Cactus
Cactus is the order of fleshy, thickened and mainly leafless plants.
Cairina moschata
see "Musk-duck"
Calamus
Calamus (Sweet Flag) is a perennial herb native to India and southern Asia. It has narrow sword-shaped leaves and a thick branched rhizome. When crushed the leaves emit an odour of tangerine.
Calcarea
Calcarea are a class of sponges with a spicular skeleton made of calcium carbonate.
Calyptoblastea
The calyptoblastea is an order of hydrozoa. They are marine colonial forms in which the perisac is extended to form hydrothecae around the hydranths and gonothecae around the blastostyles.
Cam miles
Cam miles is a perennial dwarf herb of the order compositae.
Camel
The camel is a group of even toed, ungulate ruminating mammals.
Camomile
Camomile is a perennial dwarf herb of the order compositae.
Camptosaurus
Camptosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the jurassic period. It mainly stayed on all-fours, but could rear up on its hind legs to run away from predators. It had hooves instead of claws on its fingers.
Canaan Dog
The canaan dog (Kelef K'naani) is a breed of dog known for its intense barking, trainability, and survival abilities when food and water are scarce.
The coat is short to medium in length, harsh, and straight and may be white with large spots in either black, red, or brown or it may be all brown or all black with or without white marks.
The ears are medium-sized, pointed, and held erect. The tail is plumed and usually held curled over the back. The eyes are dark-coloured.
The adult dog stands 48 to 61 cm tall at the shoulder and weighs 16 to 25 kg.
The breed was developed during the late 1930s as a guard dog for kibbutzim and trained for mine detection in World War II.
They are now used also as seeing-eye dogs, herding dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and for tracking
Canadian Pond Weed
see "Elodea"
Canary
The canary is a bird of the finch family and native of the Canary islands.
Cannabis
Cannabis is a plant of the order urticaceae. The dried flowers were once used as a medicine in migraine and neuralgia.
Caprinae
Caprinae is a sub-family of even-toed ungulates of the Bovidae. It includes the sheep and goat and the musk ox. The family is distinguished by the presence of ridged, curved, or spiral horns in both sexes, a somewhat hairy muzzle, and a short and flattened tail.
Carapace
Caraway
Cardamom
Cariama
Caribou
Carinatae
Carmarina
Carnation
Carnauba
Carnivora
Carnivore
Carnivorous
Carob
Carp
Carrageen
Carrot
Caruncle
Carya
Caryophyllaceae
Caryophyllia
Caryopsis
Caryota
Cashew
Cassava
Cassia
Cassicus
Cassowary
Cassowary Tree
Castoridae
Casuaridae
Casuariformes
Casuarina
Cat
Cat-bird
Cat-fish
Catalpa
Catamount
Catamountain
Catarrhina
Catchfly
Catha
Catmint
Cattle
Cattleya
Caudex
Cauliflower
Cavy
Cecidomyia
Cedar
Cedar-bird
Cedrela
Celandine
Celeriac
Celery
Cembra Pine
Centaurea
Centaury
Cephalochordata
Cephalopoda
Cephaloptera
Ceramiaceae
Cerastes
Cerasus
Ceratodus
Cereal
Ceroxylon
Cervidae
Cervus
Cestoda
Cestracion
Cetacea
Ceterach
Chaffinch
Chamaerops
Chameleon
Chamois
Champak
Chanterelle
Characeae
Charadrius
Charbray
Charlock
Charolais
Chat
Chaulmugra
Chaus
Chavica
Cheetah
Cheiranthus
Cheironectes
Chelonia
Chelonians
Chenopodium
Cherry
Chestnut
Chetah
Chick pea
Chicory
Chiffchaff
Chilopoda
Chimpanzee
Chinchilla
Chipmunk
Chiroptera
Chiru
Chitin
Chondrichthyes
Chondrus crispus
Chordates
Chough
Chromosome
Chrysalis
