562 



of 



aquatic retreats in the morning ar.d evening, 

 to feed in more open spots : their flight, from 

 the shortness of their wings, is very feeble, 

 but they run with swiftness ; and by the 

 peculiarly compressed form of their body, 

 are able to make their way through dense 

 masses of reeds and high grass with so much 

 facility as to escape even after being despe- 

 rately wounded. The flesh of all these birds 

 is delicate ; and from living chiefly upon 

 aquatic seeds and vegetable aliment, they 

 may be considered as aquatic Gallinacea." 

 The Jacanas and Screamers of tropical cli- 

 mates are often placed in this family ; their 

 general structure and habits rendering such 

 an arrangement quite natural. 



RAMPHASTID^E. A family of birds, 

 found in tropical America, distinguished by 

 their very large notched bill, and a peculiarly 

 long feather-like tongue. [See TOUCAN.] 



RANA. [See FROG.] 



RANELL A. A genus of Mollusca, whose 

 shells are for the most part covered with 

 tubercles and granulations, and which, from 

 the colour and squat shape of some of the 

 species, have been likened to frogs (rana), 

 whence their name. The shell is ovate or 

 oblong, depressed, and thick, with two rows 

 of varices situated at the distance of half a 

 whorl from each other, and longitudinally 

 united, forming a continued ridge on each 

 side of the shell . They are mostly from the 

 Indian seas. A few fossil species occur in 

 the London clay. 



RAPHIDIA : RAPHIDIIDJ3. A genus 

 and family of Neuroptercus insects, which 

 are of comparatively small size, and of active 

 habits ; the structure of the head and neck, 

 powerful jaws, and the elongated COXSE of 

 the legs, as well as the membranous attach- 

 ment of the segments of the body, indicating 

 predaceous habits. They are chiefly found 

 in the neighbourhood of woods and streams ; 

 and from the form of the head and neck, 

 and the facility with which they turn the 

 front of the body in different directions, they 

 have received the English name of Snake- 

 flies. The wings are moderately large, 

 strongly veined, and of nearly equal size, 

 the posterior not folded when at rest, when 

 they are deflexed at the sides of the body ; 

 the maxillae and labium are distinct, with 

 short palpi ; the legs are short ; the abdomen 

 is unarmed ; the eyes resemble ocelli, and 

 are situated near the base of the antennae. 

 The pupa resembles the perfect insect in 

 general form, but is furnished only with 

 short rudiments of wings, lying at the sides 

 of the body, and is not inclosed in a cocoon. 



RAPTORES. The name given to an 

 order of Birds Birds of prey. They are 

 characterized by a strong, curved, sharp- 

 edged, and sharp-pointed beak, suitable for 

 tearing the flesh of the animals they devour ; 

 their legs are short and robust ; and their 

 toes, equally vigorous, are furnished with 

 strong hooked talons, by which they seize 

 their prey. Considerable strength is also 

 indicated by the general formation of the 

 body j and their whole appearance bespeaks 



a ferocious character. Some are distin- 

 guished by their dense plumage, and by the 

 lateral direction of their eyes ; as the Vul- 

 tures, Falcons, Eagles, Ilawks, Buzzards, 

 &c. Others are characterized by their loose 

 plumage, and by the anterior direction of 

 their full round eyes : these are nocturnal, 

 and constitute the family of Owls ; difl'ering 



from the former kinds by their obtaining 

 their food rather by the stealthiness with 



by tin 

 ich it, 



hich they approach it, than by the vigour 

 with which they attack it. The Raptures 

 always associate in pairs, the same males 

 and females continuing to live together 

 not pairing anew every season, as is the case 

 with many of the feathered tribe belonging 

 to other Orders. They generally build their 

 nests in the loftiest situations, and are totally 

 destitute of the power of song. The young 

 birds are long dependent upon their parents 

 for support, which chiefly devolves upon the 

 female. 



RASORES. An Order of Birds (called 

 also Gallinaceae). They have strong feet, 

 provided with obtuse claws for scratching 

 up grains, seeds, &c., of which their food 

 principally consists. Their bodies are for 

 the most part bulky, and their legs strong : 

 but their wings not being of a size propor- 

 tionate to their bulk, their powers of flight 

 are inconsiderable. The beak is usually 

 arched, and surrounded at the base with a 

 soft skin, in which the nostrils are pierced. 

 They are polygamous, the male taking no 

 part in the construction of the nest, or in 

 the nurture of the young. Generally speak- 

 ing, the Birds of this order are easily do- 

 mesticated ; they multiply with great ra- 

 pidity ; and as they furnish Man with a 

 large quantity of wholesome and delicate 

 food, they are justly entitled to his especial 

 regard. Most of them fly badly, do not perch 

 on trees, and seek their food on the ground. 

 [See GALLINACEA.] 



RAT. (Hits decuman..) The BROWN 

 RAT is a large, destructive, and very prolific 

 species of the genus Mas, originally brought 

 to Europe from Asia, and not, as is commonly 

 though erroneously supposed, imported into 

 this country from Norway. But from what- 



