# Animals And Plants (R-S)

Rabbit
The rabbit is a long eared burrowing mammal.

Rabbit Cat
see "Abyssinian cat"

Raccoon
The racoon is an American plantigrade carnivorous mammal. It has grayish-brown fur which is used for making hats.

Radiolaria
The radiolaria are an order of rhizopoda. They are radially symetrical and live in the surface layers of seas. They have stiff, radiating pseudopodia and a skeleton.

Radish
Radish (Raphanus satvius) is an annual or biennial plant of the family Cruciferae) with a tuberous root, irregularly lobed leaves, and cross-shaped white to purplish flowers. It has been used as a vegetable since Ancient Egyptian htimes.

Ragwort
The ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is a perennial or biennial plant of the family Compositae native to Europe and western Asia found on waste ground.

Rail
A rail is any wading bird of the family Rallidae, including the rails proper (genus Rallus), coots, moorhens, and gallinules. Rails have dark plumage, a short neck and wings, and long legs. They are 10-45cm long.

Rainbird
Rainbird is a name given to several birds, especially the black-billed cuckoo and the yellow-billed cuckoo. They get their name from the belief that they call frequently before a rain storm.

Rambouillet
The Rambouillet is a breed of sheep developed from the Merino and named after the town of Rambouillet in north France where the breed originated around 1905.

Rambutan
Rambutan is a Malayan sapindaceous tree bearing a bright-red oval fruit covered with soft spines and having a subacid taste.

Rampion
Rampion (Campanula Rapuneulus) is a plant of the natural order Campanulaceae, indigenous to Briatin and continental Europe. Its root may be eaten raw like radish and the leaves may be cut into a winter salad.

Rangpur
Rangpur is a variety of mandarin orange bearing a tart fruit.

Ranunculaceae
Ranunculaceae is a natural order of exogenous polypetalous plants, in almost all cases herbaceous, inhabiting the colder parts of the world, and unknown in hot countries except at considerable elevations. They have radical or alternate leaves (opposite in Clematis), regular or irregular, often large and handsome flowers, and fruits consisting of one-seeded achenes or many seeded follicles.

Ranunculus
Ranunculus is a genus of herbaceous plants of the natural order Ranunculaceae. They have entire, lobed or compounded leaves, and usually panicled white or yellow flowers. The species are numerous, and almost exclusively inhabit the northern hemisphere. The British species include the buttercup and spearwort.

Rape
Rape are two plant species of the mustard family cultivated for the edible oil.

Raphanus sativus
see "Radish"

Raphidiadae
see "Snake-flies"

Rasores
The rasores are an order of birds. It includes the sub-orders of fowls, turkeys, partridges and grouse. They are characterised by their toes which end in strong claws used for scratching. Hence they are called the scratchers.

Raspberry
The raspberry is a prickly plant of the rosaceae family.

Rat
The rat is a rodent of the genus Rattus. There are a number of varieties, including the brown rat and the black rat.

Rat-snake
The rat-snake is a snake domesticated in Sri Lanka for killing rats. It is an easily tamed snake.

Rat-tailed Snake
see "Fer de Lance"

Ratel
The ratel or honey-badger is a carnivorous quadruped of the genus Mellivora, and of the badger family. It is found in south and east Africa and India. The South African ratel averages about 3 feet in length including an 8 or 9 inch tail.

Ratitae
The ratitae are an order of neornithes. They are large running birds, unable to fly.

Ratite
The ratite is a flightless bird with a breastbone without the keel to which flight muscles are attached. Examples are the ostrich, rhea, emu, cassowary, and kiwi.

Rattlesnake
The rattlesnake is a name of various American venomous snakes of the genus Crotalus, and family Crotalidae. They are distinguished by having a tail which terminates in a number of horny pieces which the animal vibrates to make a rattling sound.

Raven
The raven is a large bird of the crow family, genus Corvus. It feeds on carrion. It is completely black in colour, and can learn to imitate human speech.

Ray
The ray is a name of many elasmobranchiate fishes, including the skate. They are are recognised by a flattened body and by the extremely broad and fleshy pectoral fins which appear as continuations of the body.

Razor-back
The razor-back is a large whale.

Razor-shell
The razor-shell is a genus of lamellibranchiate mollusc common on British coasts.

Razorbill
The razorbill is a North Atlantic sea bird (Alca torda) of the auk family, which breeds on cliffs and migrates south in winter. It has a curved beak and is black above and white below. It uses its wings as paddles when diving. Razorbills are common off Newfoundland.

Red Admiral
The red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) is a British butterfly.

Red African
see "Africana"

Red bellied turtle
The Red bellied turtle is a fresh water turtle of the genus Pseudemys found in east and south USA having red markings on the underside of the shell.

Red Bird
The red bird or scarlet tanager (Pyranga rubra) is an American bird of the tanagers family. The male is bright scarlet with black wings and tail.

Red Cole
see "Horseradish"

Red dog
see "Dhole"

Red Gurnard
Red Gurnard (Trigla cuculus) is a British coastal fish of the Gurnard genus.

Red Head
see "Comisana"

Red Poll
The red poll is a medium sized, red coloured breed of domestic beef and dairy cattle.

Red sage
Red sage (yellow sage) is a showy, rank-smelling shrub of tropical America with yellow flowers that turn orange or red.

Red White-Russian
see "Belarus Red"

Red Wrasse
see "Striped Wrasse"

Red-mouth
see "Grunt"

Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a large, broad-winged (buteo) American hawk of the order Falconiformes, family Accipitridae, with a rusty tail. The typical adult has a dark brown back, light front and brown chest band. The young have a streaked front, light brown tail. It commonly soars on updrafts and dives for its prey, mainly small mammals, snakes and other vertebrates.

Redbreast
see "Robin"

Reddish-Grey Bat
see "Natter's Bat"

Redshank
The redshank is a bird of the genus Totanus, so named because of the red colouring of its legs. It is found in Britain.

Redstart
The redstart (Phoenicura Ruticilla) is a bird of the Sylviadae family. It has a white forehead, black throat, bluish grey back and brown body with a red tail. It is found in Britain during the summer, feeding on worms and insects on garden lawns arriving at the end of April. It nests in holes in walls and hollow trees or garden pots!

Redwing
The redwing is a bird and a species of thrush. It is found in Britain during the winter, and in Europe and Asia during the summer.

Reebok
The reebok is a species of South African antelope. It has smooth, long, straight and slender horns. It stands 2.5 feet at the shoulder and is a very fast runner.

Reed
Reeds are perennial aquatic grasses.

Reeve
Reeve is the name of the female ruff bird.

