Leptoptilus 
genus of storks of Asia and Africa, of the fam- 
ily Ciconiidce; the adjutants or marabous. Also 
Leptoptilos. See cut under adjutant-bird. 
Leptopus (lep'to-pus), n. [NL., < Gr. ten-rcf, 
thin, fine, delicate, + iroiif = E.foot."] In zool., 
a name of various genera, (a) The typical genus of 
Leptopidoe or LeptopoduUe, founded by Latreille in 1808, 
having the prothorax contracted into a neck, the antennae 
very slender, and the upper surface of the body often 
spinous. The species occur in France and Algeria. (6) 
A genus of dipterous insects of the family Dolichopodidce. 
Also called Xanthochlonts. Holiday, 1857. (c) A genus 
of scarabteoid beetles. Dejean, 1833. (d) A genus of fishes. 
JRafinesgue, 1815. (e) A genus of crustaceans. Lamarck. 
1819. (/) A genus of birds. Fraser, 1844. 
leptorrhine, leptorhine (lep'to-rin), a. [< Gr. 
M 7rr(if,thin, small, slender, +p<f (p">-), the nose.] 
1. Having a small nose or slender snout: spe- 
cifically applied to a fossil rhinoceros, Rhinoce- 
ros leptorrhinus. 2. Same as leptorrhinian. 
The average nasal index is 45.8, which places them in 
the leptorhine group (below 48.0). 
Jour. Anthrop. Inst., XVIII. 22. 
leptorrhinian, leptorhinian (lep-to-rin'i-an), 
a. [< leptorrMne + -ian.] Having slender or 
narrow nasal bones, as a skull. 
leptorrhinic, leptorhinic (lep-to-rin'ik), a. [< 
leptorrhine + -ic.] Same as leptorrhinian. 
Leptoscopidae (lep-to-skop'i-de), n. pi. [NL., 
< Leptoseopus T -idte.] A family of trachinoid 
fishes represented by the genus Leptoseopus. 
(a) In a restricted sense it includes only fishes with an 
elongated antrorsiform body, median lateral line, long 
continuous dorsal and anal fins, and perfect ventrals with 
one spinous and five soft rays ; (6) in a wider sense it is 
used for trachinoid flahes of the foregoing form with imper- 
fect as well as with perfect ventral fins, and then divided 
into two subfamilies, Leptoscopiiue and Dactyloscopinte. 
Leptoseopus (lep-tos'ko-pus), n. [NL., < Gr. 
f, thin, slender, + anovdv, view.] The typi- 
cal genus of Leptoscopidce. Gill, 1859. 
Leptosomatidse (lep"to-so-mat'i-de), n. pi. 
[NL.] Same as Leptosomidte. 
Leptosomidae (lep-to-som'i-de), n.pl. [NL., < 
Leptosomus + -idee.'] A peculiar Madagascar 
family of picarian birds represented by the sin- 
gle genusLeptosomus, related to the Coraeiidce or 
rollers. The feet are zygodactyl to some extent, but the 
outer toe is not completely reversed. The pterylosis is 
remarkable for the development of a pair of pygal powder- 
down patches. The plumage is aftershafted, and the loral 
plumules form a tuft over each side of the base of the 
beak. The nostrils are median. The sexes are diverse. 
Leptosomus (lep-to-so'mus), n. [NL., < Gr. 
fairrfa, thin, slender, + aqua, body.] 1. The 
typical genus 
of Leptosomi- 
dce. L. discolor 
is the kirumbo. 
Vieillot, 1816. 
AlaoLeptosoma. 
Bonaparte,lS4S. 
2. A genus 
of curculionids, 
now called Jtha- 
dinosomus. 
Schonherr, 1826. 
leptosperm 
(lep'to-sperm), 
n. A tree of 
the genus Lep- 
tospermum. 
Leptospermese 
(lep - to - sper '- 
me-e), n. pi. 
