Herpestinae 
family I'irerriilif, represented by tlie ichneu- 
inons and mongooses, having straight toes with 
blunt non-retractile cliiws. When the group is 
raised U> the rank of a family, the //cr/i//m' lierome still 
more restricted by the exclusion of sueh genera as Cyiii<-li, 
Ithinugalr, and Cro**archu, as respectively types of dif- 
ferent subfamilies ; but even in this narrow sense of the 
term the group contains upw ard of a dozen genera besides 
llerpcxtex, and the species are numerous. 
Herpestis (her -pes 'tis), . [NL. (Gartner, 
1 805), < Gr.ep-tin->i(,a, reptile: see Her/iestes.'] A 
genus of dicotyledonous gamopetalous plants, 
of the natural order Soropkulonneas, tribe Cru- 
lin/t'fe. It is distinguished by its calyx, the tipper seg- 
ment of which is large, ovate, and covering the rest, the 
other lobes narrow or lineal 1 , its cylindrical corolla, 4 sta- 
mens, and 2- or 4-valved capsule. It embraces about 50 
species of small herbs, creeping or prostrate, with opposite, 
entire, or toothed leaves, and yellow, blue, or white flow- 
ers, mostly in axillary clusters or solitary. They are na- 
tives of the warm parts of both hemispheres. H. Mon- 
nieru, a wide-spread species, is the common water-hyssop, 
the expressed juice of which is used by the natives of In- 
dia, when mixed with petroleum, to rub on parts atfectetl 
with rheumatic pains. H. colubrina is a native of Peru, 
where it is called tferba de colubra ; it is used as a remedy 
for the bites of venomous animals. 
herpetic (her-pet'ik), a. [= P. herpetique = 
Sp. herpdtico = Pg. herpetico = It. erpetieo, < Or. 
epiriK (epjrj/r-), herpes: see herpes.] Pertaining 
to or resembling herpes; partaking of the na- 
ture of herpes: as, herpetic patches Herpetic 
fever. Seefeoeri. 
herpetical (her-pet'i-kal), a. [< herpetic + -al.J 
Same as herpetic. 
herpetism (her'pe-tizm), u. [< herpes (herpet-) 
+ -ism.~\ A constitutional tendency to herpes 
or similar affections. Thomas, Med. Diet. 
Herpetodryas (her-pe-tod'ri-as), n. [NL., < 
Gr. pTTer6v, a reptile, serpent (see herpetoid), + 
opudf, a dryad, < dpvf, a tree: see dryad.'] A 
notable genus of ordinary colubrif orm serpents, 
usually referred to the family Colubridie, hav- 
ing an elongate slender form adapted to arbo- 
real life, and greenish and brownish coloration. 
H. carinatus is a South American species. 
herpetoid (her'pe-toid), a. [< Gr. epirerov, a 
reptile, serpent (< e/meiv = L. serpcre, creep: 
see serpent), + fWoc, form.] Resembling a rep- 
tile; reptiliform; sauroid: as, the archeeopte- 
ryx is a herpetoid bird. 
herpetologic (her"pe-to-loj'ik), . [< hei-jie- 
tulogy + -c.] Of or pertainingto herpetology. 
herpetological (her"pe-to-loj'i-kal), a. [< her- 
petologic + -a/.j Same as herpetologic. 
herpetologically (her'pe-to-loj'i-kal-i), adv. 
In the manner or view of a herpetologist. 
Dr. Giinther considers that herpetologically Egypt must 
be included in the Palsearctic region, and many of the 
Egyptian snakes occur in Palestine. 
Edinburgh Jtev., CLXIII. 320. 
herpetologist (her-pe-tol'o-jist), n. [< herpe- 
tology + -ist.] One versed in herpetology, or 
engaged in the study of it. 
The alleged monster does not flt into the existing classi- 
fication of the herpetol.ogijttg. The American, XII. 325. 
herpetology (her-pe-tol'o-ji), n. [< Gr. spirer6v, 
a reptile, H- -/"o;/a, < 'tiyeiv, speak: see -ologyj\ 
1. The science of reptiles, in a broad sense 
that is, of reptiles proper and batrachians ; the 
natural history of reptiles. 2. Reptiles collec- 
tively: as, the herpetology of Borneo. 