Chrysanthemum
Chrysoplenium
Chub
Cicada
Cilia
Ciliata
Ciliata vera
Ciliophora
Cinchona
Cinnamon
Cirripedia
Cistus
Citron
Citrus
Civet
Clam
Clear-wings
Cleaver
Clepsine
Click Beetle
Climbing Perch
Climbing Plants
Clothes-Moth
Clouded Leopard
Clouded Tiger
Clover
Club-Moses
Coati
Cob nut
Cobra
Coca
Coccidia
Coccidia vera
Coccidiomorpha
Cochineal
Cockle
Cockroach
Cocoa
Coconut Crab
Cod
Codlin Moth
Coelacanthini
Coelentera
Coelophysis
Coffee
Colchicum
Collembola
Collie
Colorado Beetle
coluber constrictor
Columbine
Comfrey
Compositae
Compsognathus
Condor
Confervaceae
Conger
Conger-eel
Coniferae
Conirostres
Conus
Convallaria
Convoluta
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus
Cony
Conyza
Coot
Copaiba
Copepoda
Copper Head
Coppersmith
Coptis
Coquito
Coral
Corallium
Coriander
Coriaria
Cork Oak
Cormogens
Cormorant
Corn Marigold
Corn Salad
Corn-beetle
Corn-cockle
Corn-crake
Corn-fly
Corn-moth
Corn-thrips
Cornaceae
Corncrake
Cornel
Cornflower
Cornus
Coronellidae
Coryne
Corypha
Corythosaurus
Cotoneaster
Cotton
Cotton Boll Weevil
Cotton-grass
Cotton-wood
Couch-grass
Cougar
Cow
Cow-bunting
Cowrie
Cowslip
Coyote
Coypou
Coypu
Crab-apple
Cranberry
Crane
Crane-fly
Cranium
Crassulaceae
Crayfish
Creeper
Cress
Crinoidea
Crocodile
Crocodilia
Crossbill
Crossopterygii
Crow
Crowberry
Cruciferae
Crustacea
Cryptogam
Ctenophora
Cuckoo
Cucurbitaceae
Cumacea
Cunina
Cupuliferae
Curassows
Curlew
Cusk
Cuttle-Fish
Cycad
Cyclamen
Cyclostomi
Cygnet
Cyme
Cyperaceae
Cypress
Cystoflagellata
A carapace is a dorsal shield.
Caraway is a biennial herb umbelliferae.
Cardamom is an aromatic perennial herb of the order scitamineae.
The cariama is a large, long legged bird found in south America.
The caribou is a north American reindeer.
The carinatae are an order of birds. They can fly.
Carmarina is a member of the order trachylina.a
The carnation (dianthus) is a hardy perennial plant of the order caryophyllaceae.
Carnauba is a native palm of Brazil. When young the leaves are covered in a wax used to make candles.
Carnivora is the carnivorous order of eutheria. They primarily eat the flesh of other craniates. Canines are prominent. The caecum is small or absent.
A carnivore is a carnivorous mammal.
Something which is carnivorous eats flesh.
The carob is a leguminous evergreen tree found in mediterranean countries.
The carp is a family fresh water fish.
Carrageen is a common British seaweed (Chondrus crispus). When dried and boiled it yields a jelly used in food and medicine.
The carrot is a vegetable umbelliferae.
A caruncle is the fleshy excresence on the head of a fowl, such the comb of a cock or the wattles of a turkey.
Carya is the hickory genus of plants.
Caryophyllaceae are an order of plants. They have opposite undivided leaves without stipples. The order includes the Carnation, chick-weed and sweet-william.
Caryophyllia is a member of the order zoantharia.
Caryopsis is the botanical term for small one-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit in which the seed adheres to the thin pericap throughout, such as in wheat and other grains.
Caryota is a genus of palms with doubly pinnate leaves.
The cashew is a nut from a small evergreen tree found in the caribbean.
Cassava is a South American shrub of the order Euphorbiaceae. It grows to about 8 feet in height and has broad, shiny leaves roughly in the shape of a human hand and attractive white and pink flowers. The root is used in cooking.
