly.
LANCEOLA´TUS. Lat. Lanceolate; lance-shaped.
LANDSLIP, or LANDSLIDE. In geology, the removal of a portion of land
down an inclined surface, from its attachment being loosened by the
action of water beneath, or by an earthquake.
LANTA´NIUM. A metal discovered in 1840 by Mosander.
LAPIS LAZULI. A mineral belonging to the aluminous silicates, of an
azure blue colour.
LAUREO´LA. Specific name of a plant.
LAURI´NEÆ. } From _laurus_, laurel, one of the genera.
LAUREA´CEÆ. } A family of plants.
LATENT HEAT. Heat not indicated by the thermometer, upon which the
liquid and aëriform conditions of bodies depend, and which becomes
_sensible_ during the conversion of vapour into liquids, and of
liquids into solids.
LA´RVA. Lat. A mask. The first state of an insect after leaving the egg.
LA´RVÆ. Lat. Plural of larva.
LA´VA. In geology, substances which flow in a melted state from a
volcano. Lavas vary in consistence and texture.
LEGUMINO´SÆ. From the Lat. _legumen_, a bean. A family of plants.
LEGU´MINOUS. Belonging or relating to the Leguminoseæ.
LEONI´NA. Belonging or relating to a lion.
LEPORI´NA. Lat. Belonging or relating to a hare.
LEPIDO´PTERA. From the Gr. _lepis_, a scale, and _pteron_, a wing, scaly
wings. An order of insects characterized by scaly wings.
LESSO´NIA. Proper name. A genus of plants; also a genus of birds.
LEUCADE´NDRON. From the Gr. _leukos_, white, and _dendron_, tree. A
genus of plants of the family of Proteáceæ.
LIAS. Provincial corruption of the word _layers_. In geology, a division
of the secondary formation. It is also called the Liassic, Jurassic,
and Oolitic system of rocks.
LI´CHENS. An order of cryptógamous plants. They include various mosses.
LILIA´CEOUS. Belonging or relating to the lily.
LILIA´CEÆ. A family of plants.
LLANOS. Span. Planes.
LIMO´NIA. A genus of plants of the family of Aurantiáceæ.
LIMB. In botany, the spreading part or border of a leaf or petal. In
astronomy, the outermost edge of the sun or moon.
LI´RIODE´NDRON. From the Gr. _leirion_, a lily, and _dendron_, a tree.
The tulip tree. A genus of plants of the family of Magnoliáceæ.
LI´THIUM. A metal.
LO´ASA. A genus of plants of the family of Loasáceæ.
LOBE. A term applied in botany to the more or less profound divisions of
a leaf, corolla, or other part of a plant.
LOBELIA´CEÆ. In honor of Lobel, a botanist. A family of dicotylédonous
plants.
LONGIFRONS. Lat. Having a long front or forehead.
LOPHOBRA´NCHES. From the Gr. _lophos_, a tuft, or crest, and _branchia_,
gills. An order of fishes.
LOPHOPHO´RUS. From the Gr. _lophos_, a tuft, and _phoros_, bearer. A
genus of birds of the order Gallináceæ.
LORA´NTHUS. From the Gr. _lôron_, a leather strap, and _anthos_, flower.
Loranth. A genus of plants of the family of Lorantháceæ.
LO´TUS. A genus of plants of the family of Leguminósæ.
LOXIA. A genus of birds.
LU´TEUM. Lat. Yellow; dirty; made of clay. A specific name.
MACROCE´PHALUS. From the Gr. _makros_, large, and _kephale_, head. A
genus of insects. The specific name of a mammal.
MACROCY´STIS. From the Gr. _makros_, large, and _kustis_, bladder. A
genus of aquatic plants of the family of Phyceæ. Gigantic sea-weeds
found in the southern hemisphere.
MACROU´ROUS. From the Gr. _makros_, great, and _oura_, tail. Having a
long or large tail.
MAGNET. Loadstone is the natural magnet, which has the property of
attracting iron. Artificial magnets are prepared so as to possess the
peculiar attractive properties of the loadstone.
MAG´NETISM. The science which investigates the phenomena presented by
natural and artificial magnets, and the laws by which they are
connected.
MAGNE´SIUM. A silvery white metal obtained from magnesia.
MAGNE´SIAN. Containing magnesia.
MAGNO´LIA. Name of Magnol, a French botanist. A genus of plants of the
family of Magnoliáceæ.
MA´LACHITE. A mineral; native green carbonate of copper.
MAL´LOTUS. A genus of fishes of the family of Salmones. A genus of
plants of the family of Euphorbiáceæ. A synonyme of the genus
_Rottlera_.
MALU´RUS. A genus of passerine birds.
MAM´MAL. Any animal that suckles its young.
MAMMA´LIA. From the Lat. _mamma_, a breast. The name of the class of
mammals or animals which suckle their young.
MAMMI´FERÆ. Same as mammalia.
MANA´TI. Lat. Plural of manatus.
MANA´TUS. A genus of mammals. The Lamantin.
MANGANE´SE. A metal.
MARITI´MA. Lat. Maritime; relating to the sea.
MARL. Argillaceous carbonate of lime. There are several varieties of
marl.
MARSU´PIAL. From the Lat. _marsupium_, a pouch. Any animal having a
peculiar pouch in front or on the abdomen.
MAS´TODON. From the Gr. _mastos_, a nipple, and _odous_, a tooth. A
genus of extinct mammals allied to the elephant.
MA´TRIX. In geology, the stony substance or bed in which metallic ores
and crystaline minerals are embedded. The _gangue_.
MAURI´TIA. Lat. Belonging to the island of Maritius.
MAURO´RUM. Lat. Of the Moors.
MAXIMUS. }
MAXIMA. } Lat. The greatest.
MAXIMUM. }
MEDU´SA. A genus of marine animals of the class Acalepha.
MEGATHE´RIUM. From the Gr. _megas_, great, and _therion_, beast. Name of
a fossil quadruped.
MELALEU´CA. From the Gr. _melas_, black, and _leukos_, white. A genus of
plants of the family of Myrtáceæ.
MELA´STOMA. From the Gr. _melas_, black, and _stoma_, opening. A genus
of plants of the family of Melastomáceæ.
MEL´IA. A genus of plants of the family of Meliáceæ.
