V E R 
thefc : the animal is a tethys; the fhell is bivalve ; 
the legs are incumbent at the interior margin ; 
the hinge has three teeth, diverging at their 
apex; and the anus and vulva are diftind. Lin- 
naeus enumerates thirty-nine fpecles. 
VER-PUCERON. An appellation by which 
Reaumur exprefles a kind of infe6ts, very de- 
fbrudive to the Puceron, from which they re- 
ceive their name. They are a fort of worms pro- 
duced from the eggs of flies of two principal 
kinds; the one being furnifhed with legs, and 
the other being dellitute of them. 
VER-POLYPE. A name by which Reau- 
mur and fome other authors exprefs a fpecies of 
aquatic v/orm, by no means to be confounded 
with the common Polype, fo famous for it's re- 
produfti^'C qur.lities. 
The infe£l under confideratlon is produced 
from the egg of a tipula ; and received it's pre- 
fent appellation from fome remarkable produc- 
tions, placed at the anterior and pofterior parts 
of the body, fuppofed to have fome analogy 
with the parts of the fea-fifh called the polypus. 
Thefe worms are ufually met with in ditches 
abounding with mud. 
VER ANO AVE. A term by which the Por- 
tuguefe refident in the Brazils exprefs a large bird 
of the thrufh kind, remarkable for it's loud noife; 
and better known by it's American name, Guira- 
panga. 
VERDONE. A name by which fome ichthy- 
ologifts exprefs a fifh of the turdus or wrafle kind, 
more ufually denominated turdus viridis minor. 
The body is entirely of a fine green colour of 
different lhades ; and it has one long dorfal fin, 
confifting of thirty rays, the eighteen anterior of 
v/hich are rigid and prickly, but the remainder 
foft and flexile. 
This fifli is caught in the Mediterranean, and 
frequently expofed to fale in the Italian markets. 
VERGADELLE. An appellation fome- 
times given to a filh of the mullet kind ; called 
alfo chelonj remarkable for the thicknefs of it's 
lips. 
VERITH. A name given by Ifidore to the 
filh more ufually called tliriflTa ; in Englifli, the 
fhad, or mother of the herrings. 
« VERKINS VISCH. A Dutch appellation 
for an Eaft Indian fifli about feven inches long, of 
a blackifli green colour, with fins and tail wholly 
black, and yellow irides. 
This fifh, which is caught in frefh waters, and 
much efteemed for it's delicacy, is nearly allied 
to the caprifcus or goat-fifh. 
VERMELPO. An American filh, more 
ufually denominated pudiano. 
VERMES. See Worms. 
VERMICULUS MARINUS. A genus of 
Ihell-fifli, fo called from the inclofed animal, 
"which is always a kind of worm. They are ufu- 
ally found in large cluftcrs, interwoven with each 
other in a very f.ngular manraer, 
Bonani calls them fea-ferpents inclofed in 
fhells, from the various twilled forms in which 
they adhere to fliips and rocks. He further 
ranks them among mukivalves, becaufe they are 
never found fingle, but always in clufters. This 
author, however, is not very remarkable for the 
accuracy of his difcriminations ; a quality with- 
out which the natural hiftorian can never arrive at 
any great degree of celebrity. 
According to Da Cofta's arrangement, the 
vtn 
venniculi, or worm fliells, conftitute the third 
family of univalve fhells: and he defines them to 
be tubular cylindric fliells, fingle, in mafl^es toge- 
ther, or adherent to other fhells or bodies; varioufly 
finuous, by winding or twifling to and fro in a 
very irregular manner. Of thefe vermiculi he 
enumerates two genera ; thofe which have no 
fixed or regular form, as the common vermiculi, 
of which, though they are found in great abun- 
dance, there arc not many different fpecies ; and 
the penacilli, or worm-fliells, which in the whole, 
or any particular part, have a determinate regular 
ihape or ftruflure. There are few fpecies of this 
genus : the watering-pot from the Eaft: Indies is 
the chief kind j and> when perfed, is much va- 
lued. 
There are alfo fome vermiculi with conCame- 
rations ; but thefe are feldom regular, or fet at 
equi-diftant intervals; and are not pierced by a 
pipe or fiphunculus, communicating from cham- 
ber to chamber, fo as to permit the fifh to pene- 
trate more than one chamber or inclofure at d 
time ; in whicn refpeit they wholly differ from 
the nautili, and other concamerated fhells. 
VERONUS. An appellation by which fome 
authors exprefs the fmall river-fifh fo well known 
in England under that of the minnov/. 
VERZELLINO. An Italian name for a 
bird common in that country, where it is caged, 
and much valued for it's notes. It is the citri- 
nella and thraupis of fome ornithologifts. 
VESPA, See Wasp. 
VESPERTILIO. A name by which fome 
conch ologifts exprefs a fpecies of voluta, fuppofed 
to bear fome refemblance in colour to a bat. 
See Bat. 
VESPIVORUS BUTEO. A name given 
by fome ornithologifts to the honey-buzzard; fo 
called from it's feeding it's young with the mag- 
got-worms found in honey-combs. It is alfo 
denominated Apivorus Buteo. 
VETOLA. a Venetian appellation for an 
aquatic bird of the fcoiopax kind; the fcolopax 
limofa of Linnseus. 
This bird ufually weighs about nine dunces. 
The beak is entirely red, except at the extremity^ 
where it is blackilh ; the neck is grey ; the belly 
and breaft are white ; the head is of abrownilh 
grey colour ; the back is brown ; the rump is 
marked with a white ring; and the tail is com- 
pofed of black and white feathers. 
VIBRANT, OR VIBRION. A name by 
v/hich fome naturalifts exprefs a clafs of flies 
more ufually denomiinated ichneumons. 
VICUNA. A word by which fome naturalifts 
denominate the pacos, or American camel. 
VIELLEUR. A fpecies of fly common irt 
Surinam and fome other places. It refembles the 
lanthorn-fly in many refpedls, but is confiderably 
larger. 
VINAGO. An appellation given by fome 
ornithologifts to the wood-pigeon ; fo called from 
the red vinous colour of it's breaft, fhoulders, 
and wings. 
VINE GALL-INSECT. A fmall creature 
of the gall-infe£l clafs, principally found on the 
vine, though fometimes dilcovered on other trees. 
It's manner of lift, fhape, and figure, bear a ge- 
neral conformity to others of the fame clafs: but 
it differs from diem in this ; that whereas they 
lay all their eggs under their bodies, and con- 
tinue abfolutely to cover them till they ar« 
hatched 
