Aardwolf
The aardwolf is a carnivorous mammal.
Aaron's Rod
Aaron's Rod is the only British species of Golden-rod. It is found in woods and thickets.
Aasvogel
The aasvogel are south African vultures.
Abalone
The abalone is an edible snail like marine animal.
Abelmoschus
Abelmoschus is a genus of tropical plants of the mallow family. It yields edible fruits, called okro (okra, ochro) which is used in soups.
Abroma
The Abroma is a genus of small trees which are native to India.
Abutilon
The Abutilon are a genus of plants of the order Malvaceae, also known as The Indian Mallows and American Jute.
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of plants of the order Leguminosae sub order Mimoseae consisting of trees or shrubs with compound pinnate leaves. They grow in Africa, Arabia, Australia and the East Indies.
Acalepha
Acalepha was a name once used to describe the Medusae (jelly-fishes).
Acanthaceae
The Acanthaceae are a natural order of dicotyledonous herbaceous plants or shrubs with opposite leaves and mono-petalous corolla. There are around 1400 species, mostly tropical.
Acanthus
The acanthus is a herbaceous plant of south Europe, Asia and Africa. It has large hairy, shiny leaves.
Acaridae
Acaridae is the mite family of insects
Acarina
Acarina is the mite and tick order of the arachnida. They have a rounded body with no demarcation between the prosoma and the opisthosoma.
Accentor
An accentor is a type of bird of the prunelliadae family.
Acephala
The Acephala are the headless Mollusca with a bivalve shell.
Acer
Acer is a genus of plants of the order Aceraceae to which belongs the Maple.
Achene
In botany, an achene is a small, dry carpel containing a single seed, the pericarp of which is closely applied but seperable and which does not open when ripe.
Achillaea
The Achillaea are a milfoil genus of plants.
Achimenes
The Achimenes are a genus of tropical American plants with scaly underground tubers. They are of the order Gesneraceae.
Acipenser
The acipenser is a genus of cartilaginous ganoid fishes to which the sturgeon belongs.
Aconite
Aconite (Monkshood) is a genus of hardy herbaceous plants of the order Ranunculaceae. The are remarkable for their poisonous and medicinal properties. Aconite is found in temperate regions of Europe in woods and on shaded stream banks.
Acorn
The acorn is the fruit of the oak tree.
Acorus
Acorus is a genus of plants which includes the calamus.
Acotyledons
Acotyledons are plants not furnished with cotyledons or seed-lobes, such as ferns, mosses and sea-weeds.
Acrita
Acrita is another name for the animals called Protozoa.
Acrogen
Acrogen is a term used to describe ferns, mosses and lichens which grow by extension upwards.
Actinia
Actinia is a member of the order zoantharia.
Actinopterygii
Actinopterygii is a division of bony fishes. The paired fins have broad bases and lack fleshy lobes. External nares are double, internal nares are absent. Scales are of the ganoid type.
Actinozoa
Actinozoa are a class of animals belonging to the sub-kingdom Coelenterata. They have rayed tentacles around the mouth.
Adda
The adda is a species of lizard also called the skink.
Addax
The addax is a species of antelope found in North African deserts. It has wide-sweeping twisted horns about 4 feet long.
Adder
An adder is a venomous snake of the viper family found in England.
Adder's-tongue
Adder's-tongue is a species of British fern whose spores are produced on a spike which resembles a snake's tongue.
Adder's-wort
Adder's-wort is a plant supposed to be able to cure snake bites.
Adder-pike
The Adder-pike is a small species of the weever fish. Also called the Lesser Weever or Sting-fish.
Adenanthera
Adenanthera is a genus of trees and shrubs native to the East Indies and Ceylon of the order Leguminosae.
Adiantum
Adiantum is a genus of ferns.
Adjutant-bird
The adjutant-bird is a large wading bird of the stork family. It is native to the warmer parts of India where it is called Hurgila or Argala.
Admiral
Admiral is any of several species of butterfly in the same family (Nymphalidae) as the tortoiseshells. The red admiral Vanessa atalanta, wingspan 6 cm, is found worldwide in the northern hemisphere. It migrates south each year from northern areas to subtropical zones.
Adonis
Adonis (pheasant's eye) is a genus of ranunculaceous plants. They are found throughout Europe, Asia and America and are highly poisonous.
Aegagrus
The aegagrus are a wild species of ibex found in the Caucasus and other Asiatic mountains.