Cassia is a large genus of leguminous plants found in tropical countries. The species consists of trees, shrubs and herbs. The leaves are abruptly pinnated and usually bear glands on their stalks. The drug senna is obtained from the leaflets of many of the species.
The Cassicus is a genus of American insessorial birds, the Cassicans (American Orioles). They are allied to the Starlings and are remarkable for the ingenuity with which they weave their nests.
The cassowary are a genus of ruminating birds similar to the ostrich.
see "Casuarina"
The Castoridae is a family of rodent animals comprising the beaver and others.
The Casuaridae are a family of the order Casuariformes. These are the cassowaries. They have strong legs and a bald head topped with a helmet.
The Casuariformes is an order of birds.
The Casuarina (Botany-Bay Oak), is the only genus of the order Casuarinaceae (cassowary trees). There are around 30 species mainly native to Australia. They are jointed, leafless trees similar to the Birches.
The cat is a genus of carnivorous animal.
The Cat-bird is a species of the American thrush. It is about 9 inches long. The plummage is dark gray on the top and paler grey underneath.
The Cat-fish (Anarhichadidae) is a voracious fish of the gobies family. It was also called the Wolf-fish or Sea-Wolf in the 19th century.
The Catalpa is a genus of plants of the order Bignoniaceae. They are trees with simple leaves and large, gay, trumpet shaped flowers.
Catamount is an old name for any wild cat, including the Lynx and the Puma.
Catamountain is an old variation of Catamount.
Catarrhina is a suborder of anthropoidea. The nostrils face downwards. The internasal septum is narrow. The tail is never prehensile.
Catchfly is a popular name for several plants of the genus Silene.
Catha is a genus of plants of the order Celastraceae, mostly native to Africa. The leaves and twigs of one species are used to make khat, a drink similar to coffee.
Catmint (catnip) is a plant of the order Labiatae. It grows to a height of around 3 feet and has pink tinged white flowers and stalked, downy, heart-shaped leaves. It is so named for the fascination cats have with it.
The term cattle applies to all members of the ox genus.
Cattleya is a genus of orchids native to Central and South America. They have handsome flowers and leathery or fleshy leaves. They vary in height from a few centimeters to one meter.
In botany, caudex refers to the scaly trunk of palms and tree-ferns.
The cauliflower is a vegetable of the order cruciferae.
Reptilia is the reptile class of craniates. They are animals completely adapted to life on dry land. The skin is dry and bears horny epidermal scales. The lungs form the sole respiratory organs. Eggs are laid on dry land.
The cavy are small rodents found in south America.
Cecidomyia is the genus of insects to which the Hessian-fly belongs.
The cedar is an ornamental evergreen tree native of Africa and India.
Cedar-bird is a name given to the American wax-wing on account of its fondness for the berries of the red cedar.
Cedrela is a genus of large timber trees.
Celandine is the name of two british flowers. Greater celandine belongs to the poppy family. Lesser Celandine (swallow-wort, pilewort) was thought to be a cure for piles.
Celeriac is a variety of celery in which the root resembles a turnip. It is used in cooking.
Celery is a biennial vegetable of the order umbellifereae.
The Cembra Pine (Swiss stone pine, Siberian pine) is a conifer found in Central Europe. It has edible seeds and yields a turpentine called Carpathian balsam.
Centaurea is a genus of composite plants. They are all annual or perennial herbs with alternate leaves and single heads, the florets of which are tubular. The genus includes corn blue-bottle, purple sultan, white sultan and knapweed.
Centaury is an annual herb of the gentian family. It has pretty red flowers and was extolled for its medicinal properties by herbailists in the past.
The cephalochordata is a class of sub-phylum acrania. They are the lancets. Small fish-like animals. The notochord extends the whole length of the body, even to the tip of the snout.
Cephalopoda is a class of phylum mollusca. They are the squids and octopuses. The head is well developed and surrounded by prehensile tentacles. The eyes are large and complex.
Cephaloptera are a genus of cartilaginous fishes of the ray family. They have a pair of small fins which stand out from the head like horns, hence they are called the fin-headed rays or horned rays.