[NL. (A. P. de Candolle, 1828), < Leptospermum 
+ -ece.] Originally, a suborder, now reduced to 
a tribe of plants of the order Myrtacece, based 
on the genus Leptospermum, chiefly character- 
ized by the loeulicidally dehiscent capsule. It 
embraces 33 genera, among which are Eucalyp- 
tus, Melaleuca, and Metrosideros. 
Leptospermum (lep - to - sper ' mum), n. [NL. 
(G. Forster, 1776), < Gr. Aejrrdf, thin, slender, + 
mrep/M, seed.] A genus of plants, the type of 
the tribe Leptospermece of the order Myrtacece. 
It is distinguished by the generally alternate leaves, the 
stamens not exceeding the corolla, and the numerous 
ovules. There are about 25 species, shrubs or rarely 
small trees, with small rigid one- to three-nerved leaves 
and white flowers, natives of Australia, New Zealand, New 
Caledonia, and the Indian archipelago. See tea-tree and 
sandstay. 
leptqsporangiate (lep^to-spo-ran'ji-at), a. [< 
Gr. ?.7rrdf, slender, + NL. sporangium 4- 
Kirumbo (Leftosomtts discolor). 
3416 
In bot., having sporangia formed from a single 
epidermal cell, as in the true ferns and in the 
SaMniacece and Marsileacea;. Compare euspo- 
ranc/iate. 
Leptostraca (lep-tos'tra-ka), n. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. AeTTTof, thin, fine, small, + ompanov, a shell.] 
An order of Crustacea formed by Glaus for the 
reception of the genus Nebalia and related ex- 
tinct forms. 
Leptothrix (lep'to-thriks), n. [< Gr. Aenrof, 
slender, + dpi!;, hair.] 1. A group of bacteria 
originally regarded as a genus, comprising those 
having the form of an unbranched non-spiral 
filament, consisting of cylindrical cells joined 
end to end. L. buccalis, so called, lives on the mucous 
membrane, and in the fur of the teeth, under some condi- 
tions becoming parasitic on the teeth and causing decay. 
2. [I. c.] Any bacterium having this form. 
leptoxylem (lep-to-zi'lem), n. [< Gr. teirrk, 
slender, + E. xylem.] In bot., a rudimentary 
xylem. 
Leptura (lep-tu'ra), n. [NL., < Gr. tern-df, 
thin, slender, + ovpa, the tail.] A large genus 
of longicorn beetles of the family Cerambycidce. 
Some 7f> species occur in North America north of Mexico. 
L. canadensis, about one half of an inch long, is brownish- 
black with yellow on the antennae and red on the elytra. 
Leptureae (lep-tu're-e), n. pi. [NL. (Bentham 
and Hooker, 1883), '< Lepturus + -ece.~\ A sub- 
tribe of grasses founded on. the genus Lepturus, 
having one or two stiff empty glumes much 
longer than the hyaline flowering ones. It em- 
braces four genera besides Lepturus, all natives 
of the warmer parts of the Old World. 
lepturid (lep'tu-rid), n. A member of the Lep- 
turidce. 
Lepturidae (lep-tu'ri-de), n.pl. [NL., < Leptura 
+ -idee.] A family of longicorn insects, typified 
by the genus Leptura. They have the head narrowed 
to a neck behind the eyes, which are rounded and do not 
envelop the base of the antenna! ; the front coxae conical ; 
and the stridulating plate on the mesonotum divided by 
a smooth portion or by a furrow. These insects occur on 
flowers. Also written Leptumdai, Lepturette, Lepturida, 
LepturUes. 
Lepturinae (lep-tu-ri'ne), n. pi. [NL.,< Leptura 
+ -ince.~\ The lepturids rated as a subfamily of 
Cerambycidce. 
Lepturus (lep-tu'rus), TO. [NL. (R. Brown, 
1810), < Gr. /UTrrof, slender, + ovpa, tail (from 
the slender spikes).] A genus of grasses of the 
tribe Hordeece and type of the subtribe Lep- 
turece, characterized by the one- to two-flowered 
spikelet having one or two rigid outer glumes 
inclosing the thin pointless flowering glumes. 