Aegilops
Aegilops is a genus of grasses closely allied to wheat.
Aepyornis
Aepyornis was a genus of gigantic birds once found in Madagascar. It had three toes and laid eggs 14 inches in length.
Aesculus
Aesculus is a genus of plants which includes the horse-chestnut.
Afghan hound
The Afghan hound is a breed of fast hunting dog resembling the saluki in build, though slightly smaller. It was first introduced to the West by British army officers serving on India's North-West Frontier along the Afghanistan border in the late 19th century. The Afghan hound hunts by sight. It is about 70 cm tall and has a long, silky coat that may be black, grey, or a wide range of beige or tawny colours.
Agama
Agama are several lizards allied to the iguana.
Agaric
The agaric is a family of fungus including the cultivated mushroom.
Agave
Agave is a genus of plants of the order Amaryllidaceae which includes the daffodil and narcissus. They are popularly known as American aloes.
Ageratum
Ageratum is a genus of composite plants found in the warmer parts of America.
Agnatha
The agnatha are a branch of the sub-phylum craniata group of animals. They are the lampreys and hagfishes. These are the most primitive of the craniates. The mouth is round and not bounded by jaws. The brain is primitive.
Agnus Castus
Agnus Castus is a shrub of the order Verbenaceae native to Mediterranean countries. It has white flowers and acrid aromatic fruits. It was thought to have the property of preserving chastity, hence the name Castus from the Latin chaste.
Agouara
The agouara is a crab-eating racoon of South America.
Agouta
The agouta is an insectivorous mammal peculiar to Haiti. It is of the tanrec family and somewhat larger than a rat.
Agouti
The agouti is a small rodent of the genus Dasyprocta, family Dasyproctidae. It is found in the forests of Central and South America. The agouti is herbivorous, swift-running, and about the size of a rabbit.
Agrimony
Agrimony is a genus of plants of the order Rosaceae consisting of slender perennial herbs found in temperate regions. The leaves of common agrimony are used as a yellow dye.
Agrostis
Agrostis is a genus of pasture grasses.
Aigrette
Aigrette is a term used to describe the feathery crown attached to the seeds of various plants such as the thistle and dandelion.
Air-plants
Air-plants (Epiphytes) are plants that live upon other plants or trees apparently without receiving any nutriment other than by the air. They are abundant in Java and tropical America.
Airedale terrier
The Airedale terrier breed of large terrier, about 60 cm tall, with a wiry red-brown coat and black saddle patch. It originated about 1850 in England, as a cross between the otterhound and Irish and Welsh terriers.
Ajolote
The ajolote is a Mexican reptile of the genus Bipes. It and several other tropical burrowing species are placed in the Amphisbaenia, a group separate from lizards and snakes among the Squamata. Unlike the others, however, which have no legs, it has a pair of short but well-developed front legs. In line with its burrowing habits, the skull is very solid, the eyes small, and external ears absent. The scales are arranged in rings, giving the body a worm-like appearance.
Ajowan
Ajowan is an umbelliferous plant which is cultivated in India, Persia and Egypt for the seeds which are used in cooking and medicine.
Ajuga
The ajuga are a genus of plants belonging to the labiate family.
Alactaga
The alactaga is a rodent mammal closely allied to the jerboa but larger. It is found across central Asia.
Albacore
The albacore is a species of fish.
Albatross
The albatross is a long winged oceanic bird.
Albino
An albino is an animal with no skin pigment and pink eyes.
Alburnum
The alburnum is the recently formed wood in trees.
Alcelaphus albifrons
see "Blesbok"
Alco
The alco is a small variety of dog, with a small head and large pendulous ears found wild in Mexico and Peru.
Alcyonaria
Alcyonaria is an order of anthozoa. They have eight pinnate tentacles and eight mesenteries.
Alcyonium
Alcyonium is a member of the order of alcyonaria.
Alder
The alder is a genus of plants of the order Betulaceae, consisting of trees and shrubs found in the temperate and colder regions of the world.
Alfa
Alfa is a name for esparto grass obtained from Algeria.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a prolific forage plant similar to lucerne widely grown in the USA.
Algarobilla
Algarobilla are the seed-pods of trees of the Prosopis genus, valued for their tannin.
Alimentary canal
The alimentary canal is a tube beginning at the mouth and passing through the body to the anus. It is primarily used for the reception of food.
Alkanet
Alkanet is a perennial Boraginaceae found in warmer parts of Europe. It has a black taproot and funnel-shaped flowers which commence red and then turn blue.