Regulus ignicapillus
see "Firecrest"

Reindeer
Reindeer are a species of deer found in north Europe and north Asia. It has branched, recurved, round antlers. The legs are quite short in proportion to the body. The Laplanders often use reindeer as a substitute for horses, sheep and cattle, using them for pulling sledges, food, and clothing.

Reindeer moss
Reindeer moss is a lichen of the genus Cladonia of arctic and sub-arctic regions eaten by reindeer and caribou.

Remora
The remora is a genus of fish included in the Goby family. They have on top of their head a peculiar sucking-disc which they use to attach themselves to the bottom of other fish or ships.

Reproduction
Reproduction is the unique property possessed by all living organisms to produce new individuals resembling the original organism in all essential respects.

Reptile
see "reptilia"

Reptiles
see "reptilia"

Reptilia
Reptilia is a class of cold-blooded, lung breathing vertebrates which includes snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles and tortoises.

Reseda luteola
see "Woold"

Reseda odorata
see "Mignonette"

Rest-harrow
Rest-harrow or cammock (Ononis spinosa) is a common British leguminous plant akin to the brooms. It is plentiful in stiff clay land in some parts, and derives its name from its long and strong matted roots arresting the progress of the sharrow. The stems are annual, often woody or shrubby, and hairy. The sleaves are generally simple, entire towards the base and the flowers are mostly solitary, large and handsome of a brilliant rose colour.

Restiaceae
Restiaceae is a natural order of plants allied to the Cyperaceae or sedges, and confined to the southern hemisphere, being found chiefly in South Africa and Australia. They are herbs or undershrubs, with matted roots which bind shifting soil, hard wiry stems, simple narrow leaves, the sheaths of which are usually slpit, and inconspicuous brown rush-like panicles of flowers.

Retriever
The retrievers are several breeds of dog with a coarse, thick, oily coat bred originally to retrieve game.

Rhabdocoelida
The rhabdocoelida are an order of turbellaria with a simple sac-like intestine or no intestine.

Rhamnus catharticus
see "Buckthorn"

Rhamphastidae
see "Toucan"

Rhea
The rhea is a South American bird. It is about 4 feet tall. It is incapable of flight, but has strong legs and can run very fast.

Rhesus Monkey
Rhesus Monkey is a name for two species of monkeys, the brush, or pig-tailed monkey (Macacus nemestrinus) which inhabits the Malay Peninsular, and the islands of the Indian Archipelago, and is often domesticated; and the Macacus Rhesus, a species of monkey held sacred in India, where they swarm in large numbers about the temples.

Rhinobatidae
Rhinobatidae is the shark-ray or beaked ray family of fishes.

Rhinoceros
A Rhinocerous is an odd-toed hoofed mammal of the family Rhinocerotidae. The one-horned Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is up to 2 m high at the shoulder, with a tubercled skin, folded into shieldlike pieces; the African rhinoceroses are smooth-skinned and two-horned. The African black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is 1.5m high, with a prehensile upper lip for feeding on shrubs; the broad-lipped or ''white'' rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum is actually slaty-gray, with a squarish mouth for browsing grass. They are solitary and vegetarian, with poor eyesight but excellent hearing and smell.

Rhinolophidae
Rhinolophidae is a family of insectivorous bats, including the greater and lesser horse-shoe bats of Great Britain.

Rhizocrinus
The rhizocrinus is a type of crinoidea.

Rhizomastigina
The rhizomastigina are an order of rhizopoda. They are small amoeboid forms with a flagellum. They live in fresh water.

Rhizopoda
Rhizopoda is a class of phylum protozoa which are usually free-living and move and ingest food by means of pseudopodia.

Rhodesian ridgeback
The Rhodesian ridgeback is a breed of South African dog. It is a medium-sized, muscular dog with a short, glossy red or tan coat with a characteristic ridge of hair along the spine consisting of parallel crowns of hair growing in the opposite direction of the rest of the coat. They were originally bred for hunting lions, but are now primarily used as guard dogs.

Rhododendron
The rhododendron is an evergreen shrub of the ericaceae family.

Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a perennial plant.

Rhynchocephalia
see "Tuatera"

Rhytina
The Rhytina are a genus of mammals, closely allied to the manatee and dugong. The Rhytina were discovered in 1741 on an island in the Berring Straits.

Rice
Rice (Oryza sativa) is a cereal plant of the natural order Graminaceae or Grasses. It is an important food plant. The culm of the rice is from 30 cm to 2 meters high, annual, erect, simple, round and jointed; the leaves are large, firm and pointed, arising from very long, cylindrical, and finely striated sheaths; the flowers are disposed in a panicle somwhat resembling that of the oat; the seeds are white and rectangular, but vary in size and form in the numerous varieties. Cultivation requires a hot summer with plenty of water.

Rifle-bird
The rifle-bird (Ptiloris paradisea) is a bird of the family Paradisaeidae, order Passeriformes. It occurs in Australia and New Guinea, and is purplish-black in colour with patches of green bronze. The nest is usually made in a tangle of creepers.

Ringed-snake
The Ringed-snake is a harmless colubrine snake found in England.

Ringneck snake
The ringneck snake is a small, nonvenomous North American snake of the genus Diadophis usually having a conspicuous yellow or orange ring around the neck.

Roach
The roach is a freshwater fish of north Europe.

Roadrunner
The roadrunner is a north American bird of the cuckoo family.

Robber fly
The Robber fly is a swift flying large dipterous insect of the family Asilidae which eats other insects.

Robber frog
The robber frog is a small tropical American frog of the genus Eleutherodactylus.

Robin
The robin or redbreast is one of two songbirds of the thrush family. The North American thrush, the robin Turdus Migratorius is 25 cm long, grey brown with brick-red underparts. The Eurasian and African thrush (Erithacus Rubecula) is 13 cm long, olive brown above with a red breast and white abdomen. The Eurasian Robin is renowned for its liking for human company.

Robinia
Robinia is a genus of trees of the natural order Leguminosae. They have pink or white flowers. The chief species is the American locust tree which yields a valuable hard wood.

Rocky Mountain goat
The Rocky Mountain goat is a long-haired, white, antelope-like goat with short black horns found in mountainous regions of west North America.

Rodent
The rodent is a mammal of the family rodentia. They have a single pair of incisor teeth in both the upper and lower jaws that continue to grow as they become worn.

Rodentia
Rodentia is the rodent order of eutheria. The incisors are chisel-like and used for gnawing. Canines are absent.

Roe deer
The roe deer is a small, agile deer. The male has three-pointed antlers.

Rojo Africana
see "Africana"

Roller
A roller is any brightly coloured bird of the Old World family Coraciidae, resembling crows but in the same order as kingfishers and hornbills. Rollers grow up to 32cm long. The name is derived from the habit of some species of rolling over in flight.