MELOFO´RMIS. From the Lat. _melo_, a melon, and _forma_, shape.
Melon-shaped.
MENOPOMA. From the Gr. _menos_, strong, and _poma_, cover. A genus of
reptiles of the family of Salamanders. Specific name of a batrachian.
MENURA. A genus of passerine birds. The _Menura superba_, the lyre-bird.
MERCURY. Quicksilver. A metal which is liquid at the ordinary
temperature.
MESE´MERYAN´THEMUM. From the Gr. _mesembria_, the mid-day, and
_anthemum_, flowering, because the flowers usually expand at that
time. The fig marygold. A genus of plants of the family of Ficoides.
ME´SA. Span. A table.
MESPILUS. From the Gr. _mesos_, half, and _pilé_, bullet, the fruit
resembling a half ball. The medlar. A genus of plants of the family of
Rosáceæ.
MET´ALLOID. Literally, resembling metal. The metals obtained from the
alkalis and earths are called metalloids.
METALLI´FEROUS. Containing metal, or metals.
METAMOR´PHIC. From the Gr. _meta_, indicating change, and _morphe_,
form. Metamorphic rocks are those which are evidently of mechanical
origin, but owing to the presumed action of heat, have undergone
change. Altered rocks.
METROSI´DEROS. From the Gr. _metra_, heart of a tree, and _sideron_,
iron, in allusion to the hardness of its wood. A genus of plants of
the family of Myrtáceæ.
METUR. A species of wild corn which grows in Iceland.
MIA´SMA. } From the Gr. _miainô_, I contaminate. Applied
MIA´SMATA. } to any emanation from animal or vegetable substances,
or from the earth, which may prejudicially influence the health of those
persons who may be exposed to it.
MI´CA. From the Lat. _mico_, I shine. A mineral, generally found in thin
elastic laminæ, soft, smooth, and of various colors and degrees of
transparency. It is one of the constituents of granite.
MICA-SCHIST. Germ. (Gr. _schistos_, slaty, easily split.) Mica-slate. A
lamellar rock composed of quartz, ordinarily grayish, and a great
quantity of brilliant lamellæ of mica arranged in scales, or extended
leaves.
MI´DAS. Name of a genus of monkeys; also, of a genus of reptiles.
MIGRATO´RIA. Lat. Migrating.
MILLINGTO´NIA. Proper name. A genus of plants of the family of
Bignoniáceæ.
MILLEPO´RA. From _mil_, a thousand, and _pori_, holes. A genus of stony
polyps, or corallines.
MIMO´SA. From the Lat. _mimus_, a comedian, in allusion to its numerous
varieties. A genus, and a tribe of plants.
MI´OCENE. From the Gr. _meiôn_, less, and _kainos_, recent. In geology a
name of a group of rocks of the tertiary period.
MI´NIMUM. Lat. The least.
MIRA´GE. Fr. A kind of natural optical illusion, arising from the
unequal refraction of the lower strata of the atmosphere. The illusive
appearance of water in deserts is explained in this manner.
MISODENDRON. A genus of plants of the family of Lorantháceæ.
MITE´LLA. A genus of plants of the family of Saxafragáceæ.
MOLLUSK. From the Lat. _mollis_, soft. Applied to certain soft animals
which inhabit shells, as oysters.
MOLLU´SCA. A branch of the animal kingdom.
MOLLU´SCOUS. Belonging or relating to mollusks.
MOLYB´DENUM. A white, brittle metal.
MONOCOTYLE´DON. From the Gr. _monos_, single, and _kotuledon_,
seed-lobe. A single seed-lobe.
MONOCOTYLE´DONOUS. Relating to monocotyledon.
MONO´CEROS. From the Gr. _monos_, single, and _keras_, horn. Having one
horn.
MO´NODON. From the Gr. _monos_, single, and _odous_, tooth. Name of a
genus of aquatic mammals. The Narwhal.
MONE´TA. Lat. Belonging or relating to money.
MONI´LIFORM. From the Lat. _monile_, a necklace. In form of a string of
beads, necklace-like.
MO´NITOR. A genus of Saurian reptiles.
MONOSPE´RMA. From the Gr. _monos_, single, _sperma_, seed. One-seeded. A
specific name.
MON´TIA. A genus of plants of the family of Portuláceæ.
MORI´NDA. A genus of plants of the family of Rubiáceæ.
MORAINES. Longitudinal deposits of stony detritus found at the bases,
and along the edges of all the great glaciers.
MO´RUS. Mulberry. A genus of plants of the family of Urti´ceæ.
MOSASAU´RUS. From _Meuse_, name of a river, and the Gr. _sauros_, a
lizard. A genus of fossil reptiles.
MOS´CHUS. From the Gr, _moschos_, musk. A genus of mammals.
MOSCHI´FERUS. Lat. Musk bearing; containing musk.
MOSSES. Crytógamous parasites of the family of Lycopodeácæ.
MU´CILAGE. A mixture of gum and water.
MURAL. Belonging or relating to a wall.
MUSA. The banana. A genus of plants of the family of Musáceæ.
MUSCHELKALK. German. Shell limestone.
MUSCI´PULA. Lat. A fly trap or mouse trap.
MUSICUS. Lat. Relating to music; musical.
MYCETUS. Name of a genus of monkeys.
MYOPO´TAMUS. From the Gr. _mus_, a rat, and _potamos_, a river. A genus
of gnawing mammals.
MYRI´STICA. A genus of plants of the family of Myrista´ceæ; _Mystri´tica
moschata_, the nutmeg tree.
MYRTUS. Myrtle. A genus of plants of the family of Myrta´ceæ.
NANA. From the Gr. _nanos_, a dwarf. A specific name.
NA´PTHA. A limpid bitumen.
NARCI´SSUS. A genus of plants of the family of Amarylli´deæ.
NA´TRIUM. A metal.
NATRON. A subcarbonate of soda.
NECTARY. That part of a flower which produces honey.
NELUM´BIUM. A genus of plants of the family of Nymphæ´ceæ. Sacred Bean.
NESTOR. An extinct bird.
NEURO´PTERA. From the Gr. _neuron_, a nerve, and _pteron_, wing. An
order of insects.
NEW RED SANDSTONE. In geology, a system of rocks of the secondary
formation.
NICKEL. A white metal. It is the basis of “German Silver.”