When we consider the serpents of New Guinea more in 
detail, we shall be again struck with the resemblances 
which they present to the htrpetokn of Australia. 
Nineteenth Century, XX. 88. 
Also, erroneously, erpetologi/. 
Herpetospondylia (her"pe-to-spon-diri-a), n. 
1. [NL., < Gr. ipKt-r&v. a reptile, + airdi>5u7flf, 
>nic and common dial, form of Gr. a<j>6vdv/.o(, 
a vertebra, joint.] One of the major groups 
into which Beptilia (excepting Pteiirospondylix) 
are divisible, including the orders Plesiosauri'i, 
Laccrtilia, and Ophidia, in all of which the dor- 
sal vertebrce have transverse processes which 
are either entire or very imperfectly divided 
into terminal facets. The dorsal vertebra and ribs 
are movable upon one another, and there is no plastron. 
The group thus denned is contrasted on the one hand with 
Perotpondylia and on the other with Suchospondylia. See 
these words, and also Pleuroypondylia. 
Herpetotheres (her"pe-to-the'rez), . [NL., 
< Gr. EpTTfruV, a reptile, + Qnpav, hunt, < 8f/p, a 
wild beast.] Agenusof South American hawks, 
the type and only species of which is H. cachin- 
naiis. Viettlot, 1818. 
herpetotomist (her-pe-tot'o-mist), n. [< In r/ir- 
totomy + -int.] A dissector of reptiles ; a her- 
petological anatomist. 
herpetotomy (her-pe-tot'o-mi), w. [< Gr. epTrf- 
r6v, a reptile, + TO/JJ/, a cutting, < T(/IVFW, rafielv, 
cut.] The dissection of reptiles ; a branch of 
zootomy which treats of the anatomy of reptiles. 
2809 
herpolhode (her'pol-hod), >i. [Irreg. < Gr. ip- 
irfif, creep, + -o'Aof, pole, + odi'if, way.] In 
math., a plane curve described by the point 
of contact with the fixed plane of an ellipsoid, 
the center of which is fixed while the ellipsoid 
rolls upon the plane. It is a curve (commonly, but 
incorrectly said to be wavy) circumscribed between two 
circles, and was invented by Poinsot. 
herr (her), . [G., = D. heer = Dan. Sw. herre, 
similarly used: see herre 1 ."} Lord; master: 
used in German as a title of respectful or con- 
ventional address, either prefixed to the name 
like the equivalent Mister (Mr.) in English, as 
Herr liraun, Mr. Brown, or without the name 
and usually with the possessive pronoun ' my,' 
as main Herr, literally 'my lord,' equivalent to 
English sir, or plural meiiie Herren, equivalent 
to English gentlemen. The Dutch form heer is 
similarly used. See mynheer. 
herre 1 !, [ME. herre, h&rre, here, hery, < AS. 
licrra, hierra, hearra, heorra (occurring 27 times, 
only in poetry, and chiefly in a part of the po- 
ems ascribed to Caedmon thought to be founded 
on an OS. original, the word being in AS. and 
Scand. imported from the HG. and the LG. of 
the continent) = OS. herro = OFries. hem, Mr 
= D. heer = MLG. here, ere, LG. heer = OHG. 
herro, hero, MHG. herre, herre, here, G. herr 
= Icel. harri, a lord, king, herra = Sw. Dan. 
herre, lord, master, gentleman, as a title, sir, 
Mr., orig. in ref. to a superior, usually with 
a poss. pron. preceding (OHG. mitt, din, sin, 
unsar, etc., herro, so AS. min, thin, his, etc., 
hearra), chiefly of the first person (OHG. min 
herro, MHG. mein herre, G. mein herr, D. myn 
heer = Dan. Sw. min herre, equiv. to E. sir in 
address : see herr). The OHG. form also ap- 
pears as heriro, herero, being orig. compar. of 
her, eminent, distinguished, famous, MHG. her, 
G. hehr, eminent, distinguished, proud, happy, 
sacred, = MLG. here, high, solemn, holy, = OS. 
her, high, eminent, sacred, agreeing phoneti- 
cally, and it seems historically, with AS. liar, 
ME. hore, E. hoar, = Icel. hdrr, gray (usually 
with age).] 1. A lord; master; chief. 