Romanov
The Romanov sheep are from the Volga Valley, northwest of Moscow. Purebred Romanovs are born black and lighten to a soft silver grey as they make their fleece.

Romney Marsh
The Romney Marsh or Kentish is a breed of hardy English sheep good for fattening and immune from foot-rot and liver-rot.

Rook
The rook is a member of the crow family.

Rookery
A rookery is a colony of rooks, penguins or seals.

Rooks
see "Rook"

Roost
A roost is a bird's perching or resting place.

Rooster
Rooster is the name for a male domestic fowl and certain game birds.

Rosaceae
The rosaceae is the rose family. They exhibit an exogenous mode of growth, have several petals, distinct, perigynous, separate carpels and numerous stamens.

Rose
The rose are shrubs and climbing plants of the genus rosa and family rosaceae.

Rosemary
Rosemary is an evergreen shrub.

Rotatoria
see "Rotifera"

Rotifer
Rotifer (Rotatoria) is the name of any of the tiny invertebrates, also called 'wheel animalcules', of the phylum Rotifera. Mainly freshwater, some marine, rotifers have a ring of cilia that carries food to the mouth and also provides propulsion. They are the smallest of multicellular animals - few reach 0.05 cm.

Rotifera
see "Rotifer"

Rottweiler
The rottweiler is a breed of German guard dog.

Roundworm
Roundworm is a common name for phylum nematoda.

Roundworms
see "Nematodes"

Royal water lilly
see "Victoria"

Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae are trees, shrubs or herbs, mostly tropical, with leaves possessing prominent stipules, in some cases as large as leaves.

Rubus fruticosus
see "Bramble"

Rudd
The rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) is a freshwater fish, a type of minnow, belonging to the carp family Cypridae, common in lakes and slow rivers of Europe; now introduced in the USA. Brownish green above and silvery below, with red fins and golden eyes, it can reach a length of 45 cm and a weight of 1kg.

Rue
Rue (Ruta) is a genus of plants of the order Rutaceae. Common Rue is a strong smelling yellowish British garden plant which was once used as a charm against witches and is mentioned in Shakespeare's works as the ''herb of grace''.

Ruff
The ruff is a bird belonging to the grallatores (waders). It was once abundant in Britain.

Rumex acetosa
see "Sorrel"

Ruminant
Ruminant is the group (ruminatia) of even-toed hoofed mammals, including chevrotains, camels, deer, giraffes, the prong-buck and cattle, that have more than one stomach and chew the cud.

Ruminate
The term ''ruminate'' refers to ruminant animals.

Ruminates
see "ruminate"

Ruminating
see "ruminate"

Rush
The rush (Juncus) is a genus of plants of the order Juncaceae.

Russian Tapeworm
The Russian Tapeworm or Broad Tapeworm (Bothriocephalus latus) is a worm commonly found in man. The first stage occurs in fish, notably pike and burbot. In consequence the parasite is particularly common in countries where much fish is eaten in a raw or undercooked state. The adult tapeworm has two suckers but no hooks and may reach a length of 10 meters. The eggs hatch into free-swimming ciliated embryos.

Russian Wolfhound
see "Borzoi"

Ruta
see "Rue"

Rutaceae
Rutaceae is a family of plants, consisting of 1700 species of shrubs and trees in about 160 genera. Species in this family are most abundant in tropical areas. Their leaves are commonly evergreen and leathery in texture, oily and aromatic when crushed. Some species have thorns. The flowers usually have five or four sepals and petals, with stamens double the number of the petals. The fused carpels vary in number, and the fruit is of variable type, sometimes dry as in rue, or a berry as in Skimmia. Probably the best-known members of the family are the citrus fruits.

Rye
Rye (Secale cereale) is a grass cultivated in Russia, Germany and Scandinavia. It's flour is used to make ''black bread''.

Saanen
The saanen is a white or cream coloured breed of domestic goat kept for its milk. They originated in the Saanen valley in Switzerland.

Sabella
Sabella are polychaeta.

Sable
The sable is a carnivorous type of marten.

Sable antelope
The sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) is a large African antelope with long, saber-like horns and in the male a black coat.

Safflower
The Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is a composite plant native to India. It's large red flowers yield the dye carthamine used in the preparation of rouge.

Sage
Sage (Salvia) is a genus of perennial herbs of the order Labiatae.

Sagitta
Sagitta is a phylum chaetognatha.

Saiga
The Saiga (Saiga tartarica) is an antelope found on the steppes of Europe and Asia. It has a large inflated nose and yellow, lyre shaped horns. The Saiga was in prehistoric times native to Britain.

Sailfish
The sailfish is a large tropical and sub-tropical marine fish of the family Istiophoridae distinguished by a long, high dorsal fin, long pelvic fins and a double keel on each side of the tail.

Sainfoin
Sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa) is a plant of the order Leguminosae with pink flowers and used as fodder.

saithe
see "Coal-fish"

Saki Monkeys
The Saki Monkeys (Pithecia) are a genus of American monkeys of the family Cebidae, with non-prehensile tails and projecting incisor teeth. They are found mainly in the Amazon valley.

Salad-burnet
Salad-burnet (Poterium Sanguisorba) is the only British species of plant of the genus Poterium. It grows on dry and most frequently chalky pastures and is valuable as fodder and may also be eaten in salads. It has pinnate leaves and tall stems surmounted by dense heads of small flowers.

Salamander
The salamander is a small amphibian of the subclass urodela. They have a small rounded plump, usually spotted body without a dorsal crest. Salamanders are widely distributed throughout Europe but are absent from Britain.

Salicaceae
The salicaceae are a natural order of apetalous exogens distinguised by a 2 valved capsule, and numerous seeds tufted with long hairs.

Sallow
Sallow is a popular name of trees of the willow family. Common Sallow or goat willow (Salix caprea) was used in the manufacture of gun-powder charcoal.

Salmonidae
Salmonidae is the Salmon family of bony fish. The body is long and covered with scales, but the head is naked and has no barbel. Most characteristic is the second dorsal fin which is small, fleshy and without rays. The family includes the Salmon and the trout.

Salsify
Salsify is a purple-flowered composite plant whose root has an oyster-like flavour and is used as a culinary vegetable. It is also known as the oyster plant and vegetable oyster.

Saluki
The saluki is a black and tan, white, gold or tricolour breed of dog resembling the greyhound and having fringes of long hair on the ears, legs and thighs. It originates from Egypt and south west Asia and is also known as the gazelle hound.

