VOCABULARY 
A. 
• 
Abdomen, the cavity of the belly. 
Accretion, a growth; increase in size or extent. 
Adipose, fatty, containing fat. 
Alkalies, a peculiar class of chemical substances which have the prop¬ 
erty of combining with and neutralizing the properties of acids. 
Anconceus, the name of one of the muscles which extend the elbow- 
joint. 
Anal, a term applied to one of the fins of fish, situated near the anus or 
vent. 
Anhelation, breathing hard or panting. 
Annular, in the form of a ring. 
Annuli, rings—applied to the muscular fibres which surround the bodies 
of some animals like rings. 
Antennae, organs of touch, situated near the mouths of insects having 
many joints. 
Antherae, small bodies w T hich contain the pollen or fertilizing dust of 
flowers ; the antherae are fixed generally on the ends of slender fila¬ 
ments, and surround the germ or seed vessel. 
Aorta, the main artery of the body, which receives the blood directty 
from the heart and distributes it to the body. 
Auricle, a cavity of the heart. Its external shape gives it the appear¬ 
ance of an appendage to the organ, and its name is derived from its 
supposed resemblance to an ear, (auricula.) 
Automaton , a machine having a power of motion within itself, but des¬ 
titute of life. 
B. 
Buccinator, the principal muscle of the cheek. 
Biceps, one of the muscles which bend the elbow-joint. 
Bivalve, consisting of two valves or shells, as in shell-fish— e. g. the 
oyster. 
Brachiceus, the name of two muscles moving the arm. 
Brevis , short. 
C. 
Calyx, the flower cup ; the external or outermost part of the flower, 
generally resembling the leaves in color, and containing the othe- 
parts of the flower within it. It is often wanting. 
Camera obscura, or dark chamber. An optical instrument in which 
the rays of light from external objects are made to pass through a con¬ 
vex lens into a dark box where they are received upon a screen, and 
produce a representation of external objects. 
Capsule, the seed vessel of plants. 
Carnivorous, feeding or living on flesh. 
