GLOSSARY 323 



Fetal. — Of or belonging to the foetus, or embryo in course 

 of development. 



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 collected into a dense spike or head, as in the 

 Grasses, the Dandelion, etc. 



FoRAMiNiFERA. — A class of animals of very low organiza- 

 tion, and generally of small size, having a jelly-like 

 body, from the surface of which delicate filaments can 

 be given ofi and retracted for the prehension of external 

 objects, and having a calcareous or 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. 



Fungi (sing. Fungus). — A class of cellular plants of 

 which Mushrooms, Toadstools, and Moulds are familiar 

 examples. 



FuRCULA. — The forked bone formed by the union of the 

 collar-bones in many birds, such as the common Fowl. 



Gallinaceous Birds. — An order of Birds of which the 



common Fowl, Turkey, and Pheasant are well-known 



examples. 

 Gallus. — The genus of birds which includes the common 



Fowl. 

 Ganglion. — A swelling or knot from which nerves are 



given off as from a centre. 

 Ganoid Fishes. — Fishes covered with peculiar enamelled 



bony scales. Most of them are extinct. 

 Germinal Vesicle. — A minute vesicle in the eggs of 



animals, from which the development of the embryo 



proceeds. 