Salvinia
Salvinia is a genus of floating heterosporous ferns. The spores form on the underside of the leaves and drop to the pond bed when the old plants die, giving rise to fresh plants in the spring.

Samolus Valerandi
see "Brookweed"

Samoyed
The samoyed is a Siberian breed of dog.

Samphire
Samphire (Crithmum) is a genus of plants of the order Umbelliferae. The common samphire (rock-plant) has umbels of yellow flowers and makes an excellent pickle.

Sand Clover
see "Stachys"

Sand dollar
The sand dollar is a flat, dish-like sea urchin that lives on the sandy bottoms of the sea off the coast of North America.

Sand-eel
The sand-eel (Launces, Ammodytidae) is a small, long-bodied fish related to the cod family found burrowing in the sand on the coasts of the northern hemisphere.

Sandbox tree
The Sandbox tree is an American tree of the genus Hura. It is a large branching tree with glossy leaves and large, furrowed, round fruits about the size of an orange. When the seed-vessels burts they make a remarkably loud retort.

Sandwort
Sandwort (Arenaria) is a genus of plants of the natural order Caryophyllaceae, comprising low herbs with usually awl-shaped leaves and small white flowers.

Sanguinaria
Sanguinaria is a genus of plants of the order Papaveraceae.

Sanguinaria canadensis
see "Blood-root"

Sanseveria
see "Mother-in-law's-tongue"

Sanseveria trifasciata
see "Mother-in-law's-tongue"

Santa Gertrudis
The Santa Gertrudis is a deep red coloured, horned breed of domestic beef cattle.

Sapindaceae
Sapindaceae is a natural order of mainly tropical trees which includes the soapberry.

Saponaria
see "Soap-wort"

Sapotaceae
Sapotaceae is a natural order of tropical trees and shrubs which includes the gutta-percha tree.

Sarau
see "Serow"

Sarcomastigophora
The sarcomastigophora (Amoeboflagellates) are a group of protozoans.

Sarcophilus ursinus
see "Tasmanian Devil"

Sardine
The sardine are several small fish of the herring family.

Sarotherodon niloticus
see "Mouthbrooder"

Sassafras
Sassafras is a genus of trees of the order Laurinaceae represented by the single species Sassafras officinale, an American tree whose fruits yield oil.

Saurus ophiodon
see "Bombay duck"

Savannah-type
see "West African Dwarf"

Saxifragaceae
The saxifragaceae are an order of plants with five sepals, five petals and ten stamens. They are generally mountain plants.

Scabiosa
see "Scabious"

Scabious
Scabious (Scabiosa) is a genus of plants of the order Dipsaceae. The flowers having a terminal head.

Scalaria
see "Wentletrap"

Scallop
The scallop is a marine mollusc.

Scaphopoda
Scaphopodais a class of phylum mollusca. The foot is reduced and the shell is tubular.

Scarab
The scarab is a type of dung beetle.

Scarborough Lily
The Scarborough Lily (Vallota purpurea) is a South African plant that bears many flowered umbels of red, infundibuliform flowers in late spring.

Scarlet Tanager
see "Red Bird"

Schistosoma
Schistosoma is a member of the order digenea.

Scilla
The scilla (two-leaved squill, autumn scilla, Cuban lily, Siberian squill, blue squill, Tubergen squill) is a bulbous herb of the family Liliaceae with long and slender leaves; six parted terminal blue purple or white bell-shaped, tubular, or spreading flowers.

Scirpus lacustris
see "Bulrush"

Scorpion
see "scorpionidea"

Scorpion-grass
Scorpion-grass is another name for forget-me-not.

Scorpionidea
Scorpionidea is the scorpion order of arachnida. They have four pairs of lung-books in the mesosoma and the post-anal telson forms a sting.!

Scorpions
see "scorpionidea"

Scottish Broken-haired Terrier
see "Yorkshire Terrier"

Scrophularia
see "Fig-wort"

Scyphozoa
Scyphozoa is the class of marine animals known as jelly-fishes. The adult is always medusoid, and there is an extensive system of radial canals, sense organs and tentaculocysts.

Sea Elephant
see "Elephant Seal"

Sea gooseberry
The sea gooseberry is a common name for the sub-phylum ctenophora family.

Sea-Cow
see "Sirenia"

Sea-ear
see "Haliotis"

Sea-Grass
see "Grass-wrack"

Sea-Horse
see "Hippocampus"

Sea-needle
see "Gar-fish"

Sea-pike
see "Gar-fish"

Sea-Pink
see "Armeria"

Sea-Swallow
Sea-swallow is an alternative name for the tern.

Sea-Wolf
see "Cat-fish"

Seal
The seal is a marine mammal of the phocidae family.

Seals
see "Seal"

Seaweed
Seaweed is a popular collective name for any plant which grows in the sea.

Sea urchin
see "echinoidea"

Sea urchins
see "echinoidea"

Sebastes norvegicus
see "Bergylt"

Secale cereale
see "Rye"

Secretary Bird
The Secretary Bird (Serpentarius sagittarius or secretarius) is a crane-like African bird which feeds on insects and reptiles. It received its name on account of pen-like tufts of feathers stuck at the back of the head.

Segmented worm
see "phylum annelida"

Selachians
see "selachii"

Selachii
The selachii (selachians) are an order of chondrichthyes. This order includes the sharks and the rays. They have numerous teeth which are replaced in rapid succession throughout life.

Seladang
see "Gaur"

Selenidium
Selenidium is a member of the gregarinida order.

Senecio jacobaea
see "Ragwort"

Sensitivity
Sensitivity is the ability of an animal to respond to stimuli from its surroundings.

Sequoia
The sequoia is the world's largest tree, growing to over 80 meters tall. It is a coniferous genus of tree with just two species, both confined to the western part of North America.

Serinus canarius
see "Canary"

Serow
The Serow (Sarau, Goat Antelope, Nemorhoedus) is a genus of shaggy goats found in mountain districts of east and south-east Asia in the Himalayas.

Sertularia
Sertularia is a member of the order of calyptoblastea.

Sesame
Sesame is an annual plant of the order pedaliaceae.

Setter
A setter is a breed of gun dog.

Shad
The shad is a fish of the herring family.

Shaddock
see "Grapefruit"

Shag
The shag is a British sea bird.

Shag-bark
The Shag-bark (Carya alba) is a hickory tree from which the hickory-nut is obtained.

Shallot
The shallot is a type of onion.

Shami
see "Awassi"

Shamrock
The shamrock are several trifoliate plants of the family leguminosae.

Shark
The shark is a large group of marine fish with cartilaginous skeletons.

Sheep
Sheep (Ovis) are a ruminant hoofed mammal of the Caprinae family, a sub-family of the Bovidae.

