GLOSSARY 457 



Edentata. — ^A peculiar order of Quadrupeds, characterized by the 

 absence of at least the middle incisor (front) teeth in both jaws. 

 (Examples, the Sloths and Armadillos.) 



Elytra. — The hardened fore-wings of Beetles, serving as sheaths for 

 the membraneous hind-wings, which constitute the true organs of 

 flight. 



Embryo. — The young animal undergoing development within the egg or 

 womb. 



Embryology. — ^The study of the development of the embryo. 



Endemic. — Peculiar to a given locality. 



Entomostraca. — ^A division of the class Crustacea, having all the seg- 

 ments of the body usually distinct, gills attached to the feet or 

 organs of the mouth, and the feet fringed with fine hairs. They are 

 generally of small size. 



Eocene. — The earliest of the three divisions of the Tertiary epoch of 

 geologists. Rocks of this age contain a small proportion of shells 

 identical with species now living. 



Ephemerous Insects. — Insects alHed to the May-fly. 



Fauna. — ^The totality of the animals naturally inhabiting a certain 

 country or region, or which have lived during a given geological 

 period. 



Felid^. — The Cat-family. 



Feral. — Having become wild from a state of cultivation or domesti- 

 cation. 



Flora. — The totality of the plants growing naturally in a country, or 

 during a given geological period. 



Florets. — Flowers imperfectly developed in some respects, and col- 

 lected into a dense spike or head, as in the Grasses, the Dande- 

 lion, etc. 



Fgetal. — Of or belonging to the foetus, or embryo in course of devel- 

 opment. 



Foraminifera. — ^A class of animals of very low organization and gen- 

 erally of small size, having a jelly-Hke body, from the surface of 

 which delicate filaments can be given off and retracted for the 

 prehension of external objects, and having a calcareous oi sandy 

 shell, usually divided into chambers and perforated with small 

 apertures. 



FossiLiFEROUS. — Containing fossils. 



FossoRiAL. — ^Having a faculty of digging. The Fossorial Hymenoptera 

 are a group of Wasp-like Insects, which burrow in sandy soil to 

 make nests for their young. 



Frenum (pi. Frena). — A small band or fold of skin. 