NIGRA. Lat. Black.
NIMBUS. A rain cloud.
NI´TIDA. Lat. Neat, clean, bright.
NITROGEN. A simple, permanently elastic fluid or gas, which constitutes
four-fifths of the atmosphere, and is the basis of nitric acid.
NIVA´LIS. Lat. Snowy.
NON-CONDUCTOR. Applied to substances which do not possess the property
of transmitting electricity, or heat.
NOTACANTHUS. From the Gr. _nôtos_, back, and _akantha_, a spine. A genus
of fishes.
NOTOTHERIUM. A fossil genus of marsupial mammals.
NOTORNIS. An extinct bird.
NUMMULA´RIA. From the Latin _nummus_, a coin. A family of Mollusks.
Nummulites.
NYMPHÆ´A. A genus of plants of the family of Nymphæa´ceæ.
NYSSA. From the Gr. _nussô_, I prick. A genus of plants.
OBSI´DIAN. A glassy lava. Volcanic glass.
OCEAN´ICA. Lat. Relating to the ocean.
OENO´THERA. From the Gr. _oinos_, wine, and _therô_, I hunt. A genus of
plants of the family of Oenothera´ceæ. Synonym of onagrariæ.
ODORA´TA. Lat. Odorous.
ODORATISSI´MA. Lat. Very, or most odorous.
ODORI´FERA. Lat. Odoriferous.
O´LEA. Lat. Olive. A genus of plants of the family of Olea´ceæ.
OLD RED SANDSTONE. A system of rocks of the secondary formation.
O´OLITE. From the Greek _ôon_, an egg, and _lithos_, stone. A granular
variety of carbonate of lime, frequently called _roestone_.
O´PAL. A brittle mineral, characterized by its iridescent reflection of
light. It consists of _silica_ with about ten per cent. of water.
O´PALES´CENT. Resembling opal.
OPHI´DIAN. From the Gr. _ophis_, a serpent; applied to reptiles of the
order of Ophidia.
OPHICE´PHALUS. From the Gr. _ophis_, serpent, and _kephale_, head.
Serpent-head. A genus of acánthoptery´gian, or bony-finned fishes.
OR´CHIS. A genus of plants of the family of Orchid´eæ, named from most
of the species being marked by two tubercles.
ORCHID´EOUS. Relating to the genus orchis.
ORGAN. From the Gr. _organon_, an instrument. Part of an organized
being, destined to exercise some particular function; for example, the
ears are the organs of hearing, the muscles are the organs of motion.
ORGA´NIC. Relating to an organ. _Organic remains_, are the fossil
remains of organized beings.
ORGANIZA´TION. The mode or manner of structure of an organized being.
ORGANIZED. Composed of organs; having a mode of structure.
ORIENTA´LIS. } Lat. Eastern. Belonging to the East.
ORIENTA´LE. }
ORNITHORYN´CHUS. From the Gr. _ornis_, _ornithos_, a bird, and
_rugchos_, a beak. A genus of mammals, having the beak of a duck.
OR´TYGIS. From the Gr. _ortux_, a quail. A genus of birds.
OS´MIUM. From the Gr. _osme_, odour. A metal discovered in 1803, by
Tennant.
OSCILLA´TION. The act of moving backwards and forwards like a pendulum.
OTA´RIA. From the Gr. _ôtarion_, a small ear. A genus of amphibious
mammals, of the tribe of seals.
OUT CROP. In geology, the emergence of a rock in place, at the surface.
O´VARY. In botany, that part of a flower in which the young seeds are
contained.
OXA´LIS. A genus of plants of the family of Oxalideæ.
OXLE´YA. A genus of plants of the family of Cedrela´ceæ.
OXYGEN. The vivifying gas which constitutes about one-fifth of the
atmosphere, the presence of which is essential to life.
OZO´NE. From the Gr. _ozô_, I smell of something. The odorous matter
perceived when electricity passes from pointed bodies into the air.
PACHYDER´MATA. From the Gr. _pachus_, thick, and _derma_, skin. An order
of mammals—Pachyderms.
PADI´NA. Same as Zonária, a beautiful marine plant. _Padina pavonia_, or
_Zona´ria pavonia_. Turkey feather.
PALAP´TERYX. From the Gr. _palaios_, ancient, and _apteryx_, formed from
the Gr. _a_, privative, and _pteron_, wing, wingless. Name of a genus
of fossil birds, discovered recently in New Zealand.
PALÆOTHE´RIUM. From the Gr. _palaios_, ancient, and _therion_, beast. A
fossil genus of pachyder´matous mammals.
PALÆONTO´LOGY. From the Gr. palaios, ancient, and _on_, a being or
creature, and _logos_, discourse. That branch of zoological science
which treats of fossil organic remains.
PALÆ´OZOIC. From the Gr. _palaios_, ancient, and _zoe_, life. Relating
to ancient life; belonging or relating to fossils.
PALMA REA´L. Spanish. Royal Palm.
PALLA´DIUM. A white, hard, very maleable and ductile metal, which is
susceptible of a fine polish. It is more difficult to melt than gold.
PALMEL´LA. A genus of plants of the family of Conferváceæ. _Palmella
nivalis_, a plant of the snowy regions, which gives color to the snow
amidst which it grows. _Protococcus_ is the red snow plant.
PANDA´NUS. From the Malay name of the tree, _pandang_. Screw-pine. A
genus of plants, of the family of Pandancæ. _Pandanus candelabrum._
Candlestick screw-pine.
PANDA´NA. Relating to, or resembling the Screw-pines.
PA´NICUM. Panic-grass. A genus of plants of the family of Gramineæ.
_Panicum miliaceum_, millet, a grain used for feeding poultry in
England.
PAPA. Spanish. Pope. Specific name of a vulture.
PAPY´RUS. A genus of plants of the family of Cypera´ceæ. The _Papyrus
antiquorum_ yields the substance used as paper by the ancient
Ægyptians.
PAPYRI´FERA. From _papyrus_, a sort of paper, and _fero_, I bear.
Paper-bearing.
PARHELIA. Plural of parhelion.
PARHELION. From the Gr. _para_, for, _elios_, the sun, A mock sun. A
meteor which consists in the simultaneous appearance of several suns,
“fantastic images of the true one.”