Ceramiaceae is an order of cellular sea-weeds consisting of thread-like jointed plants of a red or brown-red colour.
Cerastes is a genus of deadly African vipers. They have two small horns formed by the scales above the eyes, hence they are called Horned Vipers.
Cerasus is the cherry genus of trees.
Ceratodus (barramunda) is a genus of fishes belonging to the Dipnoi order (lung-fishes). They are between 3 and 6 feet long and are found in Australian rivers.
Cereal is a term applied to Gramineae cultivated for food (wheat, barley, rye, oats &c.). The name comes from Ceres, the goddess associated with corn.
Ceroxylon (the wax palm) is a genus of South American palms.
Cervidae is the deer family of animals which includes the Cervus genus.
Cervus is the deer genus of animals.
Cestoda is a class of phylum platyhelminthes commonly known as the tapeworms. They are internal parasites lacking an alimentary canal. They have no definite sense organs, and the nervous system is poorly developed. The cuticle is thick and many-layered. Hooks and/or suckers are limited to one end. They have great reproductive powers, both sexual and asexual.
Cestracion is a genus of cartilaginous fish allied to the sharks.
Cetacea is an order of eutheria. They are aquatic mammals with a streamlined body devoid of hair. They have a thick layer of blubber for insulation. The hind limbs are absent, and the fore limbs adapted to form paddles.
Ceterach is a genus of ferns of the sub-order Polypodiaceae.
The chaffinch is a common British bird of the finch family.
Chamaerops is a genus of palms belonging to the northern hemisphere and consisting of dwarf trees with fan-shaped leaves borne on prickly petioles and a small berry-like fruit with one seed.
A chameleon is a lizard. It can change colour to suit its surroundings.
The chamois is a ruminating animal found in south Europe and west Asia.
The Champak is an Indian tree of the order Magnoliaceae held in high esteem by Buddhists.
The chanterelle is an edible British mushroom of a bright orange colour.
The Characeae are an order of cryptogamous plants, nearly related to the Algae, composed of an axis consisting of parallel tubes which are either transparent or incrusted with lime carbonate.
Charadrius is a genus of birds which includes the lapwing, pratincole and oyster-catcher.
The charbray is a large, horned, white breed of domestic beef cattle developed at Texas suring the 1940s.
Charlock is a common yellow weed, also known as wild mustard.
The charolais is an unusually large and white French breed of domestic beef cattle.
The chat are several species of bird of the thrush family.
Chaulmugra is a tree found in South Asia. The oil was used in India and China as a remedy in skin diseases and blood impurities. The medicinal use of the oil in skin and chest infections was introduced to Europe and America around 1900.
The Chaus is a genus of Asiatic and African lynxes including the Libyan chaus and the Caffre-cat. They are fond of water and are excellent swimmers.
Chavica is a genus of plants of the order Piperaceae which includes the long pepper, Java long pepper and the betel-pepper.
The cheetah is a member of the cat family.
Cheiranthus is the wallflower genus of plants.
Cheironectes are a genus of acanthopterygious fishes, having the pectoral fins supported like short feet upon peduncles. They use these fins to crawl over mud and sand when they get left dry be a receeding tide. They may also take short leaps like a frog, and from this they are often called frog-fish. They are found in North-East Australia.
The chelonia are an order of anapsida. The trunk is short and broad and protected by a carapace and a plastron. The head, neck, tail and limbs can be withdrawn under the shields for protection. The jaws are strong, but lack teeth.
The Chelonians are an order of reptiles which includes the tortoise and turtle. They are distinguished by a body which is enclosed in a double shell, out of which the head, tail and four legs protrude.
Chenopodium (Goosefoot) is a genus of plants of the natural order Chenopodiaceae. They are weedy plants common on wastelands and bear small greenish flowers which are sessile in small clusters collected in spiked panicles.
The cherry is a fruit tree of the order rosaceae.
The chestnut is a tree of the order cupuliferae.
Chetah is the old 19th century spelling of Cheetah.