Heo brouhten hyne to Pylates, thet wes here herre. 
Old Eng. Miscellany (ed. Morris), p. 46. 
This lond ich hebbe here so fre that to none herre y 
schal abuye. Hob. of Gloitcegter, p. 102. 
2. A knight. [Rare and poetical.] 
Mony woundis thai wroght, wete ye for sothe, 
Bothe on horse <t on here harmyt full mekull. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), 1. 6188. 
[In both senses only in early Middle English 
use.] 
herre' 2 t, See har 1 . 
herrengrundite (her-en-grun'dit), >/. [< Her- 
rengnmd (see def.) + -j'fc'A] A basic copper 
sulphate occurring at Herrengrund in Hungary, 
in spherical groups of scale-like crystals hav- 
ing a bright-green color. 
Herreria (he-re'ri-a), n. [NL., named after C. 
A. de Herrera, a Spanish agriculturist.] A 
small genus of liliaceous plants, of the tribe 
Liiguriagece, the type of Endlicher's subtribe 
Herreriem. They are natives of extratropical South 
America, and are undershrubs with tuberous rootstock, 
climbing stems, and small scented flowers in many-flow- 
ered racemes. 
Herrerieae (her-e-ri'e-e), w. pi. [NL., < Her- 
reria + -ea;.~\ A subtribe otSmilacea; established 
by Endlicher, typified by the genus Herreria : 
the Herreriacca; of Kunth, now referred to the 
Liliacece. 
herriert, . [ME. herier; < herry* + -er 1 .] One 
who praises ; a worshiper. 
Hieu dydde thes aspyingly, that he distruye alle the 
heryeris of Baal. Wyclif, 4 [2] Ki. x. 19 (Oxf.). 
herring (her'ing), . [Early mod. E. also he- 
ring; < ME. hering, < AS. hasring (= D. hariinj 
= MLG. harink, herinJc = OHG. harinc, herinc, 
MHG. herinc, G. hering, hdring) (NL. hareuynx, 
F. hareng, from the G. form), a herring; prob. 
< here (= OHG. hart, heri, etc.), an army, a 
host (see harry, harbor 1 , etc.), + -ing, a suffix 
common as a patronymic. The reference is to 
the fact that herrings move in shoals; so W. 
ysgadan, herrings, < cad, an army, a host.] A 
clnpeoid fish, Clupea harengus, of great econom- 
ic importance and commercial value. It has an 
elongate form, and rather loose scales averaging about 57 
transverse rows. The vomer has an ovate patch of teeth ; 
the ventral serratures are weak ; the color is bluish above 
and <>n the scales, varied with bright reflections. The her- 
ring inhabits the North Atlantic, especially in water of 
moderate depth. It is generally found not far from the 
coast, and in summer it comes into shallow water in count- 
less myriads for the purpose of spawning. The spawning 
season varies according to temperature ; in the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence it occurs in the spring, off the coast of Maine in 
herring-buss 
September, at t 'ape C'od in November, and oil lilouk Island 
in December. In Kurope the visits of the herring to the 
slim . silciu-lnl likewise on temperature, ;ini I various regions 
have special varieties ililt'ering in size and slight structural 
characters. It is the object of very profitable fisheries, es- 
Herring (Clupea harengiis'1. 
(From Report of U. S. Fish Commission. 1884.) 
pecially on the Norwegian, Dutch, and Brit ish coasts. The 
eggs are very small, and are discharged at the bottom of the 
water, where they adhere to rocks and seaweed, being scat- 
tered singly or in bunches over a vast extent of sea-bottom. 
The number of eggs to a female varies according to size, but 
averages about 10,000 in very large females many more. 