There are about 6 species, natives of northern Europe and 
Africa, temperate Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the 
islands of the Pacific. They are generally known as hard- 
grass, and also as snake's-taU. 
LeptUS (lep'tus), 11. [NL., < Gr. Atm-of, thin, 
fine, delicate : see Lepton 2 ."] 1 . A generic name 
under which six-legged larval forms of various 
mites, chiefly of the family Trombidiidce,'but also 
of Tetranychidce, have been grouped. L. autumna- 
lis, a young tetranychid, is the cause of a cutaneous disease 
in man. L. americanus is a young trombidiid. See harvest- 
tick. Latreille, 1806. 
2. A genus of beetles of the family Cucujidce: 
same as Sylvanus. Duftschmidt, 1825. 
Lepus (le'pus), TO. [NL., < L. lepus (lepor-), a 
hare. Cf. Gr. (^Eolic) templf, (Italic) fopt>pif, 
a hare.] 1. The representative and only ex- 
tant genus of Leporid(B. There are about 30 species, 
of most parts of the world except Australia. South Amer- 
ica has but one, the tapeti, L. brasOiensis. India and 
Africa have several, and North America the largest num- 
ber. L. timidus is the common hare of Europe. L. cu- 
nicultis is the common rabbit, the original of the domestic 
varieties. The polar hare, white in winter, is L. timidus, 
var. arcticus. Several other species also turn white. L. 
americanus is the common varying hare of North America. 
L. campestris is the northern prairie-hare. L. cattotis and 
L. caltyomicus are two large southern hares of the same 
continent. L. aquaticus is the swamp-hare of the southern 
United States. L. 
palustris is the 
marsh-hare. The 
common wood-rab- 
bit or molly cotton- 
tail of the United 
States is L. sylvati- 
ctis, of which there " 
are several varie- 
ties in the West. 
See cuts under cot- 
tonta-U, hare, and 
jack-rabbit. 
2. An ancient 
southern con- 
stellation, situ- 
ated south of 
Orion and east 
of Canis Major. 
Its brightest star, 
of 2.7 magnitude, is in a line from the middle star of Ori- 
on's belt through the sword of Orion. 
The Constellation Lepus. 
lerry 
Lepyridaet (le-pir'i-de), . pi. [NL., < Lepyrvs 
+ -ida;.] A family of coleopterous insects, 
named from the genus Lepyrus. Kirby, 1837. 
Lepyrus (lep'i-rus), n. [NL., < Gr. 'Aeirvpdf, in a 
rind or shell, neut. fairvpov, a rind, shell, < /ieirof, 
a scale, rind: see lepis.'} A genus of weevils or 
Curculionidce, having the rostrum subangulate 
and carinate below, and the legs rounded, not 
sinuate. They are rather large yellowish or grayish 
beetles, living upon various trees. The species are numer- 
ous, and belong to the northern portions of both hemi- 
spheres. L. colon is an ashy-gray species, about one third 
of an inch long, found in Europe and British America, 
especially upon willows. 
leret. An obsolete form of lear 1 , leer 1 , leer 3 . 
Lernaea (ler-ne'ii), n. [NL., with ref. to the Ler- 
nsean hydra, < C. Lernma, fern, of Lernteus: see 
Lernwan.'] The typical genus of Lernceidw, for- 
merly regarded as belonging to the group of 
nematoid intestinal worms. The male of L. 
branchialis is 2 or 3 millimeters long, the female 
twice as large. Also Lernea. 
Lernaean, Lernean (ler-ne'an), a. and n. [< 
L. Lernams, < Gr. Aepvaiof, Lernsean, < Aepva, 
\pvri, > L. Lerna, Lerne, a locality in Argolis.] 
1. a. 1. Pertaining to the marshy district and 
the lake and fountain called Lerna, in the re- 
gion of Argolis in Greece, or to the ancient 
sacred grove in this district. 
Opened the eye of his conscience to the hundred-headed 
injustice in the Lernaean Marsh of Modern Society. 
Theodore Parker, Ten Sermons on Keligion. 