Sheep Louse
Sheep Louse is a fly which gets into the wool of sheep and sucks their blood. The parasite fixes its head in the skin and causes a tumour. The remedy for Sheep Louse is the sheep-dip.

Sheep's Fescue
Sheep's fescue is an abundant tufted grass on dry open spaces growing from 15 cm to 60 cm tall. The leaves are almost cylindrical and chiefly basal. The panicle is compact and slightly one-sided.

Sheld-Drake
see "Sheldrake"

Sheldrake
The Sheldrake (Sheld-Drake, Bargander) is a British duck found in sandy coastal regions.

Shelduck
The shelduck is a British coastal duck.

Shinwari
see "Baluchi"

Shoe-bill
The Shoe-bill (or Whale-headed stork) is a large heron-like bird with a very large, broad bill the upper part of which ends in a prominent hook. It is a rare bird found only in the marshes of the White Nile and its tributaries.

Shore Plum
see "Beach Plum"

Shorthorn
The shorthorn (Durham) is a horned or hornless, red or roan coloured breed of domestic beef cattle.

Shoveler
The shoveler is a British duck.

Shrew
The shrew is an insectivorous mammal of the family soricidae.

Shrike
The Shrikes (Laniidae) are small birds with varying characters, but often with compressed, hooked, serrated bills suitable for seizing and tearing the small birds and animals they feed on.

Shrimp
see "shrimps"

Shrimps
Shrimps are malacostraca.

Siamang
The siamang is a type of gibbon native to Malaysia and Sumatra.

Siamese
The Siamese is a breed of short-haired cat known for its coloration, intelligence and svelte elegance. The coat is thick and glossy, with points on the mask, ears, feet, and tail which can be seal, chocolate, blue, or lilac coloured.
The ears are large and pointed, the tail is long and thin and the eyes are sapphire blue. The Siamese has the loudest meow of all cat breeds. The breed originates from Asia and first appeared in Britain in the 1870s when the King of Siam gave a gift of two siamese cats to Owen Gould, the English consul general in Bangkok, to take back to London.

Siberian pine
see "Cembra pine"

Siberian Squill
see "Scilla"

Sidewinder
The sidewinder is a type of rattlesnake.

Silver Weed
see "Goose-grass"

Siphonophora
Siphonophora is an order of hydrozoa. They are pelagic, colonial animals which show marked polymorphism.

Sirenia
The sirenia (sea-cow) is an order of eutheria. They are large herbivorous animals adapa ed to life in shallow sea.

Siskin
The Siskin or Aberdevine (Carduelis Spinus) is a bird which visits England during the winter. It is 11 cm long with a black crown, variegated plumage of grey and yellow and and a dusky tail. They are to be found in alder trees where they feed on the seeds.

Sitatunga
The sitatunga are a type of antelope found in swamp regions of central Africa.

Skate
Skate are several species of flatfish.

Skink
The skinks are a large family of lizards with large smooth scales, under which is a bony plate.

Skip-jack
see "Click Beetle"

Skirret
Skirret is a plant of the order Umbelliferae. It is a perennial plant native to China and Japan, sometimes cultivated for its edible roots.

Skogkatt
see "Norwegian Forest"

Skua
The Skua (Stercorariidae) are a family of seven species of swimming birds closely related to the gulls, with the upper mandible of the beak longer than the lower, and strongly hooked at the tip. They have strong crooked claws and completely webbed feet.

Skua-gull
The skua-gull is a powerful bird of the family Stercorarius. It is found in The Shetland Islands, Iceland and the Faroes.

Skull
The skull is a term applied to the skeleton bones of the cranium and visceral skeleton.

Skunk
The skunk is a north American mammal of the weasel family.

Skunk-cabbage
Skunk-cabbage is a plant of the natural order Araceae so named for its smell. The root and seeds are antispasmodic and were at one time used to treat asthma.

Skylark
The Skylark (Alauda arvensis) is a small passerine bird found in the northern hemisphere and typically distinguishable by a long black claw toe. It is common throughout Europe and north and central Asia and is famous for its song and soaring flight.

Slater
Slater was a popular name for woodlice around the turn of the century.

Sloe
Sloe (blackthorn) is a deciduous shrub of the plum genus with spinose branches and hard tough wood. The black berries are used for preserves and a fictious port wine.

Sloth
The sloth is a south American herbivorous mammal.

Smelt
The smelt is a small European fish allied to the Salmon which lives in the salt water around the mouths of rivers. It is around 4 to 8 inches long and silvery-white in colour. During May to August the smelt comes up river to spawn in fresh water before then returning to the sea.

Smew
The smew is a swimming bird found in winter along the British coast. It is about 15 to 18 inches long. The male has a white underside and black back. The wings are black and white. The female is red-brown with gray tints.

Smilaceae
Smilaceae are a tribe of plants of the order Liliaceae. They are mostly climbing plants with woody stems and small unisexual flowers.

Smilax
Smilax is a genus of shrubs of the order Liliaceae with umbels of small, dioecious flowers. The roots of several species furnish sarsaparilla.

Smilax ornata
see "Jamaica Sarsaparilla"

Smolt
A smolt is a young, silvery salmon over two years old, but still living in a river and leaving for the sea in the Spring.

Smyrnium olusatrum
see "Alexanders"

Snail
The snail is an air breathing gastropod mollusc with a spiral shell.

Snake
A snake is a reptile of the suborder serpentes.

Snake Plant
see "Mother-in-law's-tongue"

Snake-bird
see "Darter"

Snake-flies
Snake-flies (also called camel-flies, Raphidiadae) are a family of neuropterous insects so named on account of their neck-like elongation of the head and thorax.

Snake-wood
Snake-wood is the wood of the Strychnos colubrina, of the order Loganiaceae. It is a tree found in India and Java.

Snakewood
see "Cecropia"

Sneeze-wood
Sneeze-wood is the popular name of the South African tree Pteroxylon utile. It is of the order Sapindaceae and yields a strong durable timber which is dusty to work with, and causes sneezing.

Sneezewort
Sneezewort is a British composite plant of the milfoil genus. It flowers between July and August.

Snipe
The snipe is a European marsh bird.

Snow-bunting
The snow-bunting is a gregarious, passerine bird belonging to the bunting family. It is a native of arctic regions and a winter visitor to Britiain and other temperate regions.

Snow-goose
The snow-goose is a species of goose which lives in arctic regions.

Snowdrop
The snowdrop is a plant of the genus Galanthus of the order Amaryllidaceae. It bears solitary, drooping and elegant white flowers which appear in February.