A closely related species, C. iiiirabiiin, is found in equal 
abundance in the North Pacific. The name is extended to 
the herringfamily, including the Clupeidrz, or shad.alewife, 
menhaden, pilchard, sprat, sardine, etc. Black herring, 
a trade-name for a particular kind of cured fish. Branch 
herring, the alewife, Clupea vernalis. See cut under ale- 
wife. California herring, Clupea mirabilix, of the Pa* 
ciflc coast of North America. Egyptian herring, a lo- 
cal English name of the saury. Fall herring, Clupea 
wediocris, without vomerine teeth or jaw-teeth and with the 
lower jaw quite prominent, rather common along the At- 
lantic coast of the United States from Florida to the P.ay of 
Fundy, and of little economic value. Fresh-water her- 
ring. See fresh-water. Full herring, a local English 
name of the herring with fully developed roe or milt. 
Garvie-herrlng. See Carrie. Green herring, a fresh 
herring. [Eng.] King of the herrings. Same as ker- 
rinff-kinff. Kippered herring, an English name of her- 
ring split, slightly salted, and smoked. Lake-herring, 
the cisco, Curegonus hoyi. See cut under Cisco. Mazy 
herring, the highest brand of herring which are full of 
roe. Ohio herring, the skipjack, Clupea chrysochlori*. 
Bed herring, the common hen-ing of trade, having a 
reddish appearance from the manner of curing. Round 
herring, Eiruineun sadina. Round shore-herring, in 
trade, herring salted just as they come from the water: 
distinguished from split herring. Many persons prefer 
them thus, as the spawn is considered a delicacy. Shot- 
ten herring. () A herring which has just deposited its 
ova. (b) Anerring which has been gutted and dried for 
keeping. (Eng.J Split herring, gutted herring cured 
and packed for the market. Toothed herring, the 
mooneye, Hyodon clodalus. White herring, (a) Afresh 
herring. (6) A pickled herring. [Eng.] 
Hopdance cries in Tom's belly for two white herrings. 
Croak not, black angel ; I have no food for thee. 
Sftak., Lear, iii. 6. 
White-salted herring, herring cured by the French 
method called saler en Mane. The fish are gutted, and 
packed in barrels in a thick brine, where they are kept 
until it is convenient to give them a tlnal packing with 
fresh lime and salt, when the quality is branded on the bar- 
rel by the inspector. (See also glut-herring, thread-her- 
ring.) 
herring (her'ing), v. t. [< herring, w.] To ma- 
nure with herring or other fish. [Local, U. S.] 
In Maine they talk of land that has been herringed to 
death. Gootle, Menhaden, p. 249. 
herring-bank (her'ing-bangk), 11. A fishing- 
groimd to which herrings resort in great num- 
bers. 
herring-bone (her'ing-bon), . and a. I. w. The 
bone of a herring. 
II. a. Resembling the 
spine of a herring: spe- 
cifically applied to courses 
of stone laid at an angle, 
so that the stones in each 
course are placed side by 
side, and obliquely to the 
right and left in alternate 
courses. It is a kind of 
ashler common in late Ro- 
man and occurring in the earliest medieval 
work. 
Both [churches] are rude and simple in their outline 
and ornaments ; they are built with that curious herring- 
bone or diagonal masonry indicative of great age. 
J. Fergusson, Hist. Arch., I. 512. 
Herring-bone bridging, in carp., the diagonal struts 
fixed at intervals between the beams of a floor to increase 
its stiffness and power to resist unequal strains. Her- 
ring-bpne pattern, an ornamental pattern much used 
in the industrial arts, consisting of one or more series of 
short diagonal lines contrasting with other series turned 
in the opposite direction. Herring-bone stitch, a kind 
of cross-stitch used in embroidery and in making up 
garments of flannel and other woolen material, and also 
in mending sails. Herring-bone twill, (a) A twill in 
which the diagonal lines are arranged alternately, so as to 
form a continuous zigzag pattern, (b) A textile stuff made 
in this way, as chudders. 
herring-bone (her'ing-bon), v. t. or*. [< herring- 
bone, .] To sew or embroider with the herring- 
bone stitch. 
There, all the while, with an air quite bewitching, 
She sat herring-boning, tambouring, or stitching. 
Bar/iain, Ingoldsby Legends, II. 328. 
herring-buss (her'ing-bus), n. [= D. haring- 
liix.~\ A boat of peculiar form, measuring 10 
or 15 tons, used in the herring-fishery. [Eng.] 
Herring-hone Work. 
