132 



at $atttral ^t 



from six inches to a foot in depth. The 

 head is very large, and slightly concave ; 

 the jaws are curved arid strong ; and the 



body is humped near the middle of the 

 back, at which part there are two hooked 

 tubercles. In the process of excavation they 

 use their jaws and feet, and load the concave 

 back of their heads with the grains of earth 

 which they have detached ; thus loaded, 

 they ascend backwards, resting at intervals, 

 and fixing themselves to the inner walls of 

 their burrow by the assistance of the two 

 hooked tubercles on the back ; and when 

 arrived at the orifice, they jerk oif their load 

 to a distance. The Cieindelae are all vora- 

 cious ; and when their prey comes within 

 their reach, they rush upon it with great 

 ferocity. 



CILIOGRADA. An order of Acalephce, 

 or gelatinous transparent marine animals, 

 distinguished by their continually agitating 

 the cilia with which their contractile bodies 

 are provided; organs which possess the phos- 

 phorescent faculty in a very high degree. 

 [For examples, see BEKOE, and MEDUSA.] 



CIMBEX : CIMBICID^. A genus and 

 family of Hymenopterous insects, allied to 

 Tenthredinette, or Saw-flies (as they are com- 



monly called, from their saw-like ovipositor), 

 comprising those species which have the 

 anteunx alike in both sexes, and terminated 



by a knob or a reversed corie rounded at 

 the tip, preceded by four or five joints, and 

 the two subcostal nerves being contiguous 

 without a wide intermediate space. The 

 larvae of these insects greatly resemble the 

 Caterpillars of Lepidopterous insects, but 

 have from eighteen to twenty-two feet, or 

 only six, which distinguishes them from 

 true caterpillars, which have from ten to 

 sixteen feet. In order to undergo their 

 change, they spin, either on the earth or on 

 the plants upon which they have fed, a 

 cocoon, in which, like the rest of the family, 

 they remain unchanged for many months, 

 changing to pupa: only a. few days before 

 they become perfect Saw-flies. 



CIMEX. A Linnjean genus of Hemip- 

 terous insects, now subdivided into several 

 families or sections, according to the general 

 shape or habit of the insects, and severally 

 named Cimicidce,Pentat<>n/i</ii, C,/<liiida>, Co- 

 reidai, Lyyeidce, Jieduvmla:, Acantkidw, and 

 JlildroiiVitridtje: the two terminal joints of 

 the antennae of hair-like fineness ; body 

 much depressed ; thorax transverse; antennae 

 four-jointed ; labrum rather long and 

 pointed, and when the proboscis is not in 

 use, recurved under the head. The bed-bug 

 (Cirnex lectularius) may serve as a general 

 example of this very extensive tribe. [See 

 BUG.] 



CINCLOSOMA. A genus of Passerine 

 birds, belonging to the Turdidce family. 

 The species Cinclosoma punctatum, or Spot- 

 ted Ground Thrush, inhabits Van Diemen's 

 Land and Eastern Australia. It prefers the 

 summits of low stony hills and rocky gullies, 

 particularly those covered with scrubs and 

 bushes. Its flight is very limited ; but it 

 readily evades pursuit by running over the 

 stony surface and concealing itself among 

 the underwood : when flushed suddenly, it 

 rises with a loud whirring noise, like a Quail 

 or Partridge. Its note consists of a low 

 piping whistle. It is sold in Hobart-Town 

 market, with Bronzewings, Pigeons, and 

 Wattle-birds, and is known there as the 

 Ground Dove : doubtless from its terrestrial 

 habits and its flesh being excellent eating. 

 To its delicacy, and the large development 

 of the pectoral muscles, and the contour of 

 the body, resembling a Quail, Mr. Gould 

 gives his testimony. It breeds in October 

 and three following months. The nest, which 

 is always placed on the ground, is a slight 

 and rather careless structure, composed of 

 leaves and the inner bark of trees, and is of 

 a round, open form. The stomach of this 

 bird, on dissection, was found to contain 

 seeds and caterpillars, mingled with sand. 

 Another species, Cinclosoma castanotu^, 

 found near the Swan River, is a much shyer 

 bird than the C. punctatum, and runs over 

 the ground faster ; its shorter toes consider- 

 ably assisting its progressive motion. 



CINCLUS. The Water-ouzel [which see]. 



CINNYRIS. CINNYRHWE. A genus 

 and family of small birds, remarkable for 

 the splendid metallic lustre of their plumage 

 in which they rival the Humming-birds 

 All the species inhabit the 