The chick pea is an annual herb of the order leguminosae.
Chicory is a perennial herb of the order compositae.
The chiffchaff is a small song bird. It visits England in the summer.
The chilopoda are the centipede order of myriapoda. The genital aperture is posterior.
The chimpanzee is a large anthropoid ape.
The chinchilla is a small squirrel like rodent found in the andes.
A chipmunk is a species of ground squirrel common in Siberia and north America.
The chiroptera is an order of eutheria. They are small mammals with strong powers of flight. The limb bones are strong and slender. The wings are formed of skin. The teeth bear pointed cusps.
The chiru is an antelope found in Tibet.
Chitin is an organic substance which forms part of the exoskeleton of arthropods.
Chondrichthyes is a subclass of fish including the sharks, dogfishes, skates and rays. They are fishes with a cartilage endoskeleton. The jaws are well formed.
see "Carrageen"
see "phylum chordata"
The chough is a bird of the crow family with red feet and bill. It is found on sea cliffs.
A chromosome is a chemical found in all cells which determines how the cell will act.
A chrysalis is the inactive state into which larva pass before becoming imago.
The chrysanthemum is a hardy annual plant of the order compositae.
Chrysoplenium is a genus of annual or perannial rather succulent herbs with alternate or opposite crenate leaves and inconspicuous greenish axillary and terminal flowers.
The chub is a fresh water fish of the carp family.
The cicada is a group of large four winged insects.
Cilia are threads of protoplasm which beat rhythmically.
Ciliata are a highly organised class of the Protozoa, characterised by the posession of cilia, which may be distributed all over the body, and act as swimming organs, as in the slipper animalcule, or may be restricted to certain parts of it, as in the stalked bell animalcule, in which their action serves to sweep food-particles into the gullet.
Ciliata vera are a subclass of ciliophora. They are free swimming animals.
Ciliophora are a class of protozoa with relatively simple life-histories. The locomotor structures are cilia arranged in definite tracts. The cilia arise from grooves in the pellicle. Ciliophora have a unique nuclear structure, comprised of a meganucleus concerned with trophic activities, and a micronucleus concerned with reproduction.
The cinchona is a tree native to South America with fragrant white or pink flowers. The bark contains quinine and other related alkaloids. The tree was named in honour of the countess of Chinchon, the vice-Queen of Peru after she was cured by cinchona bark in 1638.
Cinnamon is a small evergreen tree.
Cirripedia is a subclass of crustacea. These are the barnacles. Sedentary animals with a reduced head and abdomen.
Cistus, the rock-rose, is a genus of plants of the order Cistaceae native to Europe and the countries bordering the Mediterranean.
The citron is a tree related to the lemon, bearing large yellowish fruits shaped like a lemon, but with coarse, thick, furrowed skin which is preserved in sugar for confectionary and cakes. The citron is native to India but is cultivated through the Mediterranean and in California and Florida.
Citrus is a genus of trees and shrubs of the rue family which includes the lemon, orange, lime and tangerine. They are widely cultivated for their edible fruit.
The civet (Viverridae) are a family of carnivorous animals similar to the cats. They inhabit tropical Asia and Africa and are celebrated for producing a scented substance used in perfume.
The clam is a marine Lamellibranch mollusc akin to the cockle. The giant clam is the largest known bivalve mollusc with a shell as large as 1 m across and weighing around 120 kg. Clams are found in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.
The clear-wings are a family of moths, related to the clothes moth, but distinguished by the absence of the scales from the wings. Many of them mimic hymenoptera, notably the hornet clear-wing, which closely resembles the large wasp, after which it is named.
Cleaver (Goose Grass) is a plant of the Rubiaceae. It has rough stems and 6 - 8 leaves in a whorl with distinctive curled prickles. The flowers are axillary and greenish white. The fruit is rough with hooked prickles and the seed vessels are globular and tenacious, clinging to the coat of any animal that touches them. The alternative name of Goose Grass comes from the fact that geese like to eat the entire plant.