Allamanda
Allamanda is a genus of American tropical plants of the order Apocynaceae, with large yellow or violet flowers.
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian reptile. It differs from the true crocodile by having a shorter and flatter head, much less webbed feet, and cavities in the upper jaw into which the long canine teeth of the lower jaw fit.
Alligator-apple
The alligator-apple is a narcotic fruit similar to the custard-apple. It is found in marshy areas of Jamaica.
Alligator-pear
Alligator-pear is an old name for the Avocado-pear (Avocado).
Allium
Allium is a genus of plants of the order Liliaceae which are distinguished by a peculiar pungent smell and taste characterised as alliaceous. These include the onion, garlic, leek and shalot.
Allosaurus
Allosaurus was the biggest and fiercest carnivorous dinosaur of the jurassic period. It was 15m tall and weighed about 3 tons.
Aloe
Aloe is a genus of plants of the order Liliaceae. They are natives of Africa and other hot regions. The leaves are fleshy, thick and spinous at the edges. The flowers have a tubular corolla.
Alopecurus
Alopecurus is a genus of grasses.
Alpaca
The alpaca (paco) is a close relative of the llama and a native of South America. It is smaller than the llama and has a fleece of around 24 inches long from which cloth is woven.
Alpine Crow
The Alpine Crow or Alpine Chough is a European bird closely akin to the chough of England.
Alpine Warbler
The alpine warbler is a European bird of the same family as the hedge-sparrow.
Alsatian
Alsatian is another name for the German shepherd dog.
Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria are a genus of South American plants of the order Amaryllideae.
Alveoli
The alveoli are air-sacs within the lung at the end of bronchioles.
Alyssum
Alyssum is a genus of cruciferous plants including the madwort.
Amadavat
The amadavat is a small Indian singing bird allied to the finches.
Amadou
Amadou is the name of several fungi of the genus Polyporus, they have a leathery appearance and grow on trees.
Amanita
Amanita is a genus of fungi including fly-agaric.
Amaranthaceae
The Amaranthaceae (amaranths) are an order of apetalous plants mainly found in tropical countries. They are remarkable for the white or reddish scales of which their flowers are composed.
Amaryllidaceae
Amaryllidaceae is an order of monocotyledonous plants which are generally bulbous with a highly coloured flower, six stamens and an inferior three-celled ovary. They are native to Europe and most other warm parts of the world.
Ambatch
Ambatch is a thorny leguminous shrub with yellow flowers growing in the shallows of the Upper Nile and other rivers of tropical Africa. It grows to around 15 to 20 feet tall. The wood is very light and spongy and is used to make rafts.
Amblyopsis
Amblyopsis is a genus of blind fishes comprised of a single species found in the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky.
Amelanchier
Amelanchier is a genus of small trees native to Europe and North America.
Amentaceae
Amentaceae is the family of trees and plants where the flowers are arranged in the form of catkins.
Amentum
American Orioles
Ametabola
Ammonite
Amoeba
Amoebina
Amomum
Amphibia
Amphineura
Amphipoda
Anaconda
Anapsida
Anatomy
Anchovy
Ancylostoma
Anemone
Anemone coronaria
Anemone quinquefolia
Angelfish
Angler
Angorra
Angus
Animal
Annelid
Annelids
Ant
Anteater
Antedon
Antelope
Anthozoa
Anthropoidea
Antilope cervicapra
Anura
Anus
Apatosaurus
Apes
Aphetohyoidea
Apoda
Apple
Apricot
Apterygota
Arachnida
Araneida
Archaeopteryx
Archiannelida
Arenicola
Argali
Argus-flounder
Armadillo
Armeria
Arrow worm
Artemisia Absinthium
Arthropod
Artiodactyla
Ascaris
Asexual
Ash
Asp
Aspen
Ass
Asterias
Asteroidea
Auricle
Aves
Avocado
Ayrshire
Babiroussa
Baboon
Bacteria
Badger
Balantidium
Balm
Balsam
Bamboo
Banana
Bandicoot
Bantam
Banyan
Barbel
Bark
Barley
Barnacle
Basil
Bass
Basset hound
Bat
Bay tree
Bay-winged Bunting
Beach Plum
Beagle
Bean
Bear
Bearded Collie
Beaver
Bee
Beech
Beef
Beefmaster
Beetle
Begonia
Behaviour
Belladonna
Beluga
Bengal
Bergamot
Bhang
Biennial
Bighorn
Bilberry
Bilharzia
Bindweed
Biology
Birch
Birchirs
Bird of prey
Bishopweed
Bison
Bittern
Black snake
Blackbird
Blackbuck
Blackcap
Bladder-nut
Bladder-wrack
Bladderwort
Blatta orientalis
