The treasury of natural history, or, A popular dictionary of zoology / by Samuel Maunder.

  • Maunder, Samuel, 1785-1849.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The treasury of natural history, or, A popular dictionary of zoology / by Samuel Maunder. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    24/856 (page 2)
    CIje CTrengurjj nf Natural $?ts'tani; are most commonly met with in our climate, when examined in their native element, are seen to be composed of a large mushroom- shaped gelatinous disc, from the lower surface of which various processes and filaments depend. There are, in fact, obvious points of resemblance among them all; but 6till they admit of division into genera and sub- genera. Thus, we may observe, the genus Medusa includes those which have a central disc, more or less convex, on the upper sur- face, something like the head of a mush- room, and those that have a true mouth on the undcr-6ide of the disc ; but this mouth is sometimes a simple opening, and at other times placed on a peduncle : while the genus yEquorea includes those in which the mouth is simple, and not on a peduncle. When the disc is furnished with tentacula all round, they constitute the genus iEquorea, the species of which are extremely abundant in tropical seas. These animals feed chiefly on Mollusca and Crustacea. [See also Jelly- F1SH, p. 355; and for an account of their de- velopment, see Stkobila and Alternation of Generation in Supplement.] ACANTHOPTERYGIL One of the three primary' grand divisions, or natural orders. , of fishes ; originally recognized by our coun- ! tryrnen Willoughby and Kay, afterwards 1 j systematized by Artedi, and since established 11 by Cuvier. The characteristic* of the A can- ! j tliopterygii are, that they possess bony skele- j j tons, with prickly spinous processes in the j dorsal fins. The Stickleback and Kerch are j! familiar examples of tills division. ACAls THTJRUS, or SURGEON-FISH. A genus of Acanthupterygious fishes, many (A j which are remarkable for the beauty of their • ACANTIIOCEPHALA. An order of En- tozoa, which may be exemplified by the Echinorhyiichus gigas, often found in abun- dance in the alimentary canal of swine. The form of this parasite is elongated, tapering to the tail: the head consists of a retractile snout or proboscis, armed with four circlets of sharp recurved spines, and it can be with- | drawn or protruded at will. These singular : parasites have neither mouth nor stomach, i their nutriment being imbibed through the j general surface of the body. Some of the species are truly formidable to look at, but, ! fortunately, none of them infest man. [See Ecuinoiuiyncuus in Supplement.] URQKON FISH ^ACAKTHtJRCS ) form and the variety of their colours. They are chiefly distinguished by the sharp and lancet-like moveable spines with which they are armed on each 6ide of the tail : hence, ns they cannot be handled incautiously with impunity, they have obtained from English sailors, &c., the name of “ doctors. They abound in the tropical seas, but are never seen elsewhere. ACANTHOCINUS. A genus of Coleop- terous insects belonging to the Longicum group. There are but few European species : the antennas in the male are more than four times the length of the body. ACA-NTITOPIIIS. A genus of venomous serpents, allied to the Vipers, but distin- guished from them in many essential cha- | racters. The head of the Acantliophis is broad ! and compressed, the mouth capable of great extension, and the tail is terminated by a little spur or horny excrescence, whence its name is derived. They are natives of Aus- tralia ; secrete themselves in holes or beneath the roots of trees, and exhibit an astonish- ing tenacity of life. The A. liroumii is reckoned the most venomous Reptile found near Port-Jackson. ACANTIIOPODA. A tribe of Clavicorn Coleopterous insects (composed of only one genus, Hcterocerus), distinguished hv their flattened feet, which arc broad, and armed on the outside with spines ; the tarsi short and four-jointed with ordinary sized claws, and the bodv depressed ; the prosternum is diluted ; the antenna* arc rather longer than the head, eleven-jointed, the bust six forming a nearly cylindrical serrated moss. ACARID.E. Of these small spider-like animals, M. Latreille makes four divisions : 1. Mites, (Trombidites): 2. Ticks,(Eicinitcs) : 3. Water Mites, (Hydrackndhg); and 4. Flesh Worms (Microphthira). Some of these exist on the ground, others in the water ; j some are parasitical, living on the blood and humours of the animals or insects on which they are fixed, while others insinuate them- selves under the skin, where they multiply prodigiously. Of these latter, the Itch-insect (Sarcoptcs scabiei,) is a remarkable example. Their mouths are, in general, formed rather for suction than for mastication : and their extremities are commonlv armed with what may be likened to a small pair of pincers. ' Some have four eyes, some two. and several ! appear to have none. The common Cheese- ! mite (.4 cams domesticus) [ is familiar to every one. | Another has the power of j spinning webs, and is well ' known as the Red Spider, i in hot-houses, where it j, greatly injures the plants | by covering the leaves with its webs. There are also Ticks. Ilarvcst-bugs. Wa- ij ter Mites, and many others, I which will be noticed in i their alphabetical order. If We may here. howe\ er. i observe, cn yxissaiit. that so widely are the | Axfflrida disseminated through animate i| •>