768 



C E N T R O P U S C E P H A L O P H O II A. 



CENTROPUS. A species or sub-genus of climb- 

 ing birds, or, at all events, of tree birds, combining the 

 general characters of the cuckoo, with a long and 

 straight claw on the hind toe resembling that of 

 the lark. There are several species, all natives of 

 the eastern continent, for some notice of which see 

 the article CUCKOO. 



CENTROTUS (Fabricius). A genus of insects 

 belonging to the order Homoptcra of Latreille, family 

 Cicadidcc, and sub-family CicadellcB, of the same 

 author. The head is inserted very low, the antennas 

 are very small, and terminated by a long slender seta, 

 and the scutellum, although covered by the prothorax, 

 is developed. Nothing can exceed the grotesque and 

 extraordinary forms exhibited by some of these in- 

 sects, more especially those inhabiting the tropical 

 countries, the thorax being produced into such strange 

 and monstrous horns and spines, varying in their 

 position and direction, that nothing parallel to them 

 can be found in nature. In some species we tind 

 this part produced over the head into a helmet, in 

 others the sides stand up like the ears or horns of 

 various animals, while in not a few this part is ex- 

 tended over the back into a long slender tail ; two 

 of the most remarkable species are the C. globularis 



a, C. globularis. b, C. cruciatus. 



of Fabricius, an inhabitant of South America, which 

 we have represented from nature, and which is about 

 one third of an inch long, and the C. davatus of 

 Fabricius, an inhabitant of the same country, having 

 the most extraordinary appendages in the shape of 

 spines, balls and crescents. " What is the precise 

 use," observe Messrs. Kirby and Spence, " of all the 

 varieties of armour with which these little creatures 

 are furnished, it is not easy to say, but they may pro- 

 bably defend them from the attacks of some animals." 

 These insects are of small size; they feed, in the 

 preparatory states, upon plants, employing their arti- 

 culated rostrum as a sucker to pump up the juices of 

 the leaves. Mr. Kirby has published the descriptions 

 and figures of some extraordinary species of this 

 genus, in the Magazine of Natural History. Like 

 the whole of the Linnaean Cicadidce, these insects are 

 able to leap to a considerable distance. Our second 

 figure represents another curious Brazilian species. 



We possess two British species, namely, the C. 

 cornuta, Linnaais, an insect which we have often 

 met with in the early summer mouths upon the nut, 

 white-thorn, &c., and which has a triangular horn on 

 each side of the thorax, with the posterior part of the 

 latter extended into a long and slender tail over the 

 back. The other species, C. geni&Ue of Fabricius, is 

 smaller, and is found upon the genista tinctoria. 



CENTUNCULUS (Linnaeus). The Roman name 

 of the bastard pimpernel, a very small annual plant 

 found on most heaths in Britain. It belongs to the 

 natural order Primulaccae. 



CEPA. The specific name of the common onion. 



CEPH^ELIS (Swartz). A geuus of West Indian 



shrubs belonging to Penlandria Monogyiria of 

 Linnaeus, and natural order linhinceic. Generic 

 character : flowers, aggregated in a head, having an 

 invo'iiicnim ; calyx small, of five teeth, supported by 

 the bracti ; corolla somewhat bell-shaped, thro-.it 

 bearded, limb in five divisions ; stamens included ; 

 stigma in two parts ; drupe dipyrenouft. 



CEPHAL ACANTHUS. A genus of fishes, with 

 spinotis fins, belonging to the peculiar division which 

 Cuvier names "armed cheeks," from the strong seal v 

 plates with which their heads are furnished. Their 

 muzzle is very short, and has the appearance of being 

 divided like a hare lip, with the mouth situated under 

 it ; the helmet is fiat, four-cornered, and rough. Thov 

 bear a considerable resemblance to the flying fishes, 

 only, they are without the supplemental fins, or 

 wings, as they are called, of these singular inhabitants 

 of the ocean. There is only one known species, of 

 small size and little value. 



CEPHALANTHUS(LinmEus). A North Ame- 

 rican shrub, there called Button-wood. 



CEPH ALARI A (Schreber). A genus of under- 

 shrnbs and herbs of various duration, natives chiefly 

 of Europe and the Cape of Good Hope. Linnaian 

 class and order Tetrandria Monosynia, natural order 

 Dipsaccce. These plants resemble the scabious, the 

 flowers forming round heads. 



CEPHALOPHORA or CEPHALOPODA 

 (Cuvier; Lamarck). A molluscous animal, so called 

 from having their heads furnished with long append- 

 ages, adapted to progressive motion ; they have two 

 orders of muscles, one belonging to the body, the other 

 to the feet or tentacula. The animal's head is quite 

 distinct from the rest of the body, and provided with 

 all the special organs of sensation, as well as with 

 very large sessile eyes ; the body oval, sub-cylindrical 

 or conical, naked or partly concealed in an univalve 

 shell, constantly many chambered and without an oper- 

 culum ; the mouth terminal and anterior, furnished 

 with a pair of horny teeth, acting vertically against 

 each other, and surrounded by numerous tentacular 

 appendages, probably used as feelers or baits to at- 

 tract their prey. Organs of respiration branchial, in 

 symmetrical pairs, and generally, if not always, con- 

 cealed. The sexes separate. 



This class of Molluscs, at least from all that it at pre- 

 sent known of them, including the species of this type, 

 are the most complete in their various parts of organ- 

 isation; they, in fact, enjoy all the animal faculties- 

 see well hear possess the power of moving rapidly 

 and of pursuing and seizing their prey. This class is 

 divided into the first order, Cryptudibranckiala (two 

 concealed branchiae) forming the Linn&an genus Srjiitt, 

 which is now sub-divided into the first family, Oc/o- 

 cera, including the genus Octopus; having eight ten- 

 tacular appendages; second family, Dccaccra, (ten 

 tentacular appendages) including the genera Lo/i<r<> 

 and Sepia. Second order, Ccllulacca (which see). 

 Third order, Polytlialamacca (many chambered). 

 First family, Ortliocerata, (like a horn) including the 

 genera Belcmnites, Conularia, ConoHtes, Ortlioccraln, 

 and Baculites; second family, Lilurtcca, including tin- 

 genera Ictliyusarcolithcs, (stony fish eaters) Liluola, 

 Spirula, Hamitcs, and Ammonoceratita ; third family, 

 Crktacea, including the genera Crepiditliun, Orcas, 

 and Linthuris; fourth family, Amr,:on(iccti, isicludiny 

 the genera Discorbites, Scaphites, Anniioniics, and 

 tii niplegas ; fifth family, Naui.i!tn;-<t, including the 

 genera Orbulii.es, Nautilus, Pulysloniclla, and Lcnti- 