Blattidae
Bleak
Blenheim
Blenny
Blesbok
Blind fish
Blindworm
Blood-root
Bloodhound
Blue bottle
Blue-fish
Blue-throat
Blue-wing
Bluethroat
Bo tree
Boa
Boar
Boat-fly
Boatbill
Bogue
Boidae
Boletus
Bombay duck
Bontebok
Borage
Border Leicester
Botany
Botany-Bay Oak
Box
Box elder
Box thorn
Boxer
Brachiosaurus
Bracken
Bradyodonti
Brahman
Bramble
Branchiopoda
Brangus
Bread-fruit
Breadcrumb sponge
Bream
Briar
Brill
Briza
Broccoli
Bromeliaceae
Bronchiole
Bronchus
Bronze-wing
Broom
Broom-grass
Brown Swiss
Brucella
Bryozoa
Buansuah
Bubaline Antelope
Bubalus
Bubo
Buccal cavity
Buck
Buck-bean
Buck-hound
Buckthorn
Bucku
Buffalo
Bugula
Bulb
Bull
Bull-frog
Bullace
Bulldog
Bullfinch
Bulrush
Bunting
Burdock
Burnet
Bush antelope
Butcher-bird
Buttercup
Butterfly
Butterwort
Buzzard
Amentum is a botanical term for the catkin.
see "cassicus"
Ametabola are a division of insects which are wingless and do not undergo any metamorphosis, but which hatch from the egg nearly in the same form they keep throughout their life. This includes the lice and spring-tails.
An ammonite is one type of extinct sea creature, often found as a fossil.
An amoeba is a primitive one cell animal.
The amoebina is an order of rhizopoda. The order is comprised of the amoeba and its relatives. Reproduction is usually by binary fission.
Amomum are a genus of plants of the order Zingiberaceae which includes ginger. They are native to warm climates and are remarkable for the pungency and aromatic properties of their seeds.
Amphibia is a class of craniates which during their evolution have only partialy adapted to life on land. They breed in water.
The amphineura is a class of phylum mollusca. The body is bilaterally symmetrical. The mouth and anus are at opposite ends of the body. The foot is flattened and the mantle bears calcareous plates.
Amphipoda is an order of malacostraca where the carapace is absent and the body is laterally compressed. The abdomen is elongated.
The anaconda is a South American snake, a member of the python and boa family, the Boidae. One of the largest snakes, growing to 9m more, it is found in and near water, where it lies in wait for the birds and animals on which it feeds. The anaconda is not venomous, but kills its prey by coiling round it and squeezing until the creature suffocates. The anaconda is a climber as well as a swimmer, and may be found in trees along river banks.
The anapsida are a subclass of reptiles in which there are no temporal vacuities.
Anatomy is the study of animal's structure.
The anchovy is a small fish (Engraulis encrasicholus) of the herring family. It is fished extensively, being abundant in the Mediterranean, and is also found on the Atlantic coast of Europe and in the Black Sea. It grows to 20 cm. Pungently flavoured, it is processed into fish pastes and essences, and used as a garnish, rather than eaten fresh.
Ancylostoma is a phylum nematoda.
The anemone is any plant of the genus Anemone, of the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. The function of petals is performed by its sepals. The white or lavender-tinged wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) grows in open woods, flowering in spring.
see "Poppy anemone"
see "Anemone"
Angelfish is any of a number of unrelated fishes. The freshwater angelfish, genus Pterophyllum, of South America, is a tall, side-to-side flattened fish with a striped body, up to 26 cm long, but usually smaller in captivity. The angelfish or monkfish of the genus Squatina is a bottom-living shark up to 1.8m long with a body flattened from top to bottom. The marine angelfishes, Pomacanthus and others, are long narrow-bodied fish with spiny fins, often brilliantly coloured, up to 60cm long, living around coral reefs in the tropics.
Angler is any of an order of fishes Lophiiformes, with flattened body and broad head and jaws. Many species have small, plant-like tufts on their skin. These act as camouflage for the fish as it waits, either floating among seaweed or lying on the sea bottom, twitching the enlarged tip of the threadlike first ray of its dorsal fin to entice prey. There are over 200 species of angler fish, living in both deep and shallow water in temperate and tropical seas. The males of some species have become so small that they live as parasites on the females.