PARADISA´ICA. Lat. Belonging or relating to Paradise. A specific name.
PARNA´SSUS. A genus of lepidopterous insects of the tribe of
Parna´ssidæ.
PASS´ERINES. } From the Lat. _Passer_, a sparrow, name
PASS´ERES. } of a varied and extensive order of birds, not
PASSERINE BIRDS. } easily characterized.
PASSIFLORA. Abbreviation of _flos_, flower, and _passionis_, of the
passion. Passion-flower, so called from a supposed resemblance between
its floral organs, and the instruments of the Passion of our Saviour.
An extensive and beautiful genus of plants.
PATAGO´NICA. Lat. Relating to Patagonia. Specific name of a penguin.
PAVO´NIA. Formed from the Latin, _pavo_, a peacock. A specific name.
PEAT. The natural accumulation of vegetable matter on the surface of
lands not in a state of cultivation; always moist to a greater or less
degree, varying, according to the kind of plants to the decay of which
the formation of peat is due.
PELO´PIUM. A metal discovered by Prof. H. Rose.
PELARGO´NIUM. From the Gr. _pelargos_, a stork. Stork’s bill. A genus of
plants of the family of Geraniáceæ.
PELA´SGIC. After a mythological name of Jupiter.
PEN´DULUM. From the Lat. _pendo_, I hang. A weight suspended at the end
of a rod, so that it may vibrate from side to side in a plane, is
called a pendulum.
PENNISE´TUM. From the Lat. _penna_, a feather or pen, and _seta_, a
bristle. A genus of plants of the family of Grami´neæ.
PEP´LIS. Gr. Water-purslane. A genus of plants of the family of
Salicáriæ.
PER´MIAN. After the ancient kingdom of Permia. A name applied by Mr.
Murchison to a system of rocks, consisting of an extensive group of
fossiliferous strata, intermediate, in their geological position,
between the Carboniferous and Triassic systems, the latter being the
upper portion of the New Red Sandstone formation.
PERTURBATION. In astronomy, the deviation of a celestial body from the
elliptic orbit which it would describe, if acted upon by no other
attractive force than that of the sun, or central body about which it
revolves.
PE´TAL. From the Gr. _petalon_, a leaf. A part of the corolla of a
flower analogous to a leaf.
PETRO´LEUM. From the Gr. _petros_, a rock, and the Lat. _oleum_, oil.
Rock-oil, often called _Barbadoes tar_. A brown, liquid bitumen, found
in the West Indies, Europe, &c.
PHACO´CHÆ´RE. Fr. } From the Gr. _phake_, a wart, and
PHACO´CHÆ´RUS. Lat. } _choiros_, a hog. Agenus of mammals
of the order of pachydermata; allied to the hogs.
PHALA´NGER. From the Gr. _phalagx_, a phalanx. A genus of marsupial or
pouch-bearing mammals.
PHANEROGA´MIA. From the Gr. _phaneros_, evident, and _gamos_, marriage.
Phanerógamous plants. Applied to plants having distinct flowers.
PHI´LEDON. } Name of a genus of birds.
PHI´LEMON. }
PHLE´UM. Cat’s tail grass. A genus of plants of the family of Grami´neæ.
PHLOX. Gr. Flame. A genus of beautiful plants of the family of
Polemoniáceæ.
PHO´CÆ. Lat. Plural of phoca.
PHO´CA. Lat. A seal. A genus of aquatic mammals, embracing the common
seal or _Phoca vitulina_; the Harp seal or _P. oceanica_; the
Hare-tailed seal or _P. lagura_; the sea-lion; sea-wolf; sea-elephant;
sea-cow; &c., &c.
PHO´NOLITE. From the Gr. _phoneó_, I resound, and _lithos_, a stone.
Clinkstone. A kind of compact basalt which is sonorous when struck.
PHOR´MIUM. From the Gr. _phormos_, a basket. Flax-lilly. A genus of
plants of the family of Asphodéleæ. _Phormium tenax_, Iris-leaved
flax-lilly of New Zealand.
PHOS´PHORUS. From the Gr. _phos_, light, and _pherô_, I bear. A simple
substance which is highly inflammable.
PHOSPHO´RIC ACID. A compound of phosphorus and oxygen, having the
properties of acids.
PHOS´PHATES. Compounds of phosphoric acid with salifiable bases, as
soda, are termed phosphates; Phosphate of soda, for example.
PHOSPHORE´SCENCE. Emission of light from substances at common
temperatures, or below a red heat.
PHOSPHORESCENT. Having the property of emitting light without sensible
heat.
PHYSA´LIA. } From the Gr. _phuse_, a vesicle. A genus of
PHYSA´LIS. } animals of the family of Acalepha. The Portuguese
man-of-war belongs to this genus.
PHYSA´LIS. A genus of plants of the family of Solanáceæ. _Physalis
edulis_, the Cape gooseberry.
PHYSE´TER. A blower. Name of a genus of mammals of the family of
Ceta´cea.
PIME´NTO. Allspice; Jamaica pepper.
PINNATE. From the Lat. _pinnatus_, feathered. Having leaflets arranged
along each side of a common petiole, like the feather of a quill.
PINNATI´FIDA. Lat. Pinnatifid. A leaf is so called when it is divided
into lobes from the margin nearly to the midrif.
PINUS. Lat. A pine-tree. A genus of plants of the family of Coniferæ.
_Pinus abies._ The Norway Spruce. _Pinus canariensis._ The Canary
pine. _Pinus cembra._ The Riga balsam tree; the Cembran or Siberian
pine. _Pinus excelsa._ The lofty or Nepal pine. _Pinus maritima._ The
maritime pine. _Pinus pinea._ The Stone pine.
PIPIENS. Lat. Peeping like a chicken.
PIPA. A genus of batrachian reptiles. A kind of toad.
PLAT´INA. } The diminutive of the Spanish _plata_, silver.
PLAT´INUM. } A metal of a steel gray colour, approaching to the
white colour of silver, to which resemblance it owes its name. It was
found in Choco, one of the provinces of Columbia, and brought to Europe
in 1741, by Don Antonio de Ulloa.
PLEI´OCENE. } From the Gr. _pleion_, more, and _kainos_,
PLI´OCENE. } recent. A term applied by geologists to the newer
tertiary formation, because there is found fossilized in it a greater
number of existing than of extinct species.