The clepsine are hirudinea.
The Click Beetle (Skip-jack) is a beetle related to the fire-flies, which when lying on its back, has the power of regaining its feet by a rapid jerk accompanied by a clicking sound produced by the jumping mechanism in its thorax. The larvae, known as wire worms, live in the ground and feed on the roots of cereals damaging crops.
The Climbing Perch is a freshwater fish about 20 cm long, with a compressed body and a long spiny dorsal fin. It is found in India and countries to the east, and can travle long distances on land, breathing air by means of a bony labyrinth richly supplied with blood-vessels and situated in the upper part of the branchial chamber.
Climbing Plants are divided by Darwin into 4 classes. The first group twine spirally round a support, the second are aided by sensitive, modified leaves, branches or flower stems. These two grade into one another. The third ascend by the aid of hooks, and the fourth by rootlets.
Clothes-Moth is a general name for a great variety of small, so-called Tineine moths, the larvae of which feed mainly on dried animal substances, and are very destructive to woollen goods, furs etc.
The Clouded Leopard (Clouded Tiger) is a large species of wild cat ranging from Nepal to eastern Borneo. It has a relatively large head, short legs and a long tail and its pattern consists of large, black-edged dark patches. It is about 2 m in total length and weighs around 20 kg. It lives in the forest feeding on birds and small mammals, but is not closely related to either the leopard or the tiger.
see "Clouded Leopard"
Clover or trefoil (Trifolium) as it is also known from the division of the leaf into three leaflets, is a small herb of the order Leguminosae characterised by the crowding of the numerous flowers into a rounded or oval cluster and by the flowers remaining in position after the formation of the pod.
Club-Moses is a group of epiphytic land plants, with dichotomous branching of root and stem, and numerous small, closely-placed leaves; with sporophylls resembling the vegative leaves, grouped as cones at the end of some shoots, bearing single sporongia on the upper side.
The coati (Coati Mundi) is a carnivorous mammal related to the racoon. Found in south America and Mexico. It has a long mobile snout, a long tail, and feet armed with strong claws for digging and climbing. Coatis often hunt in companies, and feed on lizards, birds, insects and other animals and eggs.
The cob nut is a domesticated variety of the hazel.
The cobra is a venomous snake found in Africa and south Asia.
Coca is a shrub.
Coccidia are a group of the Sporozoa exclusively parasitic on animals of various kinds, both vertebrate and invertebrate. They are mostly found in such organs as the liver or kidneys, but are not blood parasites. Their reproduction is both sexual and asexual, and they undergo a complicated series of changes in their life history, but each species is restricted to a particular host.
The coccidia vera are a suborder of coccidiomorpha. They are parasites found chiefly in invertebrates, but also in vertebrates. The trophic phase is typically intracellular.
The coccidiomorpha are an order of sporozoa.
Cochineal is a insect (Dactylopius coccus) found on cactii in Mexico. The dried body of the female is used to prepare the red dye, cochineal.
The Cockle is a Lamellibranchia bivalve mollusc. It is recognised by its ribbed, heart-shaped shell. They are found on British shores.
The cockroach (Blatta orientalis) is an insect of the order Orthoptera. In the common species the male is fully winged and the female wingless. The eggs are enclosed in horny purse-like cases attached to the abdomen of the female and carried about until the young are ready to hatch. The larvae resemble the adults, but are wingless. The American cockroach is larger than the British species, and both sexes are fully winged. The German species is very much smaller, and both sexes are winged and it also has the ability to climb smooth surfaces such as window panes.
Cocoa is a small tree native to tropical America.
The Coconut Crab is a large land crustacean about 60 cm or more in length and massive in proportion. It is related to the hermit-crab and is found in many of the Indo-Pacific islands. It lives in holes at the roots of palm trees and feeds upon fallen coconuts, fruit, carrion and its injured companions. It uses its powerful claws to tear the husk off the coconut and hammers at the "eyes" until a hole is made. It then either extracts the fruit directly or smashes the coconut against the ground to break the shell.