The Turkish angora is a breed of long-haired cat renowned for its ability to remain immobile for long periods and for its love of water and bathing. The coat is very fine, silky, and wavy. The ears are large, wide at the base, and pointed, the tail is long, tapering, and usually carried curled, the eyes are large and almond-shaped.
The angora is very responsive to its owner's wishes and enjoys retrieval games.
The angus (Aberdeen-Angus) is a hornless, black, compact, low-set domestic breed of beef cattle.
An animal is a living creature endowed with voluntary movement.
Annelid is any segmented worm of the phylum Annelida. Annelids include earthworms, leeches, and marine worms such as lugworms. They have a distinct head and soft body, which is divided into a number of similar segments shut off from one another internally by membranous partitions, but there are no jointed appendages.
see "phylum annelida"
An ant is a small hymenopterous insect. Ants have a complex social structure, and instincts.
The anteater is a mammal of the family Myrmecophagidae, order Edentata, native to Mexico, Central America, and tropical South America. An anteater lives almost entirely on ants and termites. It has toothless jaws, an extensile tongue, and claws for breaking into the nests of its prey. Species include the giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla, about 1.8m long including the tail, the tamandua or collared anteater Tamandua tetradactyla, about 90cm long, and the silky anteater Cyclopes didactyla, about 35cm long. The name is also incorrectly applied to the aardvark, the echidna, and the pangolin.
The antedon is a type of crinoidea.
An antelope is any of several cloven hoofed ruminates.
The anthozoa is the class of marine animals known as sea anemones, sea fans, sea pens and stony corals. They are solitary or colonial animals in which only hydroid individuals are represented.
The anthropoidea are an order of eutheria. They have the most highly developed
Brain of the mammals. The digits bear nails.
see "Blackbuck"
Anura is a subclass of amphibia. They are the frogs and toads. These are amphibians which lose their tail at the metamorphosis. In the adult the gill slits close. The hind limbs are very powerful and have webs between the digits.
The anus is the opening at the end of the alimentary canal.
Apatosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the jurassic period. It was 20m long and weighed 30 tonnes. It digested food with the aid of stones in the stomach.
Apes are a group of primates closely related to humans.
Aphetohyoidea is a subclass of fish. They have a bony endoskeleton and primitive jaws.
The apoda are a subclass of amphibia. They are limbless, burrowing animals with a sub-terminal anus and small practically useless eyes covered by opaque skin.
An apple is the edible fruit of the trees of genus malus, rosaceae family.
The apricot is a fruit tree native to Asia. It was first brought to England in 1652.
Apterygota is a subclass of insecta.
Arachnida is a class of arthropods. They are the spiders, scorpions, king-crabs and mites. The body is divided into an anterior prosoma and a posterior mesosoma. There are four pairs of walking legs on the mesosoma.
Araneida is the spider order of arachnida. Spinnerets are present in the abdomen for spinning the web.
Archaeopteryx was the first bird. It appeared on earth during the jurassic period. It was about 35cm long and unlike modern birds had teeth.
The archiannelida are a class of phylum annelida.
The arenicola are polychaeta.
The argali is a wild sheep found in Siberia.
The argus-flounder is a species of flounder found in American seas.
The armadillo is a mammal native to South and Central America.
Armeria (Thrift) is a genus of plants of the order Plumbaginaceae.
see "phylum chaetognatha"
see "Wormwood"
see "phylum arthropoda"
Artiodactyla is an order of eutheria. They are even toed ungulates: cattle and sheep.; pigs, deer and camels. They are specialised to deal with large quantities of vegetable food. The cheek teeth are adapted for grinding. The stomach is complex.
Ascaris is a phylum nematoda.
Asexual is a term applied to reproduction by a single parent.
The ash is a type of tree yielding strong elastic timber.
The asp is a type of poisonous snake.
The aspen is a tree native to Europe, north Africa and north Asia.
The ass is an animal related to the horse and zebra.
Asterias is an asteroidea.
Asteroidea is a subclass of stelleroidea. These are the starfishes. Tube feet are in a groove along the under surface of each of the ''arms''. The feet can be retracted.
An auricle is a heart chamber which receives blood.