PLUMB-LINE. } From the Lat. _plumbum_, lead. An instrument,
PLUMMET. } consisting of a string with a weight, usually of
lead, attached to a straight staff, for the purpose of ascertaining
the direction of gravitation, or the perpendicular to the horizon.
PLUTO´NIC ROCKS. Unstratified crystaline rocks, probably formed at great
depths beneath the surface by igneous fusion. _Volcanic rocks_ are
formed near the surface.
PODOCA´RPUS. From the Gr. _pous_, _podos_, the foot, and _karpos_,
fruit. A genus of plants of the family of Coniferæ.
POLARIZED LIGHT. Light so modified as to possess poles, or sides, having
opposite properties.
POLARIZA´TION. Light, by reflexion, by passing through crystals
possessing the power of double refraction, becomes modified, so that
it does not present the same phenomena of transmission and reflection,
as light which had not been polarized.
POLYG´ONUM. From the Gr. _polus_, many, and _gonu_, a knee or joint. A
genus of plants of the family of Polygona´ceæ. _Polygonum viriparum_,
Alpine Bistort.
POLYMO´RPHA. Lat. From the Gr. _polus_, many, and _morphe_, form.
Many-shaped. A specific name.
PO´LYPI. Lat. Plural of polypus.
POLYPLE´CTRON. Name of a genus of birds.
POL´YPUS. From the Gr. _polus_, many, and _pous_, foot. A genus of
radiate animals.
PON´TICA. From _pontus_, the sea. Belonging or relating to the sea.
PONTOP´PIDA´NA. Synonym of Couroupita. A genus of plants of the family
of Myrtáceæ, Lecythideæ. A large tree of Guiana.
PONTO´PHIDAN. From the Lat. _pontus_, the sea, and the Gr. _ophis_, a
serpent. The sea serpent.
PORTULACA´RIA. A genus of plants of the family of Portula´ceæ. The
Purslane-tree. _Portulaca´ria afra._ The African purslane-tree.
PORPHYRI´TIC. Of the nature of porphyry.
PORPHYRY. From the Gr. _porphura_, purple. Originally applied to a _red
rock_ found in Egypt. A compact feldspathic rock containing
disseminated crystals of feldspar, the latter when polished forming
small angular spots, of a light color, thickly sprinkled over the
surface. The rock is of various colors, dark green, red, blue, black,
&c.
PORTLAND BED. A name given by geologists to the superior division of the
upper óolite or lias system. The “Portland stone” is a kind of
limestone found in the south of England, and more particularly in the
Isle of Portland. In this series of strata is a silicious sand known
as the “Portland Sand.”
POTAS´SIUM. A metal discovered in potash by Sir H. Davy in 1807.
POTENTI´LLA. A genus of plants of the family of Rosáceæ. Cinquefoil.
_Potentilla tridenta´ta._ Trifid-leaved cinquefoil.
PRE´HENSILE. From the Lat. _prehendere_, to lay hold of. Having the
faculty to lay hold of. Applied to the tails of those monkeys, for
example, which have the power to suspend themselves by the tail.
PREDA´CEOUS. Living on prey.
PRIMARY FORMATION. A term applied by geologists to designate the
different rocks which were formed prior to the creation of plants and
animals.
PRIMIGENIUS. Lat. Original; first of its kind.
PRI´MUM MO´BILE. That which first imparts motion.
PRIM´ULA. Lat. A primrose. A genus of plants of the family of
primuláceæ. _Primula farino´sa_, the Bird’s-eye primrose.
PRISM. A solid bounded by three planes, two of which are equal.
PRISMATIC. Belonging or relating to a prism.
PROBOSCI´DIAN. From the Gr. _proboskis_, a proboscis or trunk. Applied
to mammals of the family which includes the elephant.
PROCELLA´RIA. From the Lat. _procella_, a tempest at sea. A genus of
birds of the family of Palmipedes.
PROLI´FERA. Formed from _proles_, a race or stock, and _fero_, I bear.
Prolific.
PRO´TEA. A genus of plants of the family of Proteáceæ. _Protea
cyaneroides_, Artichoke-flowered protea.
PRO´TEUS. A genus of reptiles.
PTEROCA´RPUS. From the Gr. _pteron_, a wing, and _karpos_, fruit. The
pods have membranous wings. A genus of plants of the family of
Leguminósæ. _Pterocarpus santalinus._ The red saunders tree.
PTE´RIS. Gr. Name of Fern. A genus of cryptógamous plants. Brake.
_Pteris esculenta._ Edible fern.
PTEROPUS. From the Gr. _pteron_, wing, and pous, foot. A genus of
mammals of the tribe of bats, termed Roussettes.
PU´MA. A name of the couguar or American Lion.
PYROGE´NOUS. From the Gr. _pur_, fire, and _geinomai_, I beget. Applied
to rocks which owe their origin to the action of fire, as granite.
PY´RUS. A genus of plants of the family Rosáceæ. A pear-tree.
PYRI´FERA. Lat. From _pyrus_, a pear, and _fero_, I bear.
PYTHON. A genus of reptiles.
QUADRUMA´NA. Formed from the Lat. _quatuor_, four, and _manus_, hand. An
order of mammals characterized by having four hands.
QUA´RTZ. Germ. Rock crystal.
QUARTZOSE. Of the nature of quartz.
QUICKSILVER. A metal which is fluid at ordinary temperatures. Also
called mercury.
RADIA´TA. Lat. Radiate; the name of a class of zóophytes.
RA´DIATE. From the Lat. _radius_, a ray. Furnished with rays; having
rays.
RADIA´TION. The emission of the rays of light, or of heat, from a
luminous or a heated body.
RAFFLE´SIA. After Sir T. Raffles. A genus of plants of the family of
Rafflesiáceæ, which are parasites, growing on the roots of
dicotyledonous plants. The flowers of some of them are enormously
large; the Rafflesia arnoldi are said to be three feet in diameter.
RAINE´TTE. Fr. A tree-frog.
RANUN´CULUS. From the Lat. _rana_, a frog, because the species inhabit
humid places. Crow-foot. A genus of plants of the family of
Ranunculáceæ.
RANUN´CULI. Lat. Plural of ranunculus.
RA´NA. Lat. A frog. A genus of reptiles.
