GLOSSARY. 505 



Vermiform (Lat. vermis, worm; and/or/zM, form). Worm-like. 



Vertebra (Lat. verto, I turn). One of the bony segments of the vertebral 



column or backbone. 

 Vertebrata (Lat. vertebra, a bone of the back, from vertere, to turn). The 



division of the Animal Kingdom roughly characterised by the possession of 



a backbone. 

 Vesicle (Lat. vesica, a bladder). A little sac or cyst. 

 ViBRACULA (Lat. vibro, I shake). Long filamentoas appendages found in 



many Pohjzoa. 

 ViPERiNA (Lat. vipera, a viper). A group of the Snakes. 

 Viviparous (Lat. vivxis, alive; and ^ario, I bring forth). Bringing forth 



young alive. 



"Whorl. The spiral turn of a univalve shell. 



XiPHiSTERNUM (Gr. xiplios, sword ; sternon, breast-bone). The inferior or 

 posterior segment of the sternum, corresponding with the "xiphoid carti- 

 lage " of human anatomy. 



XiPHOSURA (Gr. xiphos, a sword ; and otira, tail). An order of Crustacea, 

 comprising the Limuli or King-crabs, characterised by their long swoTd- 

 like-tails. 



Zeuglodontid^ (Gr. ze^igle, a yoke ; odoiis, a tooth). An extinct family of 

 Cetaceans, in which the molar teeth are two-fanged and look as if composed 

 of two parts united by a neck. 



ZooiD (Gr. zoon, animal ; and eidos, like). The more or less completely in- 

 dependent organisms produced by gemmation or fission, whether these 

 remain attached to one another or are detached and set free. 



Zoophyte (Gr. zoon, animal ; phuton, plant). Loosely applied to many plant- 

 like animals, such as Sponges, Corals, Sea-anemones, Sea-mats, &c. 