The aves are the bird class of craniates. They are similar to the reptiles, but have become adapted to flying. The fore limbs are modified to form wings.
The avocado-pear (avocado) is an evergreen tree of the order Lauraceae. It has a fruit similar to a pear, weighing around 1 to 2 pounds. It is a native tree of tropical America and the West Indies.
The ayrshire is a fleshy bodied red or brown coloured breed of domestic dairy cattle.
The babiroussa is a ferocious wild pig found in Sulawesi.
The baboon is a medium sized monkey of the genus papio. They are characterized by a dog like snout, cheek prominences, and coloured bare patches on the buttocks. Baboons are found in Africa and Arabia.
Bacteria are micro organisms.
The badger is a carnivorous mammal found in England.
Balantidium is a member of the order of heterotricha.
Balm is a plant native to Europe and western Asia.
Balsam is a genus of herbs.
Bamboo is a genus of grasses found in warm climates.
The banana is a perennial herb. Cultivated in tropical and sub tropical climates.
The bandicoot is a small marsupial peculiar to australasia.
Bantams are miniature fowls.
The banyan is a large fig tree native to India.
The barbel is a type of fresh water fish related to the carp.
Bark is the external coating of tree trunks.
Barley is the name of several cereal plants of the genus Hordeum, order Gramineae, which yield a grain used in food and for making malt. Barley has been known by man since ancient times and was used by the Egyptians to brew beer.
Barnacles are crustaceans often attaching themselves to ships.
Basil is an aromatic herb.
The bass is a fish of the perch family.
The basset hound is a long bodied, short crooked legged dog.
A bat is a nocturnal creature of the order cheiroptera.
The bay tree is a small evergreen tree. Its leaves are used in cooking.
see "Vesper Sparrow"
The beach plum (shore plum, Prunus maritima) is a tall shrub bearing tart, purple to yellow plums, 5 cm in diameter which are used in jams. It grows to 3 m tall and bears showy white flowers, about 2.5 cm wide and grows in sandy soil along the north-eastern coast of North America.
The beagle is a small dog of the fox hound type.
A bean is the seed of a plant of the order leguminosae.
A bear is an omnivorous mammal animal of the order ursus.
The bearded collie (highland collie, mountain collie, hairy mou'ed collie) is a hardy breed of herding dog known for its unique ''fading'' puppies, which may be born dark and lighten significantly with age.
They have a long to medium-length shaggy, yet wispy coat which follows the natural line of the body and may be black, blue, brown, or fawn in colour with or without white markings.
The ears are long, shaggy, and hang down the side of the head, seeming to blend in with the rest of the body.
The tail is long, furry, and carried low and the eyes are large and dark, with a bright, inquiring expression.
The adult dog stands 51 to 56 cm tall at the shoulder and weighs about 25kg.
The beaver is a large amphibian rodent.
The bee is a four winged stinging insect of the order hymenoptera.
The beech is a forest amentaceae.
Beef is the meat derived from the carcass of bulls and cows.
The beefmaster is a red, usually with white spots breed of beef cattle which was developed at Texas in 1908.
The beetle is an insect of the order coleoptera.
Begonias are succulent herbs native to tropical climates.
Behaviour is an organism's mode of life.
Belladonna is a poisonous plant from which atropine is derived.
The beluga is a large dolphin.
The Bengal is a breed of short-haired domestic cat which was developed in the USA in 1970 by breeding an Asian leopard with a domesticated tabby cat. The fur is leopard-patterned, thick, soft and consists of random rosettes of light spots within darker outer circles on a rufus-coloured background.
The ears are small and slightly pointed, the tail is long and tapering, the eyes are very large and round and golden. The hind legs are shorter than the forelegs, a trait that makes the cat look like it is stalking when it walks and it has the gentle temperament of its tabby ancestor.
The bergamot is a tree of the genus citrus. The rind of its fruit provides a fragrant orange scented essence used in perfume.
Bhang is the Indian name for cannabis indica.
Biennial refers to plants that live for two years/seasons.
The bighorn (Ovis cervina) is a large sheep with massive horns. It is found in the Rocky Mountains from Alaska to Mexico. Also called the Rocky Mountain Sheep.
The bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is a small shrub of the order Vacciniaceae. It is found on copses and on heaths where it grows to about 60 cm tall and bears oval leaves with serrated edges and solitary, drooping, globular, flesh-coloured flowers and dark-blue berries.
Bilharzia is a parasitic worm of the fluke group.