REFRA´CTION. From the Lat. _refractus_, broken. The deviation of a ray
of light from its rectilinear course, caused by passing through a
transparent substance. The degree of refraction depends upon the
density of the medium through which the ray of light passes.
REFU´LGENS. Lat. Shining brightly; refulgent.
RE´PTILE. From the Lat. _repere_, to crawl. A term applied to any animal
that moves naturally upon its belly, or on very short legs, as
serpents, &c.
REPTI´LIA. The class of reptiles: it comprises those vertebrate animals
which have cold blood, an aërial respiration, and an incomplete
circulation.
RESENIFE´RA. Lat. Containing resin.
REVOLU´TA. Lat. Turned back; tumbled.
RHEA. Synonyme of _Struthio_, an ostrich.
RHO´DIUM. From the Gr. _rodon_, a rose, on account of the rose red color
of some of its salts. A metal discovered in the year 1803 by
Wollaston.
RHODODE´NDRON. From the Gr. _rodon_, a rose, and _dendron_, a tree. A
genus of plants of the family of Ericáceæ.
RHODOME´LIA. From the Gr. _rodon_, a rose, and _melas_, black. A genus
of plants of the family of Phy´ceæ.
RHUS. A genus of plants of the family of Terebintáceæ. _Rhus vernix._
The varnish Sumach.
RHYNCHOPS. From the Gr. _rugchops_, a beak. A genus of birds: the
skimmers or scissor-bills.
ROCK-SALT. Common salt found in masses or beds in the new red sandstone.
ROD´ENTIA. From the Lat. _rodere_, to gnaw. An order of mammals.
RODENTS. Animals of the order Rodentia.
ROR´QUAL. A kind of whalebone whale.
RO´SA. A genus of plants of the family of Rosáceæ. _Rosa sinensis._ The
Chinese rose.
RU´BER. Lat. Red.
RUBIA´CEÆ. A family of plants.
RU´BY. A crystalized gem of various shades of red.
RUFIMA´NUS. Lat. Red-handed.
RU´MINANT. An animal that chews the cud.
RUMINA´NTIA. An order of mammals which are characterized by chewing the
cud.
RU´MINATI. To chew the cud.
SA´LINES. Natural deposits of salt; salt springs.
SA´LIX. Lat. Willow. A genus of plants of the family of Salici´neæ
_Sa´lix lana´ta._ Woolly willow.
SALT. A combination of an acid with one or more bases.
SAMO´LUS. From the Celtic, _san_, salutary, and _mos_, pig. Salutary to
pigs. Brook-weed. A genus of plants of the family of Primuláceæ.
_Samo´lus valera´ndi._ Common brook-weed.
SANDARA´CH. A name given by the Arabs to an odorous resin.
SANDALI´NUS. Lat. Sandal-like.
SANDSTONE. Any rock consisting of aggregated grains of sand.
SAPA´JOU. Fr. A genus of monkeys.
SAPI´NDUS. Abbreviation of _sapo_, soap, and _indicus_, Indian soap.
Soap-berry. A genus of plants of the family of Sapindáceæ. _Sapi´ndus
sapona´ria._ Common soap-berry.
SAPONA´RIA. Lat. Soapy.
SAPOTA´CEÆ. A family of plants.
SA´PPHIRE. A very hard gem consisting essentially of crystalized
alu´mina. It is of various colors; the _blue_ variety being usually
called sapphire; the _red_, the oriental ruby; the _yellow_, the
oriental topaz.
SA´QUIS. } A genus of monkeys.
SAKIS. }
SARGA´SUM. From the Span. _sarga´zo_, sea-lentils. A genus of plants of
the family of Phy´ceæ.
SARRACE´NIA. After Dr. Sarrazin. The side-saddle flower, or pitcher
plant. A genus of plants of the family of Sarracénieæ.
SAU´RIAN. From the Gr. _sauros_, a lizard. Applied to animals of the
lizard tribe.
SAUROID. From the Gr. _sauros_, a lizard, and _eidos_, resemblance.
Resembling a lizard.
SCA´NDENS. Lat. Climbing.
SCHIST. From the Gr. _schistos_, split. Slate.
SCHISTO´SE. Slaty.
SCHOT´IA. After Schott, a Dutch gardener. A genus of plants of the
family of Leguminósæ. _Schotia speciosa._ Small-leaved Schotia.
SCI´TAME´NEÆ. A family of plants.
SCIE´RIA. From the Gr. _skleros_, hard. A genus of plants of the family
of Cyperáceæ.
SCO´LOPAX. A genus of birds: a heron.
SCOPA´RIA. From _scopa_, a broom. A genus of plants of the family of
Scrophulari´neæ.
SCO´RIÆ. Volcanic cinders. Cinders and slags of basaltic lavas of a
reddish brown and black color.
SCORIA´CEOUS. Of the nature of scoriæ.
SCO´RIFORM. In form of scoriæ.
SCY´THROPS. From the Gr. _skuthrops_, sad. A genus of birds of the order
of climbers. A cuckoo.
SEAMS. Thin layers or strata interposed between others.
SECONDARY FORMATION. In geology the formation which is next in order to
the transition formation.
SE´CULAR. From the Lat. _seculum_, a century. _Secular elevations_ are
those which take place gradually and imperceptibly, through a long
period of time. _Secular tides_ are those which are dependent upon the
secular variation of the moon’s mean distance from the earth.
SE´DIMENT. From the Lat. _sedeo_, I sit. That which subsides or settles
to the bottom of any liquid.
SEDIME´NTARY. Belonging or relating to sediment.
SEBIFE´RA. Lat. Containing tallow.
SEED-LOBE. The envelope in which the seed in plants is formed.
SELE´NITE. A variety of gypsum, or sulphate of lime.
SE´MITIC. Applied to the languages of the descendants of _Sem_, or the
Orientals.
SE´PAL. That part of the calyx of a flower which resembles a leaf.
SE´PIA. A kind of paint prepared from the cuttle fish. A genus of
mollusks.
SER´PENTINE. A magnesian rock of various colors, and often speckled like
a serpent’s back. It is generally dark green.
SE´PTENTRIONA´LIS. Lat. Northern.
SER´RATE. From the Lat. _serra_, a saw. Toothed like a saw.
SERRA´TA. Lat. Serrate.