Snowy Egret
The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is a small, all-white American heron of the order Ciconiiformes, family Ardeidae, with a black bill, black legs which have a yellow stripe down their back and yellow feet. When aroused it may raise long feathers on its crown. It hunts small fish and crustaceans in marshes, estuaries, along rivers and in lakes.

Soap-wort
Soap-wort (saponaria) is a genus of plants of the order Caryophyllaceae. They are so named because the bruised leaves produce a lather like soap when agitated in water.

Soapwort
Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) is a hardy herbaceous plant whose leaves possess the properties of soap.

Soko
The Soko is a herbivorous mammal closely allied to the chimpanzees. It was discovered living near Lake Tanganyika by Dr. Livingstone.

Solan Goose
see "Gannet"

Solanaceae
Solanaceae is a natural order of monopetalous exogenous plants, composed of herbs or shrubs, natives of most parts of the world, and especially within the tropics. They have alternate leaves, terminal or axillary inflorescence, and regular, or nearly regular, monopetalous flowers. They are generally narcotic and poisonous, although some parts of the plants are cultivated for food (such as the potato and aubergine).

Solaster
Solaster is an asteroidea.

Soldanella
Soldanella is a genus of plants of the order Primulaceae. the species are small herbs native to alpine districts.

Sole
Sole is a flatfish.

Solidago
see "Golden-rod"

Solidungula
Solidungula is a division of the Ungulata mammals which includes the horse and donkey.

Solitaire
The solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria) is an extinct flightless pigeon, nearly allied to the dodo, which lived in the island of Rodriguez in the Indian Ocean until about 1761. It had longer legs than the dodo, the male standing almost one meter high.

Solomon's Seal
Solomon's Seal is a British liliaceous plant (Polygonatum multiflorum) occassionaly found in woodlands. It is a tall-growing plant with a round stem and elliptical leaves all pointing one way. It bears green-tipped white flowers, shaped somewhat after the manner of round seals, whence the name is derived.

Somali
The Somali is a breed of long-haired cat renowned for its playful attentiveness and for its keen abilities as a mouser and hunter of small game. It has a lush and slightly shaggy coat, each individual hair carrying ten or more colour tickings, giving the coat a very rich colour density. The ears are large, pointed, and set wide apart, the tail is full and brushy and held over the back when the cat is moving. The eyes are hazel, amber, or green and almond-shaped. It has a lively and shrewd demeanor and is suited to a life indoors, although it needs space to run and play.

Sonchus
Sonchus is a genus of plants of the order Compositae, characterized by all the florets being bisexual and strap-shaped. The flowers have an imbricated involucre, and the fruit is flattened. The pappus is hairy.

Soosoo
The soosoo is a cetaceous mammal similar to a dolphin. It is found in the Ganges and grows to about 4 meters in length.

Sophora
Sophora is a genus of plants of the order Leguminosae. The species are ornamental shrubs and trees found chiefly in central and tropical Asia, and the tropical and sub-tropical parts of South America.

Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of grasses. They are the tall grasses with succulent stems and are found in the tropical parts of Asia and other warm regions.

Soricidae
Soricidae is a family of Insectivora which includes the shrews and musk-rats.

Sorrel
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) is a plant of the order Polygonaceae. The leaves are used in salad. The stems are upright and grow to about 0.5 meters.

Sorrel-tree
The Sorrel-tree is a tree belonging to the order Ericaceae. It inhabits the range of the Alleghanies from Virginia to Georgia. The leaves are 10 to 12 cm long, oval and finely toothed.

Southdown
see "Sussex"

Southern
see "West African Dwarf"

Sow-bread
Sow-bread is a species of Cyclamen so called from its being the favourite food of the Sicilian wild boars.

Spaniel
The spaniels are a sub-species of dogs characterized by great intelligence and an affectionate disposition.

Spanish Broom
Spanish Broom, or spart (Spartium junceum) is an ornamental flowering shrub of the broom family fround growing in Africa, Italy and Spain and the south of France.

Spanish Fly
see "Cantharides"

Sparidae
Sparidae is a family of acanthopterygious, teleostean fishes. They form the genus Sparus.

Sparrow
Sparrow is a term applied to many small thick beaked birds.

Spart
see "Spanish Broom"

Spartium junceum
see "Spanish Broom"

Spatangus
Spatangus is a genus of sea-urchines, popularly called the heart-urchins from their shape.

Spatularia
Spatularia is a genus of fishes of the sturgeon tribe which are remarkable for their long, leaf-like snouts.

Spearmint
Spearmint (Mentha viridis) is a European and North American species of mint cultivated for its flavouring properties.

Spearwort
Spearwort is a plant of the genus Ranunculus. There are two species, the great and the lesser spearwort. Both are British plants with lanceolate undivided leaves and yellow flowers, growing in wet localities.

Speedwell
Speedwell is a flowering plant of the figwort family.

Spergula
Spergula is a genus of plants of the knot grass order.

Spergula arvensis
see "Yarr"

Sperm Whale
The Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is the largest of the toothed whales, with a long and massive head comprising roughly one third of its total length.

Spermophulus
see "Gopher"

Sphagnum
Sphagnum is a genus of mosses commonly known as bog-moss from their unusual habitat. They have erect stems several centimeters long, and bear the male organs on laternal stems, somewhat resembling catkins, and the female organs on shorter lateral stems, resembling buds.

Sphenisciformes
The Sphenisciformes are an order of birds. These are the penguins. They comprise a single family, Spheniscidae. They are water birds with a streamlined body and elongated head. The beak is stout and ends in a sharp point. They are incapable of flight, instead their wings have adapted as short powerful paddles.

Spider
see "araneida"

Spider-wort
see "Tradescantia"

Spinifex
Spinifex (Porcupine Grass, Triodia irritans) is a coarse Australian grass growing in tufts to around one meter high.

Spleenwort
Spleenwort is a fern of the order Aspleniaceae. Most of the species are tropical. They are distinguished by long sori at the back of the fronds covered by a protective membrane.

Spondias
Spondias are a genus of tropical trees belonging to the order Anacardiaceae. They bear small flowers, followed by fleshy drupes. The principal species are Spondias lutea, the so called golden apple or Jamaican plum and Spondias dulcis, the sweet Otaheite apple.

Sponge
Sponges (Porifera) are a group of simple animals. They posess a porous ''spongy'' texture and no definite external organs or form. They vary in shape and hardness. The sponge body consists of a mass of cells of various kinds forming a delicate tissue, and this is supported on a skeleton of minute rods, or spicules, of calcite, silica or of a horny organic substance.

Spongilla
The spongilla is a member of the demospongia class.

Spoonbill
The spoonbill (Plataleidae) is a family of stork-like wading birds with very wide and flat bills. They are found near shallow, fresh water in most parts of the world except northern Europe, Asia and America.