Bindweed is a perennial herb of the order convolvulaceae.
Biology is the science of life and living things.
The birch is a slender tree.
The birchirs are members of the palaeonisciformes order.
A bird of prey is a bird with a hooked beak and sharp claws which hunts other animals.
Bishopweed is a perennial herb used to treat gout.
The bison is a division of the ox family.
The bittern is a British marsh bird related to the heron.
The black snake (coluber constrictor) is a common non-venomous snake found in the USA. It is about 5 feet long and is so agile it was nicknamed the Racer. It feeds on small animals and birds and was used for catching rats.
The blackbird (Turdus merula) is a British bird of the thrush family. The male has black plumage and a yellow bill. The female is dark brown with a dark bill.
The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is an antelope found in central and north west India. It has spirally twisted horns and stands about 3 feet tall.
The blackcap is an English song bird of the warbler family.
The bladder-nut is a name of shrubs or small trees of the genus Staphylea, order Sapindaceae. They are native to Europe, Asia and North America.
Bladder-wrack is a sea-weed so called because of the floating vesicles in its fronds. It is common on English beachs.
The bladderwort is a genus of herbs of the order lentibulariaceae.
see "Cockroach"
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.
The bleak is a small river fish, 6 or 7 inches long. It is a member of the Carp family and resembles the dace. It is found in England and Europe. It is generally silver but with a green back and is very edible.
The Blenheim is a variety of spaniel bearing a close resemblance to the King Charles breed, but is somewhat smaller.
The Blenny is a genus of acanthopterygious fishes (Blennius) distinguished by a short rounded head and a long compressed smooth body. Owing to their small gill openings they can exist for for some time without water. They are found in sea water. Some species are found off the coast of Britain.
The blesbok (Alcelaphus albifrons) is an antelope found in South Africa. It has a white marked face, a general chocolate colouring and a ''saddle'' of a bluish colour. It was heavily hunted during the 19th century.
The Blind fish are several species of fishes of the family Amblyopsidae inhabiting the American cave-streams.
The blindworm is a legless lizard of the anguidae family.
Blood-root (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a plant of the Sanguinaria genus. It was used by North American Indians to provide red paint.
The bloodhound is an ancient breed of dog black and tan in colour and with pendulous ears. It has great powers of scent and is often used for tracking.
The blue bottle (Musca vomitoria) is a large blue species of the the blow-fly.
The blue-fish (Temnodon) is a sea fish common off the Altantic coast of the USA. It is similar to the mackerel, but grows to 3 feet long. Also called the skip-jack, horse-mackerel and green-fish.
The blue-throat (Sylvia succica) is a bird with a tawny breast marked with a sky-blue crescent. It is found in northern Europe and Asia. It is eaten in France.
The blue-wing is a genus of American ducks so called because of the colour of the wing coverts.
The bluethroat is a small bird.
The bo tree is an Indian fig tree held sacred to buddha.
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.
Boar is a male, not castrated pig (swine).
The boat-fly (Notonecta glauca) is an aquatic hemipterous insect which swims on its back.
The boatbill is a heron type bird found in brazil.
The bogue is an acanthopterygian fish found in the Mediterranean. It has large eyes and a brilliant colouring.
The boidae are a family of large non-venomous serpants with two mobile hooks and the rudiments of hind-legs near the anus.
Boletus is a genus of fungi, order Hymenomycetes, family Polyporei. They have a broad hemispherical cap the lower surface formed of open tupes, cylindrical in form, and adhering to one another. The tubes can be separated from the cap and contain little cylindrical capsules which are the organs of reproduction.
The bombay duck is a small fish of the Indian and China seas.
The bontebok is a pied antelope of South Africa allied to the blesbok.
Borage is a biennial herb of the order boraginaceae.
The Border Leicester is a breed of British long-wooled sheep. It has a long head which is wide between the eyes, a large black muzzle, small ears and no horns. Its wool is long and soft.
Botany is the science of plant life.
see "Casuarina"
Box is a hardy shrub of the order euphorbiaceae.
Box elder is the ash-leaved maple tree which is found in the USA. It was once used as a source of sugar.
Box thorn is a climbing solanaceae.
The boxer is a medium-sized dog of continental origin. It has a smooth coat.
Brachiosaurus was one of the largest animals ever to live. It was a dinosaur from the jurassic period. It was 25m long and weighed 50 tonnes. It was a herbivore.
Bracken is a fern growing on heathland.