SHAFT. A cylindrical hollow space, or pit, in mines, made for the
purpose of extracting ores, &c.
SHALE. An indurated slaty clay, or clay-slate.
SHINGLE. Loose, water-worn gravel and pebbles.
SHORE´A. Synonym of _Vatica_. A genus of plants of the family of
Diptérocárpeæ.
SIERRA. Span. A mountain chain.
SI´LEX. From the Gr. _chalis_, a pebble. The principal constituent of
quartz, rock-crystal, and other _silicious_ minerals.
SI´LICA. Silicious earth: the oxide of _silicon_ (the elementary basis
of Silica,) constituting almost the whole of _silex_ or flint. It
combines with many of the metallic oxides, and is for this reason
sometimes called _sili´cic_ acid.
SI´LICATE. A compound of silicic acid and a base. _Plate-glass_ and
_window-glass_ are silicates of soda and potassa; and _flint-glass_ is
a similar compound with a large addition of silicate of lead.
SILI´CIOUS. Containing silica.
SILI´CIFIED. Petrified or mineralized by silicious earth.
SILT. The name given to the sand, clay, and earth, which accumulate in
running waters.
SILI´CIUM. The metalloid which forms the basis of silica.
SILURIAN SYSTEM. Series of rocks formerly known as the _greywacke
series_. So called after the _Silures_ or _Siluri_, the ancient
Britons who inhabited the region where these strata are most
distinctly developed. They are entirely of marine origin.
SILU´RUS. A genus of fishes of the family of Silurida.
SILVA. A forest, or woods.
SIMU´LIUM. From the Lat. _simulo_, I feign. A genus of insects of the
order of Diptera.
SINE´NSIS. Lat. Chinese; belonging or relating to China.
SIN´TER. Germ. A scale. _Calcareous sinter_ is a variety of carbonate of
lime composed of successive concentric layers. _Silicious sinter_ is a
variety of common opal.
SIPHO´NIA. A genus of plants of the family of Euphorbiáceæ.
SLATE. A well known rock which is divisible into thin plates or layers.
SMYNTHUS, or SMINTHUS. From the Gr. _sminthos_, rat. A genus of rodent
mammals.
SMYRNE´NSIS. Lat. Belonging, or relating to Smyrna.
SOLAR SPE´CTRUM. Lat. _Spectrum_, an image. In optics the name given to
an elongated image of the sun formed on a wall or screen by a beam of
undecomposed light, received through a small hole, and refracted by a
prism.
SOLFATA´RA. Italian. A volcanic vent emitting sulphur and sulphurous
compounds.
SOLIDA´GO. Golden-rod. A genus of plants of the family of Compósitæ.
SO´MATE´RIA. Synonym with _platypus_. A genus of birds.
SOPHO´RA. A genus of plants of the family Leguminósæ.
SPAR. (Germ. _Spath_.) Applied to certain crystalized mineral
substances, which easily break into cubic, prismatic, or other forms.
SPAR´RY. Of the nature of spar.
SPE´CIES. A kind; a subdivision of genus. Extinct species is a term
applied to those kinds of organized beings, whether plants or animals,
which are not found living upon the face of the earth.
SPECI´FIC. Relating to species.
SPECIFIC WEIGHT, or SPECIFIC GRAVITY. The relative weight of one body
with that of another of equal volume.
SPECIO´SA. }
SPECIO´SUS. } Lat. Handsome. A word used as a specific name.
SPECIO´SUM. }
SPE´CULAR IRON. A kind of iron ore of granular structure, and metallic
lustre, sometimes shining.
SPECTA´BILIS. Lat. Visible, remarkable, noteable.
SPICA´TA. Lat. Having spikes; eared like corn.
SPINE´LLE, or SPINE´L. French. A sub-species of ruby.
SPIRÆ´A. A genus of plants of the family of Rosáceæ.
SPORES. The seeds of lichens, and crytógamous plants.
SPORU´LES. The diminutive of spores.
SPUMA´CEOUS. From the Lat. _spuma_, foam. Foamy.
STAGMA´RIA. From the Gr. _stagma_, a drop. A genus of plants of the
family of Anacardiáceæ. _Stagma´ria verniciflua_, a tree of Sumatra,
from the bark of which exudes an extremely acrid juice. This juice
quickly dries in the air, becomes black, and is sold at a high price;
it is employed in the preparation of a varnish. The Sumatrans consider
it dangerous to sit or sleep in the shade of this tree.
STA´MEN. Lat. The male apparatus of a flower.
STAPE´LIA. Proper name. A genus of plants of the family of Asclepiádeæ.
STARCH. A vegetable substance which exists in many tuberous roots, the
stalks of palms, and in the seeds of the cereal grasses.
STEP´PE. Fr., from the Lat. _stipes_, a landmark. A term applied to the
Savanahs of Tartary, of the Crimea, &c., and salt deserts of Northern
Asia.
STI´GMA. The superior, terminating part of the pistil of a flower.
STILLIN´GIA. After Dr. Stillingfleet. A genus of plants of the family of
Euphorbiáceæ. _Stillingia sebifera._ The tallow tree of China.
STRA´TA. Lat. Plural of _stratum_, a layer, a bed.
STRATIFICA´TION. An arrangement in beds or layers.
STRA´TIFIED. Arranged in strata.
STRA´TUS. A kind of cloud: it consists of horizontal layers, and
includes fogs and mists; its under surface usually rests upon the land
or sea, and it is therefore the lowest of the clouds.
STRELIT´ZIA. After Queen Charlotte, of the family of Mecklenburgh
Strelitz. A genus of plants of the family of Musáceæ.
STRI´Æ. Lat. Diminutive channels or creases.
STRIA´TA. Lat. Striated; marked with striæ.
STRON´TIUM. A metalloid found in the earth called strontia.
STRU´THIO. Lat. An ostrich. A genus of birds.
STRU´THEOUS. Of the nature of an ostrich.
STRYCH´NOS. A genus of plants of the family of Apocy´neæ. _Strych´nos
toxica´ria._ The poison strychnos.
STYLE´DIUM. From the Gr. _stulos_, a column. A genus of plants of the
family of Stylideæ, found in New Holland.
SUBLIMA´TION. The process by which volatile substances are raised by
heat, and again condensed into the solid form. The substances so
obtained are called _sublimates_.