The Cod is a fish of the family Gadidae. They are found in the Atlantic and Baltic. The cod takes from 3 to 4 years to reach maturity and achieves an average length of around 1 meter.
The Codlin Moth is a pretty little moth which in its larval stage is very destructive to apples, devouring principally the pips and causing the condition known as "worm eaten". When full sized, the grub eats its way through the rind and pupates in a crevice of the tree.
The coelacanthini is a rare order of crossopterygii which was thought to be extinct, until a specimen was caught off west africa in 1939.
Coelentera (Coelenterata) are primitive phyla of water animals, including the jelly-fish, sea anemones, corals and others. The body is radially symmetrical, and in the simplest forms consists of an undivided sac, the alimentary canal with the mouth, which is provided with tentacles and serves both for taking in food and ejecting undigested particles.
Coelophysis was a cunning and agile carnivorous dinosaur from the triassic era. It was 2.5M long and about 1m tall when standing on its back legs.
Coffee is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs of the order rubiaceae.
Colchicum is a genus of the Liliaceae which includes the meadow saffron.
Collembola is an order of apterygota. The spring tails.
The collie is a breed of English sheep dog.
The colorado beetle is a north American beetle that attacks potatoes. It is a striped beetle resembling a ladybird in shape. It reached Europe in 1877, but has been prevented from establishing itself in England.
see "Black snake"
Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) is a plant of the Ranunculaceae family. The flower is purple, blue or white with five petals each ending in a spur.
Comfrey is a large, handsome plant of the borage family. It is common in watery places and on the banks of rivers. The stems are branched and leafy, almost 1 meter high, winged in part with elliptical leaves. The flowers are white, pink or purple and droop in forked clusters.
Compositae is the largest known natural order of plants containing over 12,000 species of herbs or shrubs found all over the world. The flowers are numerous and sessile, forming a close head on the dilated top of the receptacle and surrounded by an involucre of whorled bracts. The flowers are monopetalous.
Compsognathus was a tiny carnivorous dinosaur from the jurassic period. It was 70cm tall, about the size of a hen. It was a fast and agile creature.
The condor (Sarcorhamphus gryphus) is the largest of the vultures. It is found in South America, principally in the Andes. It is mainly black in colour with some grey on the wings and a collar of white down on the neck. The wingspan is roughly 3 meters. Condors are carnivorous, feeding mostly on dead animals but may also attack old, young or weak goats, cattle and horses.
Confervaceae are a family of marine algae which have green fronds which are composed of articulated filaments.
The conger is an edible marine fish of the eel family found in most oceans. The skin is without scales and the back-fin reaches from the neck to the tip of the tail. An adult female conger grows to about 2 meters long, but the male is much smaller.
The Conger eel is a genus of marine eel characterized by a long dorsal fin beginning near the nape of the neck, immediately above the origin of the pectoral fins, and by having the upper jaw longer than the lower. The common conger eel grows to about 10 feet long and weighs more than 100 pounds.
Coniferae are the conifers; pines, firs and their allies. Many conifers are tall forest trees of pyramidal shape; the others are irregularly branched shrubs. The male flowers are either solitary or aggregated in clusters, and fall after shedding their pollen. The female flowers vary in the different genera.
Conirostres is a subdivision of the order Insessores consisting of genera having a stout conical beak. The best known genera are the larks, tits, finches, sparrows, crows and linnets.
Conus is a genus of gasteropodous molluscs of the family Conidae. They are found in the southern and tropical seas.
Convallaria is a genus of plants of the natural order Liliaceae, the only species being the lily-of-the-valley.
Convoluta is a member of the order rhabdocoelida.
Convolvulaceae is an order of plants comprising about 700 species of climbers having large and very beautiful flowers. They are abundant in the tropics, and are important as medicines.
Convolvulus is a genus of plants of the order Convolvulaceae consisting of slender twining herbs with milky juice., bell-shaped flowers and five free stamens.
Cony (or coney) is an old English name for the rabbit.
Conyza is a genus of plants of the natural order Compositae. They are annual or perennial herbs found throught warmer regions of the world.