The bradyodonti is an order of chondrichthyes. They are the chimaeras. A palato-quadrate bar is fused to the cranium. Teeth are few and crushing.
The brahman (Zebu) is a grey with a large shoulder hump breed of domestic dairy cattle which originated in India.
The bramble is a prickly shrub of the order rosaceae.
Branchiopoda is a subclass of crustacean in which the trunk appendages are broad, lobed and fringed with hairs.
The brangus is a large, black, hornless, straight backed breed of domestic beef cattle which was developed in the USA during the 1930s.
Bread-fruit is a tree of the order Artocarpaceae. The tree grows to a height of about 100 feet. The leaves are leathery, about 1 foot long and 3 or 4 inches wide. The fruit of the tree when roasted tastes somewhat like bread, hence the name! The sap of the tree is similar in appearance to cows milk, and is considered nutritious, hence the alternative name of cow-tree.
The Breadcrumb sponge is a British coastal sponge which forms an encrusting mass.
The bream is a fresh water fish allied to the carp.
Briar (Erica arborea) is a plant of the Ericaceae family. Briar pipes are made from its roots.
The brill is a type of fish like the turbot.
Briza is a genus of grass. It is popularly called quaking grass on account of the spikelets being in a constant state of tremulous motion.
Broccoli is a late variety of the cauliflower, hardier and with more colour in the flower and leaves. The flower-stalks are eaten.
Bromeliaceae is the pineapple family of endogenous plants. The name comes from the genus Bromelia to which the pineapple was once incorrectly refered.
A bronchiole is a branch of a bronchus within the lung.
The bronchus is a pipe connecting the trachea to the lung.
The Bronze-wing is various species of Australian pigeons distinguished by the bronze colour of their plumage.
Broom is a shrub of the order leguminosae.
Broom-grass (Broom-corn) is a plant of the order of grasses, with a jointed stem. It grows to a height of between 8 and 10 feet. It was cultivated in North America and used to make carpet-brooms.
The Brown Swiss is a brown domestic breed of dairy cattle with a wedge-shaped body.
Brucella is a genus of bacteria which causes contagious abortion in cattle, sheep and pigs and undulant fever in man.
Bryozoa is another name for phylum polyzoa.
The buansuah is a wild dog of Northen India.
The bubaline antelope is an ox-like antelope found in the deserts of north Africa. It is yellow-brown in colour and has horns which start forward and outward, and then trun backwards.
The bubalus is the genus of animals which includes the buffalo.
Bubo is a genus of owls, including the great-horned owl.
The buccal cavity is the region into which the mouth opens. The tongue is found on the floor of the buccal cavity.
Buck is the name of the male fallow-deer, reindeer, chamois, goat, hare and rabbit.
The buck-bean (bog-bean, Marsh-Trefoil) is a plant of the order Gentianaceae. It is common in boggy soils and is found in England, Europe and North America. It is a bitter tasting plant and was once used as a tonic.
The buck-hound is a type of dog similar to the stag-hound but smaller, originally bred for hunting bucks.
The buckthorn is a shrub of the order rhamnaceae.
Bucku are several plants of the genus Barosma order Rutacea. They were used as medicine for urino-genital disorders around the turn of the century.
The buffalo is a large animal of the ox family.
Bugula is an ectoprocta.
A bulb is a modified leaf-bud formed on a plant on or beneath the surface of the ground, emitting roots from its base and a stem from its centre.
A bull is a male animal of the bovidea family.
The bull-frog is a large species of frog found in North America. They are between 8 and 10 inches long, and get their name from their croak which resembles the lowing of cattle
The bullace (prunus insititia) is a wild plum.
The bulldog is an ancient breed of British dog. It was bred for bull baiting and as such it can grip a bull's throat without obstructing its nostrils. It has a distinctive short, thick, kinked tail.
The bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) is a species of finch of the family Fringillidae.
The bulrush is a perennial sedge of the order cyperaceae.
The bunting is a bird of the sub-family Emberizinae, allied to the finches.
Burdock is a biennial herb of the order compositae.
Burnet is a perennial rosaceous herb.
The bush antelope is a small African antelope.
The Butcher-bird (Lanius) is a genus of Shrike which often breeds in Britain.
The buttercup is a perennial herb of the order ranunculaceae.
Butterfly is a division of the order of lepidoptera. The other is moth.
The butterwort is a perennial herb of the order lentibulariaceae.
The buzzard is a group of 20 types of birds of prey.