2. [I. c.] Same as lernceoid Lernaean hydra, in 
Or. myth., a monstrous nine-headed serpent inhabiting 
the Lenuean marsh, killed by Hercules. See hydra, 1, and 
Hercules. 
II. n. A member of the Lernaida; or Lernatoi- 
dea. 
Lernaeidae (ler-ne'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Lernaa 
+ -idai.] A family of degraded parasitic crus- 
taceans (fish-lice), of the order Siphonostoma, or 
giving name to a different order, Lernatoidea. 
The females of these fish-lice resemble worms rather than 
crustaceans. The body is unsegmented ; there are pro- 
cesses upon the head ; the mouth-parts are piercing, with 
a suctorial tube ; and there are four pairs of small swim- 
ming-feet. They are found on the eyes, mouth, gills, and 
skin, and sometimes in the flesh of fishes. The small 
males are parasitic upon the females, and resemble crus- 
taceans more than do the females. There are several 
genera, as Lerncea, Lemceocera, Lemceonema, Penella, 
H&mobaphes, etc. Also Lerruzadce. 
lernaeiform, ierneiform (Ier-ne'i-f6rm), a. 
[< NL. Lerncea + L. forma, form.] Having the 
form or characters of the Lernceoidea; resem- 
bling crustaceans of the genus Lerncea. 
Lernasodea (ler-ne-od'e-a), n. pi. Same as Ler- 
nceoidea. 
lernaeoid, lerneoid (ler-ne'oid), a. [< NL. Ler- 
ncea + Gr. eJdof , form.] Pertaining to or having 
the characters of the Lernceoidea. Also lerncean. 
Lernaeoidea (ler-ne-oi'de-a), . pi. [NL., < Ler- 
ncea + Gr. eMof, form.] An order of Epizoa, 
containing those most degraded parasitic crus- 
taceans whose bodies are worm-like and whose 
limbs are rudimentary, as in the families CTion- 
dracanthidai,Lernceidce, and Lernceopodidce. The 
limbs, when present, are simple inarticulate processes, ser- 
ving only to fix the parasite on its host. The thorax is in- 
articulate and the abdomen usually rudimentary. These 
fish-lice, especially the females, exhibit the extreme of 
degradation and distortion of form. Also Lernoeodea. 
Lernaeopoda (ler-ne-op'o-da), TO. [NL., < Ler- 
ncea + Gr. ffofif (Trod-) = E. foot.'} The typical 
genus of Lernceopodidce. 
lernaeopodian (ler-ne-o-po'di-an), n. [< Ler- 
nceopoda + -Jaw.] A fish-louse of the genus 
Lernceopoda, or some similar species. 
Lernaeopodidae (ler-ne-o-pod'i-de),.^. [NL., 
< Lernceopoda + -idee.] A family of degraded 
parasitic crustaceans, of the order Siphonosto- 
ma or Lernceoidea. The body consists of head and 
thorax with rudimentary abdomen, and there are no swim- 
ming-feet. The mouth-parts consist of mandibulate and 
suctorial parts, the maxillipeds attaining some size and 
serving in the female for attachment. The dwarfed males 
have clasplug-feet, but no swimming-feet There are sev- 
eral genera of these grotesque fish-lice, as Lernceopoda, 
Achtheres, Anchorella, Brachiella, etc. 
Lernea, Lernean, etc. See Lerncea, etc. 
lerpt (le'rot), . [< F. lerot, dim. of loir, < L. 
glis (glir-), a dormouse : see Glis.'} The gar- 
den-dormouse, Myoxus or Eliomys nitela, one 
of the larger dormice of southern Europe, about 
6 inches long. 
lerp (lerp), n. [Australian.] A manna said to be 
a secretion from an insect, found on the leaves 
of Eucalyptus dumosa when very small. 
lerruck (ler'uk), n. A dialectal form of lave- 
rock, for lark*. [Orkney Isles.] 
lerryt, . [Appar. a var. of lear 1 , .] Learn- 
ing; lesson. Middleton, Blurt, Master-Consta- 
ble, iii. 3. 