Sporozoa
Sporozoa are a class of phylum protozoa. They are parasitic protozoa propagated by spores.

Sprat
The sprat (Clupea sprattus) is an edible fish of the herring family found around the coast of Britain. They are about 10 cm long and similar to the herring, but are distinguished by having seven rays in the pelvic fin in place of the herring's nine, the edge of the belly being narrow instead of blunt, and bearing strong sharp spines.

Sprinbok
The springbok is an antelope found in South Africa.

Sprouts
see "Brussels Sprouts"

Spruce
The spruce (Picea) is a genus of several coniferous trees. They have short leaves, borne on drooping, plumelike branches. The spruces are distinguished from most other firs by the fact that their cones fall off whole.

Spurge
Spurge is a species of plants of the Euphorbiaceae family. The British spurges are all herbaceous, and remarkable for the singular structure of their flowers which are green, and their milky juice.

Spurge Laurel
see "Daphne"

Squamata
The squamata is an order of diapsida. The lower border of the lower temporal vacuity is incomplete. The body is covered by horny scales. These animals live in warmer climates.Á

Squash
Squash (Cucurbita Melopepo) is a gourd cultivated in America as an article of food.

Squirrel
The squirrel (Sciurus) is a bushy tailed rodent of the sciuridae family.

St Bernard
The St Bernard is a breed of large dog. It has a massive head and somewhat pendulous lips. They were bred by the monks at the hospice of St Bernard to track out and succour travellers caught in snow-storms or avalanches. At the start of the 19th century all the females died, and the monks had to cross-breed them with Newfoundlands, and the modern St Bernard is still of this cross.

St John's Wort
St John's Wort (Hypericum) is a genus of plants of the order Hypericineae. They have yellow flowers and leaves which emit a lemon-like smell when crushed. St John's Wort was once worn as a charm against evil.

Stachys
Stachys (Hedge-nettle, woundwort, sand clover) is a genus of hardy herbaceous plants of the order Labiate.

Stachys Betonica
see "Betony"

Stag
Stag is the name given to a male deer.

Stallion
A stallion is a male horse.

Stamen
The stamen is the male reproductive organ of a flower.

Starfish
see "asteroidea"

Starling
The starling is a bird.

Starwort
Starwort (Stitchwort, Stellaria) is a genus of plants of the order Caryophyllaceae having five sepals, five deeply cleft petals, ten stamens and three styles. The flowers are generally white.

Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur of the jurassic period. It had diamond shaped spiny plates on its back and spikes on its tail for defence against predators.

Steinbok
The steinbok (Nanotragus campestris) is a small antelope found in south and east Africa. The horns of the male are notable in rarely exceeding 10 cm and the animals stand under 60 cm tall.

Stellaria
see "Starwort"

Stelleroidea
The stelleroidea are a class of phylum echinodermata. They are the starfishes and brittle stars. They have a five-rayed symmetry clearly indicated by ''arms'' which radiate out from the centre of the body. The mouth is on the lower side of the flattened body.

Stentor
Stentor is a member of the order of heterotricha.

Stephanotis
Stephanotis is a genus of tropical twining shrubs belonging to the order Asclepiadaceae. They are grown for their fragrant white flowers.

Steppe cat
see "Pallas cat"

Stercorrius
Stercorrius is a genus of skuas.

Sterculia rupestris
see "Bottle-Tree"

Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae is a natural order of tropical trees and herbs.

Stick Insect
Stick Insects or Walking-Stick Insects are orthopterous inscts belonging to the family Phasmidae. The body is greatly elongated and is very slender, giving the insect the appearance of a piece of stick, while the wings are either absent, or when present are leaf-like.

Stilt
The stilt (Himantopus) is a genus of extremely long-legged wading birds found in marshes and related to the avocets. The first toe is absent and the other three are slightly webbed. The bill is elongated, and is slightly curved up at the tip, while the slit-like nostrils are placed at its base. They breed in southern Europe, Africa and India.

Sting-fish
see "Adder Pik"

Sting-ray
Sting-ray is the name given to the members of the elasmobranch fish family Trygonidae, most of which bear on the tail a strong serrated spine, capable of inflicting a dangerous wound.

Stinkhorn
Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) is a fungus of the family Phalloidaceae, of the order Gasteromycetes. It is at first about the size of a small egg, attached to the ground by a slender radicle. The egg contains a jelly, in which is the nucleus of the phallus. When the egg is ripe the skin breaks, and within a few hours the phallus rises. It consists of a lattice-work structure to allow quick development, most of which takes place in half-an-hour, and is surmounted by a cap covered with mucus, at first sweet smelling, but later becoming revolting. This mucus attracts flies which disseminate the fungus spores.

Stitchwort
see "Starwort"

Stoat
The stoat is a carnivorous mammal of the weasel family.

Stomach
The stomach is a region of the alimentary canal. Food accumulates in the stomach and some digestion may take place.

Stone-chat
The stone-chat (Pratincola rubicola) is a resident British bird. It is about 12 cm long and has a black head and throat, the back is black with brown markings, the breast rufous, the sides of the neck are white and it has a distinct white patch on the wing. The nest is built among herbage on the ground. Between five and six eggs are laid. The stone-chat feeds on worms, insect larvae and beetles as well as some seeds.

Stonecrop
Stonecrop (Sedum) is a name for a group of succulent herbaceous plants of the order Crassulaceae. There are 120 species of which 11 are British. Most are perennial and very small.

Stork
The stork is a family of carnivorous wading birds with long necks and long legs.

Stratiotes
The stratiotes are a genus of aquatic herbs belonging to the order Hydrocharidaceae. The one species is the water-soldier (Stratiotes aloides), a native of Britain. It has great prickly leaves, not unlike those of the aloe, and bears in summer a flower-stalk, surmounted by a sheaf containing several attractive white flowers.

Strawberry
The strawberry is a low growing perennial of the rosaceae family. The fruit are rich in vitamin C.

Streptocarpus
Streprocarpus is a genus of tropical and South African herbaceous plants of the order Gesneraceae. They are usually wooly or hairy, and often stemless, with a leaf or leaves spreading close to the ground. The flowers are showy.

Striped Wrasse
The Striped wrasse or red wrasse or cook wrasse (Labrus mixtus) is a British edible fish of the wrasses family occuring in rock pools.

Strophanthus
Strophanthus is a genus of plants of the natural order Apocynaceae growing chiefly in equatorial Africa and in India.

Strychnos
Strychnos is a genus of tropical evergreen trees of the order Loganiaceae.

Strychnos nux vomica
Strychnos nux vomica is a tree of the genus Strychnos. Its nuts contain strychnine.

