602 GLOSSARY. 



VERMES (Lat. vermis, a worm). Sometimes employed at the present day in 



the same, or very nearly the same, sense as Annuloida, or as Anmdoida 



plus the A narthropoda. 



VERMIFORM (Lat. vermis, worm ; and forma, form). Worm-like. 

 VERTEBRA (Lat. verto, I turn). One of the bony segments of the vertebral 



column or back-bone. 

 VERTEBRATA. (Lat. vertebra, a bone of the back, from vertere, to turn). The 



division of the Animal Kingdom, roughly characterised by the possession of 



a back-bone. 



VESICLE (Lat. vesica, a bladder). A little sac or cyst. 

 VIBRACULA (Lat. vibro, I shake). Long filamentous appendages found in 



many Polyzoa. 

 VIBRIONES (Lat. vibro, I shake). The little moving filaments developed in 



organic infusions. 



VIPERINA (Lat. vipera, a viper). A group of the Snakes. 

 VIVIPAROUS (Lat. vivus, alive; and pario, I bring forth). Bringing forth 



young alive. 



WHORL. The spiral turn of a univalve shell. 



XIPHISTERNUM (Gr. xipfios, sword ; sternon, breast-bone). The inferior or 

 posterior segment of the sternum, corresponding with the " xiphoid carti- 

 lage" of human anatomy. 



XIPHOSURA (Gr. xipfios, a sword ; and oura, tail). An order of Crustacea, 

 comprising the Limuli or King-Crabs, characterised by their long sword- 

 like tails. 



XYLOPHAGOUS (Gr. xulon, wood ; and pkago, I eat). Eating wood ; applied 

 to certain Mollusca. 



Zoom (Gr. zoSn, animal ; and eidos, like). The more or less completely inde- 

 pendent organisms, produced by gemmation or fission, whether these re- 

 main attached to one another or are detached and set free. 



ZOOPHYTE (Gr. zodn, animal ; phuton, plant). Loosely applied to many plant- 

 like animals, such as Sponges, Corals, Sea-anemones, Sea- mats, &c. 



ZOOSPORES (Gr. zob'n, animal ; and spora, seed). The ciliated locomotive 

 germs of some of the lowest forms of plants (Protophyta). 