SUB SOIL. An under soil.
SUB STRA´TA. Lat. Plural of _substratum_, an under layer or bed.
SUL´PHURET. A compound of sulphur with another solid, as with iron,
forming _sulphuret of iron_.
SUL´PHURETTED. Containing sulphur; as hydrogen, containing sulphur, is
called sulphuretted hydrogen.
SUPE´RBA. Lat. Superb, elegant.
SURIA´NA. A genus of plants of the family of Suriáneæ; it was formerly
of the Rosáceæ.
SYCOMO´RUS. Lat. The Sycamore; applied also as a specific name.
SY´ENITE and SI´ENITE. A granite rock from _Syene_ or _Siena_ in Egypt.
It consists of quartz, feldspar, and hornblende. It is tougher than
granite.
SYL´VIA. Name of a genus of birds.
SYNGENE´SIA. From the Gr. _sun_, together, and _geinomai_, to grow.
Linnean name of a class of plants.
TAC´CA. Malay. A genus of plants of the family of Aroïdeæ. _Tac´ca
pinnatifida._ The Salep tree.
TANG´HINIA. From the Madagascar name, _Tanghing_. A genus of plants of
the family of Apocy´neæ. _Tang´hinia vene´niflua_ yields an active
poison which is used to cause death, under judicial sentence, by the
natives of Madagascar.
TANTA´LIUM. A metal, remarkable for its insolubility in acids.
TAN´TALUS. A genus of birds of the family of Herons.
TATA´RICA. Lat. Belonging or relating to Tartary.
TELESCO´PIC. Relating to the telescope; telescopic objects are those
which may be seen by the aid of a telescope.
TELLU´RIUM. A rare metal, found in the gold mines of Transylvania.
TEMPERA´TURE. A definite degree of sensible heat.
TEMPORA´RIA. Lat. Temporary; relating to time.
TE´NAX. Lat. Tenacious.
TER´MES. A genus of insects of the order of Neuroptera, and family of
Termitidæ. White ants.
TERRA JAPO´NICA. An astringent medicinal gum, obtained from the Acácia
catechu.
TERTIARY FORMATION. A series of sedimentary rocks which are superior to
the primary and secondary, and distinguished by the fossil remains
found in them.
TESTA´CEÆ. From _testa_, a shell. Testáceans; animals provided with an
external shelly cover, composed chiefly of carbonate of lime.
TESTA´CEOUS. Consisting of carbonate of lime and animal matter.
TESTU´DO. Lat. Tortoise. A genus of reptiles of the order of Chelonians.
TETRACE´RA. From the Gr. _tettaras_, four, and _keras_, a horn. A genus
of plants of the family of Dillenáceæ.
TE´TRAGO´NA. From the Gr. _tetra_, four, and _gonos_, angle. Having four
angles; applied as a specific name. A genus of plants of the family of
Portuláceæ.
THE´A. A genus of plants of the tribe of Camelleæ. _The´a bohea_, Bohea
tea; _Thea viridis_, Green tea.
THE´INE. The proximate principle of tea.
THER´MAL. From the Gr. _thermos_, heat. Warm; belonging or relating to
heat.
THO´RIUM. A metal obtained from Thorina, an earthy substance.
THU´IA, also THU´JA. A genus of plants of the family of Coni´feræ.
_Thuia articulata._ Jointed arbor vitæ. _T. orientalis_; Chinese arbor
vitæ. _T. sandarach_, Shittim wood.
TIDAL. Relating to tides. _Tidal wave_ is the elevation of the water of
the ocean, produced by the attraction of the moon.
TILLAND´SIA. A genus of plants of the family of Bromeliáceæ.
TITA´NIUM. A metal discovered in 1781, by W. Gregor, in a ferruginous
sand.
TO´DUS. A genus of birds of the order of Passerinæ.
TO´PAZ. A crystalized mineral, harder than quartz, of a yellow wine
color.
TORSION BALANCE. See, BALANCE.
TOU´RMALINE. A mineral substance consisting of a Boro-silicate of
alumine, harder than quartz, but not as hard as topaz.
TOURNFO´RTIA. After Tournefort. A genus of plants of the family of
Borragi´neæ.
TRA´CHYTE. From the Gr. _trachus_, rough. A variety of lava. A
feldspathic rock, which often contains glassy feldspar and hornblende.
When the feldspar crystals are thickly and uniformly disseminated, it
is called _trachytic porphyry_.
TRAP. From the Swedish _trappa_, a flight of stairs, because _trap
rocks_ frequently occur in large tabular masses rising one above
another like the successive steps of a stair-case. Applied to certain
igneous rocks composed of feldspar, angite, and hornblende.
TRA´PPEAN. Belonging to trap rocks.
TREMA´NDRA. A genus of plants of the family of Tremándrea.
TRIAS. From the Lat. _tres_, three. Synonym of the triássic system of
rocks, consisting of the _Bunter sandstein_, the _Muschelkalk_, and
_Keuper_, a group of sandy marls of variegated colors.
TRICHO´MANES. From the Gr. _trichos_, hair, and _mania_, madness,
excess. A genus of plants of the class of Crytoga´mia. _Tricho´manes
brevise´tum._ Short-styled trichómanes.
TRICY´RTIS. From the Gr. _treis_, three, and _kurtis_, a sack or pouch.
A genus of plants of the family of Melantháceæ.
TRIDENTA´TA. Lat. Three-toothed; having three teeth.
TRI´GONOCE´PHALUS. From the Gr. _treis_, three, _gonos_, an angle, and
_kephale_, head. A genus of very venemous serpents. _Tri´gonoce´phalus
lanceola´tus._ Lance-head viper.
TRI´LOBITE. From the Lat. _tres_, three, and _lobus_, lobe. A genus of
fossil crustáceans.
TRIO´NYX. From the Gr. _treis_, three, and _onux_, a nail. A genus of
Chelonians.
TRIO´STEUM. From the Gr. _treis_, three, and _osteon_, a bone, a nut. A
genus of plants of the family of Caprifoliáceæ.
TU´FA. Italian. A volcanic rock, composed of an agglutination of
fragmented scoriæ.
TUNG´STEN. Swedish. _Heavy stone._ A metal which is hard, white,
brittle, and difficult to fuse.