NEP 
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18369 
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NEPETA, in botany, catmint, a genus 
of the Didynainia Gyninospcrinia class and 
order. Natural order of Verticillatse. La- 
bia ta;, Jussieu. Essential character: co- 
rolla, lower lip with an intermediate seg- 
ment, crenate ; throat reflex at the edge ; 
stamina approximating. There are twenty 
species, among which is the N. cataria, 
common catmiut ; it has a perennial root, 
and many branching stalks, about two feet 
in height, upright, pubescent ; leaves of a 
velvet-like softness, wrinkled, ash- colour- 
ed ; spikes, composed of interrupted whorls, 
terminate the stem ; flowers sub-sessile ; ca- 
lyx downy, with green ribs ; corolla white ; 
the whole plant has a strong scent, between 
mint and pennyroyal ; is is called catmint, 
because cats are very fond of it, especially 
when it is withered, when they will roll 
themselves on it, tear it to pieces, and chew 
it with pleasure. It is a native of most 
parts of Europe, on banks and hedges, 
chiefly in a calcareous soil, flowering from 
July to September. 
NEPHELIUM, in botany, a genus of 
the Monoecia Pentandria class and order. 
Natural order of Tricoccse. Corymbiferae, 
Jussieu. Essential character : male, calyx 
five-toothed; corolla none: female, calyx 
four-cleft ; corolla none ; germs two, with 
two styles to each ; drupes two, muricated, 
one-seeded. There is but one species, viz. 
N. lappaceum, a native of the East Indies. 
NEPHRITE, in mineralogy, a species 
of the Talc genus ; it is also called jade, or 
jade-stone. It was formerly celebrated for 
its medical virtues. It is of a dark leek- 
green colour, verging to blue. It occurs 
massive in detached rounded pieces. The 
smootli external surface is glimmering with 
an oily lustre ; internally it is dull, except 
when mixed with fibres of asbestos and 
scales talc. The specific gravity is about 
3. There are two sub-species : the 
common, and axe-stone : the former is 
somewhat brittle, takes a good polish, and 
is cut into handles for knives, &c. ; the 
latter is made into hatchets by the natives 
of New Zealand. Nephrite is found in 
Egypt, China, America, the islands in the 
NER 
Pacific Ocean, and in the Siberian moun-, 
tains, sometimes adhering to rocks, and 
sometimes in detached round pieces. It is 
highly prized by the Hindoos and Chinese, 
by whom it is made into talismans and idols, 
and by the Turks, who form it into sword 
and dagger handles. 
NEPHRITIC, something that relates to 
the kidneys. 
NEREIS, in natural history, a genus of 
the Vermes Mollusca class and order. Body 
long, creeping, with numerous lateral pe- 
duncles or feet on each side; feelers sim- 
ple; two or four eyes. There are about 
thirty species, in separate divisions, viz. A. 
Moutli furnished with a claw or forceps. 
B. Mouth furnished with a proboscis. C. 
Moutli furnished with a tube. N. noctilu- 
ca, body blue-green, with fwenty-three seg- 
ments, hardly visible to the naked eye. 
These are found in most seas, and are the 
animals that frecjuently illuminate the wa- 
ter, making it appear as if on fire. They 
are extremely minute, pellucid, and 
highly phosphorus, giving an uncom- 
monly lucid splendor to the waves in the 
evening. By their extreme numbers and 
smallness, they easily elude observation, 
but may be detected by passing a small 
quantity of water through blotting paper. 
NERITA, in natural history, a genus of 
the Vermes Testacea class and order. Ani- 
mal a Umax ; shell univalve, spiral, gibbous, 
flatfish at bottom ; aperture semi-orbicu- 
lar or semi-lunar; pillar-lip transversely 
truncate, flatfish. There are nearly eighty 
species, divided into distinct sections, viz. 
A. Umbilicate. B. Imperforate, with the 
lips toothless. C. Imperforate, witlr the 
lips toothed. N. fluviatilis, with only two 
spires ; brittle, dusky, marked with white 
spots. It is not half the size of a pea, and 
inhabits rivers and standing waters. 
NERIUM, in botany, oleander, a genus 
of the Pentandria Monogynia class and or- 
der. Natural order of Contort®. Apoci- 
ne®, Jussieu. Essential character: con- 
torted; corolla with the tube terminated 
by a lacerated crown ; follicles two, ,erect. 
There are nine species : these are beautiful 
evergreen shrubs or trees, upright and 
branching ; leaves opposite, or by tlirees in 
a sort of whorl; flowers in clusters, or co- 
rymbs, from the ends of the stem and 
branches. They are chiefly natives of the 
East Indies. 
NERTERIA, in botany, a genus of the 
Tetrandria Digynia class and order. Essen- 
tial character: corolla funnel-form, four- 
