NERFLING. A frefh-water fifli of the lea- 
ther-mouthed kind, common in fome of the Ger- 
man lakes, and there alfo known by the name of 
the orfforforve. There arc two kinds of this fifti : 
the fiefh of the one is white when drefled ; and 
that of the other is yeliov/ifh, or reddifli. They 
appear to be varieties of the common Englifh 
rudd. 
NERITE. A genus of fhell-fifh of the uni- 
valve kind; thediftinguifhingcharafters of which 
are, that the fhell is gibbous, flactifh at the bot- 
tom, and furnifhed with a iemiorbicular aperture. 
The inclofed animal is a Aug. 
Nerite, Livid. This fpecies is um.bilicated 
with five fpires, generally marked with fnort 
brown ftripes, but varying in colour. 
Nerite, Strand. This fpecies, which is about 
the fize of a horfe-bean, has a thick lliell v/ith four 
fpires ; and is generally of a fine vellow colour; 
but, like the reft of the genus, fometimes varies. 
It is commonly found near fea-rocks. 
Nerite,- River. This animal, which has a 
brittle, dufky fliell, marked with white Ipots, 
and two fpires, inhabits gentle rivers and ftanding 
waters. It is about the fize of the head of a 
large pin. 
NEROPHIDION. An appellation given by 
fome ichthvologifts to the acus or fyngnathus of 
Artedi, diftinguiflied by that author under the 
name of the hexagonal-bodied fyngnathus, with 
the tail pinnated; and by others under the name 
of the acus Ariftotelis, and acus fecunda fpe- 
cies. Some alfo call it the blennus. 
NETTLE, SEA. A genus of marine zoo- 
phytes, of wdiich there are tv/o kinds ; one com- 
prehending fuch as remain always fixed in one 
place, like fca-plants; and the other, fuch as 
change their fituations, and poffefs a progreflive 
motion. This is the divifion of Ariftotle: but, 
in contradiftion to it, Reaumur affcrts, that all 
thefe Nettles are endowed with locomotive 
powers; and this feems to be confirmed by the 
obfervations of other modern naturalifts. Indeed, 
Reaumur apprehends that they are real animals; 
becaufe they have organized bodies, and indi- 
cate fenfation whenever touched : befidcs v;hich, 
they lay hold of thofe fifh and fhell-fifh which 
they eat, and have alfo a progreffive motion. 
- Thefe Nettles affume fo many various fhapes, 
that it is not poffible to defcribe them under any de- 
terminate figure : in general, however, their exter- 
nal formation approaches neareft to a truncated 
cone, having the bafe affixed to a ftone. Some are 
of a greeniOi colour; fome are whitifh; and others 
are rofaceous. In fome thefe colours appear uni- 
form,ly over the whole furface; and in others, 
they are mixed with fpots and ftreaks: fometimes 
alfo thefe fpots are irregularly diftributed ; at 
other tim^es regularly; but always in a pleafing 
and agreeable m.anner. 
The wandering Sea-Nettles polTefs nothing in 
com.mon v-'ith the preceding, except the name ; 
and they receive difi"erent appellations according 
to their fituation and fize. Reaumur thinks that 
they may with more propriety be called Sea-jellies ; 
for in reality their flefii, if it may be fo called, 
always poffeffes the colour and confiftence of a 
ieliy. When thrown on the fea-coaft, they ap - 
pear perfe6lly motionlefs; which circumflance 
may arife from various caufes fufiicient to deprive 
them of life. 
The firil kind of Sea-Nettle produces a fimilar 
Vol. II. 
NIG 
ef¥e£t with the common ftinging-nettle, and hence 
they received their name: however, all the va- 
rieties which are generally confidered as fixed to 
fome particular fpot, have not this ftinging qua- 
lity; and, in fome feas, it is faid that none of 
them poffefs it. 
Of the wandering fort, fome exhibit the ap- 
pearance of a fpongy, hollow, round mafs, pierced 
in the middle; furnifhed with a kind of tentacula; 
and, when handled, melting away like ice, at the 
fame time that they occafion a painful itching. 
See Medusa, Actinia, Urtica-Marina; and 
Animal-Flower. 
NEUROPTERA. A clafs of four-winged 
infeds in the Linnaean fyftem ; fb called from 
their having membranaceous wings v/ith nerves, 
difpofed in a reticulated form. Linnsus com- 
prehends feven genera under this clafs. - 
NEWT. An appellation frequently given to 
the common eft; the lacerta paluftris of Lin- 
naeus, and the warty lizard of the Britifh zoolo- 
gift. 
NHARNDIA. The name of an American 
frefti-water fifli of the anguilliform kind, with a 
long adipofe body, gradually becoming more 
flender towards the tail. The belly is foft ; the 
head is flat; and the mouth, which exhibits a 
parabolic figure, is armed with fmall teeth. The 
ufual length of this filh is from eight to ten 
inches; the tail is bifid; the head is covered 
with a ftrong fhelly coat, of a dufky brown co- 
lour; the back and fides are of a blueifli grey 
hue; the larger dorfal fin is of the fame colour, 
the reft being wholly black; and on each fide 
there is a red line, v/hich extends from the gills 
to the tail. 
NHANDUAPOA. A Brazilian bird; called 
alfo jabiruguacu; but more frequently known by 
it's Dutch appellation, fcur vogel. 
NHANDUGUACU. A Brazilian bird of 
the caffowary kind ; a fpecies of the ftruthia or 
oftrich in the Linnaean fyftem, but fmaller than 
the common or Afi'ican oftrich. It's body is 
pretty large; it's neck is long; it's legs are very 
long and thick; it's wings are fo fhort, that they 
are unfit for flying ; and it's feathers are grey, and 
pretty long on the back. It commonly carries 
It's neck bent like a fwan ; it's head is fliaped like 
that of a goofe; and the back feathers fall down 
over the rump, and form a fort of tail. This 
bird runs with the fleetnefs of a greyhound; and 
feeds on flefh and fruits. 
NHAQUUNDA. A fmall American frefli- 
watcr fifti, with an oblong body, in every part 
almoft of the fame thicknefs. The head and 
mouth refemble thofe of a pike; the ufual length 
of the body is about four inches; it poffeffes the 
faculty of extending it's upper lip, and rounding 
the aperture of it's mouth; but it has no re- 
gular teeth. The tail is covered with a hard' 
fhelly cruft, and the body with pretty large fcales ; 
the back and fides are of a filvery grey colour; 
and the belly is white. On each fide it has a 
fingle row of round black fpots, each about the fize 
of a pea ; and among thefe a number of fmall blue 
ones. 
NIGHTINGALE. The Motacilla Lufcinia 
of Linn^us. 
The Nightingale not only charms the ear with 
it's melody, but it's very name ferves to embellifh 
poetic defcription, and to convey a kind of plea- 
fure to the mind which cannot be depifted. AU 
1 K moft 
