A VADUVA T—A VOSET 



23 



only assumed in spring. Among them is the curious Cerm'hyncha 

 (or Ceratorhina) monocerata which by shedding the horn-like pro- 

 tuberance rising between the nostrils, and here figured, led to no 

 few mistakes until the peculiarity was known. 



AVADUVAT, a corruption of Amadavat. 



AVIS, the ordinary Latin word for Bird, and in its plural form, 

 Aves, the scientific name of the Class of Vertebrate Animals which 

 comprises every kind of Bird. 



The want of an adjective derived fi'om Avis and Bird is one 

 much felt both in Latin ^ and English. In the latter language 

 remedy is hopeless, for 'bird-like is not enough," and " birdy " can 

 only be regarded as jocose. From the former an attempt has been 

 made to supply this defect by the invention and use by some 

 writers of "avian " — a form which scholars declare to be unclassical, 

 though they allow that "avine" might jDerhaps be admitted. Of 

 Greek origin " ornithic " is quite justifiable. 



AVOSET, from the Ferrarese Avosetta,'^ the Recurvirostra avocetta 



AvosET (Recurvirostra avocetta). (After Naumann.) 



of ornithology, a bird remarkable for its bill, which is perhaps the 

 most slender to be seen in the whole Class, and curving upward 

 towards the end, has given it two names which it formerly bore in 



^ Aviarius exists as a Latin adjective, but its precise meaning is somewhat 

 indefinite, and its use can hardly be recommended. 



^ This word is considered to be derived from the Latin avis — the termination 

 expressing a diminutive of a graceful or delicate kind, as donnetta from donna 

 (Prof. Salvadori in epist.) ; but it is spelt Avocetta by Prof. Giglioli. 