Sturgeon
The sturgeon is a ganoid fish of the order palaeonisciformes, family Acipenseridae. The species are exclusively inhabitants of the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere and live either in fresh water or pass a part of the year in rivers to spawn. They are large sluggish fishes reaching a length of three meters, and live on worms, crustaceans and molluscs which they rout out from the bottom with their snout.

Stylaster
Stylaster is a member of the order stylasterina.

Stylasterina
Stylasterina is an order of marine hydrozoa similar to milleporina but with branched corallum.

Stylonichia
Stylonichia is a member of the order of hypotricha.

Sub-phylum acrania
The sub-phylum acrania group of animals are simple or aberrant chordates without a true brain, heart or kidneys.

Sub-phylum cnidaria
The sub-phylum cnidaria are coelenterates which have nematocysts and nearly perfect symmetry.

Sub-phylum craniata
Sub-phylum craniata are the vetebrate group of animals. They are chordates which show a very definite advance in complexity of structure and activity. A proper head region can be identified. Organs of special sense are prominently developed and there is a definite brain enclosed in a cranium.

Sub-phylum ctenophora
The sub-phylum ctenophora are a family of solitary, free swimming animals. They have characteristic locomotor structures formed of rows of fused cilia.

Suctoria
Suctoria are a subclass of ciliophora. The adult form has suctorial tentacles.

Suffolk
The suffolk is a breed of sheep. The original Suffolks were the result of crossing Southdown rams on Norfolk Horned ewes. Apparently the product of this cross was a great improvement over either one of the parents. Although the Suffolk was a recognized breed as early as 1810, the flock book was not closed until much later. In 1930, Southdowns were described as large sheep without horns, dark faces and legs, fine bones and long small necks. They were low set in front with high shoulders and light forequarters; however, their sides were good, rather broad in the loin, and were full in the thigh and twist. Today's Suffolk derives its meatinesss and quality of wool from the old original British Southdown. The Norfolk Horned sheep, now rare, were a wild and hardy breed. They were blackfaced, light, fleeced sheep. Both sexes were horned. The upland regions of Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridge on the southeastern coast of England are very rugged and forage is sparse. It was this dry, cold and windy area in which the Norfolk breed adapted itself to traveling great distances for food, thereby developing a superbly muscular body. It was said at that time of the Norfolk Horned, "their limbs are long and muscular, their bodies are long and their general form betokens activity and strength." This breed and its crosses were valued highly both by farmers and butchers. However, sheepmen of that day did not like the long legs, flat sides, nor wild nature of the Norfolk Horned. They noted that Southdowns crossed with Norfolk produced a progeny that reduced most of the criticisms of both breeds. In 1886, the English Suffolk Society was organized to provide registry ervice and to further develop the use of the breed.

Suffolk Down
The Suffolk Down is a large and heavy breed of English sheep with a black-head and no horns. It is notable for producing many twins.

Sugar-Beet
Sugar-Beet is a type of beet from which sugar is obtained. Sugar was extracted from beet in Germany since the 18th century, but cultivation only started in England in 1912.

Sula fusca
see "Booby"

Sumbul
Sumbul is a herbaceous plnt belonging to the order Unbelliferae. It is a native of Turkestan, but is cultivated in Britain. The root is used in medicien as a stimulant.

Sun birds
Sun birds (Nectariniidae) are attractive passerine birds with long slender bills and an extensile tongue. They occur throughout Africa, south Asia and northern Australia where they feed on insects, larvae, spiders and honey. The nest is built from grass, moss etc and decorated with cobwebs, cloth, bark and the like.

Sun Bittern
The Sun Bittern (Eurypyga helias) is a south American bird with a long pointed beak and a long thin neck. The body is striped in white brown and black transverse stripes and is about 40 cm long.

Sundew
Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) is an insectivorous plant found in bogs. It has spoon-shaped, reddish leaves and captures its prey by means of tentacles which are coated with a glistening secretion.

Sunflower
The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a plant of the order Compositae. It grows to over 2m tall and bears an immense head of yellow florets.

Sus
see "Pig"

Sus cristatus
Sus cristatus is the Indian wild boar.

Sus scrofa
Sus scrofa is the European wild boar.

Sussex
The Sussex or Southdown is a breed of English short-wooled sheep. It has fine close curled wool and a brown or grey face and short legs.

Swallow
The Swallow (Hirundinidae) is a family of around 150 species of perching birds found everywhere in the world except New Zealand. They are typical migratory birds, and are distinguished by broad beaks, opening almost to the eyes, small, weak feet, and a long, forked tail.

Swallow-wort
see "Celandine"

Swan
The swan (Cygnus) is a genus of large, long necked birds of the duck family (Anatidae).

Sweatroot
see "Blue Bell"

Swede
Swede is a biennial plant.

Sweet Flag
see "Calamus"

Sweet Pea
The Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is an annual plant of the order Leguminosae. It is easy to grow and is a popular garden plant in Britain.

Sweet Potato
The Sweet Potato (Batatas) is a genus of plants of the order Convolvulaceae found in South America and Central America.

Sweet-william
Sweet-william (Dianthus barbatus) is a biennial plant of the pink genus of the order Caryoophyllaceae.

Swift
The Swift (Cypselidae) is a family of about 100 species of Picarian birds. They are similar to the Swallow, with long, narrow wings, forked tail, and a beak slit to the level of the eyes.

Swine
see "pig"

Swiss stone pine
see "Cembra pine"

Sword-fish
The Sword-fish (Xiphiidae) is a family of six species of bony fish remarkable on account of their having an enormous prolongation of the upper jaw which forms a sword-like weapon of attack.

Sycamore
The sycamore (Sycomorus) is a genus of trees of the order Moraceae native to Europe. They have a straight, erect, smooth trunk, large, spreading, symetrical branches and large five-lobed leaves. In early spring the greenish flowers appear in long, drooping clusters, and are followed by winged seeds of a reddish-green colour. The wood is used for making violins as well as furniture etc.

Sycon
Sycon is a member of the calcarea class.

Sylvia succica
see "Blue-throat"

Sylviidae
see "Warbler"

Synapsida
The synapsida are a subclass of mammal-like reptiles now extinct.

Synapta
Synapta is a type of holothuroidea.

Syncarida
Syncarida is an order of malacostraca in which the carapace is absent and the thoracic appendages have exopodites.

Syndactyla
The syndactyla are an order of metatheria in which the second and third toes are bound together in a common mass of tissue.

Syrian
see "Awassi"

Copyright 1997,1998 Servile Software Enquiries to Matthew Probert

START PAGE

This site is run as a free public information service