34 



GLOSSARY. 



those which it may owe to art ; at oth 

 er times, the aggregate of beings which 

 compose the universe ; and sometimes, 

 again, the laws which govern these 

 beings. In this latter sense, it has be- 

 come customary to personify Nature, 

 and to employ the name for that of its 

 Great Author. 



Nautilite. A fossil nautilus. 



Navicular. When two sides meet and 

 form an angle like the outer bottom of 

 a boat ; boat-shaped. 



Necromorphia. Insects in which the pupa 

 has the mouth and organs of locomo- 

 tion detached from the body, but so 

 enveloped in a case or sheath that it 

 can employ neither. This group con- 

 tains the Hymenoptera and Coleoptera. 



Nectareous. Kesembling nectar; very 

 sweet and pleasant. 



Negro. A native or descendant of the 

 black race of men in the more south- 

 ern parts of Africa. 



Neigh. To utter a sound, like the horse, 

 expressive of want or desire. 



Nematoidea. The intestinal worms, 

 which are long and filiform. 



Nematoneura. A name applied to the 

 higher division of Cuvier's Radiata by 

 Professor Owen. 



Neologist. One who introduces or em- 

 ploys new words in any science. 



Nerves. The nerves are the organs of 

 sensation : they originate in the brain, 

 and are prolongations of the medullary 

 substance of the brain, which ramify 

 and extend over the whole body ; and 

 they consist of fine tubular filaments, 

 which are arranged nearly parallel to 

 sheaths of fibrous tissue. 



Nervures. The delicate framework of 

 the membranous wings of insects. 



Neurilemma. The membrane which sur- 

 rounds the nervous fibre. 



Neurology. The science of the nervous 

 system, or a description of the nerves. 



Neuropterous. Belonging to the Neurop- 

 tera, an order of four-winged insects 

 characterized by their numerous nerv- 

 ures, like those of the dragon-fly. 



Neurose. Wings of insects that have 

 nervures besides the marginal ones. 



Neurotomy. The art or practice of dis- 

 secting the nerves. 



Nibble. To bite at; as, fishes nibble at 

 the bait A little bite, or seizing to 

 bite. 



Nictating (membrane). The thin mem- 

 brane that covers and protects the 

 eyes of some animals, without entirely 

 obstructing the sight. 



Nidamental. Relating to the protection 

 of the egg and young, especially ap- 

 plied to the organs that secrete the 

 material of which many animals con- 

 struct their nests. 



Nidijlcation. The act or operation of 

 building a nest, and the hatching and 

 feeding of young in the nest. 



Nidulation. The time of remaining in 

 the nest. 



Nidus. A nest or repository for the eggs 

 of birds, insects, &c. 



Noctidial. Comprising a night and a 

 day. 



Noctilucous. Shining in the night. 



Noctivagant. Wandering or prowling 

 about by night. 



Nocturnal. Pertaining to the night ; as 

 the nocturnal habits of certain animals 

 which usually come forth from their 

 retreats and obtain their prey during 

 the night. 



Nodose. Having one or more knobs or 

 swellings. The word Nodose is also 

 applied to the antennce of insects when 

 they have one, two, or more joints lar- 

 ger than those which precede or follow 

 them. 



Nodular. Pertaining to or resembling a 

 nodule, or little knotty lump. 



Nodule. A little knot-like eminence. 



Nomadic. Wandering for the sake of 

 pasturage; pertaining to a pastoral 

 life, and roving from place to place 

 with herds of cattle. 



Nomenclature. The names of things 

 which are appropriated to any branch 

 of science. 



Nonage. Under adult age. 



Nondescript. Any thing that has not 

 been described. Thus an animal new- 

 ly discovered is called a nondescript. 



Non-fossiliferous. Not producing fossils ; 

 of a nature not to convert into fossils. 



Normal. According to rule ; natural. 



Nostrils (of birds) are said to be linear 

 when they are extended lengthwise in 