The coot is a British water bird of the rail family.
Copaiba is the common name of several plants of the genus Copaifera, natural order Leguminose, which grow in Brazil, Peru and other countries in South America.
Copepoda is a subclass of free-living or parasitic crustaceans without a carapace. The antennules are frequently enlarged and used for swimming. The thoracic appendages are biramous.
The copper head (Trigonocephalus contortrix) is a north American snake allied to the rattlesnake.
The coppersmith is a south Asiatic bird of the barbet family, so called from the sound it makes which resembles the sound of hammering metal.
Coptis is a small genus of plants of the natural order Ranunculaceae.
The coquito (Juboea spectabilis) is a palm tree found in Chile and allied to the coconut. It grows to about 15 meters and its sap when boiled makes palm-honey.
Coral is a marine organism related to sea anemones.
Corallium is a member of the order alcyonaria.
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is an umbelliferous plant native to Italy. The fruit, often called a seed though it is not, is dried and used in cookery.
Coriaria is a genus of shrub plants found in southern Europe. They are used in tanning and a black dye is extracted from them.
The Cork Oak is a tree native to southern Europe and north Africa. It rarely exceeds 12 meters in height, and has egg-shaped ever-green leaves and flowers produced in April and May. The acorns ripen in October and are edible with a sweet taste resembling chestnut. The bark of the tree is stripped off for cork.
Cormogens are those plants in which there is a distinct axis of growth. They comprise the phanerogams and the higher cryptogams.
The cormorant (Phalacrocorax) is a genus of birds of the Pelicaniformes family. They are divers with long necks and strong, solid beaks. There are 30 species.
The Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum) is a rich orange coloured British wild flower.
Corn Salad (lamb's-lettuce, Valerianella olitoria) is a plant of the order Valerianaceae nati e to Britain and Europe. It is a weak succulent herb which grows to about 25cm tall and is used as a salad in early spring.
The Corn-beetle (Cucujus testaceus) is a minute beetle, the larva of which is often very destructive to stores of grain, particularly wheat.
The corn-cockle (Agrostemma Githago) is a plant of the natural order Caryophyllaceae, with large purple flowers.
The Corn-crake (landrail, Crex pratensis) is a species of bird of the order Grallae of the family Rallidae. It is a wading bird, reddish-brown in colour and feeds on worms and insects.
Corn-fly is a popular name of several insects of the family Muscidae.
The Corn-moth (Tinea granella) is a small moth the larva of which destroys corn sheaves in the field.
Corn-thrips is a minute species of thrips which feeds on the juice of corn.
Cornaceae is a natural order of polypetalous exogens consisting of about 100 species of plants.
The Corncrake (land-rail) is a brown bird akin to the rails and moorhens. It is about the size of a partridge, and spends much of its time on the ground hunting for insects, on which it feeds. It nests in high grass or corn and at nightfall utters a harsh call. The corncrake is found throughout Europe and visits Britain in the summer and Africa in the winter.
The cornel (cornelian tree) is a species of dogwood tree of the order Cornace ae. It is native to Asia and southern Europe.
The Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is a favourite garden flower of the family Compositae. The flowers are double and blue, white, rose or carmine in colour. Cornflowers are effective as cut flowers or for border cultivation. They are hardy annuals, and may be sown in April or May.
Cornus is a genus of plants of the natural order Cornaceae.
Coronellidae is the smooth snake family of non-venomous snakes.
The coryne is of the order gymnoblastea.
Corypha is a genus of palms which includes the fa-palm, gebang palm and taliput.
Corythosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the cretaceous period. It had a duck-like bill filled with hundreds of tiny teeth which were used for mincing leaves. It had a hollow crescent on top of its head.
Cotoneaster is a small shrub belonging to the family Rosaceae, having entire, ovate leaves, smooth above and cottony on the underside. It has small pinkish solitary flowers and small reddish berries. In Britain, it occurs wild only in part of Wales but is cultivated in the south of England.
Cotton is a tropical and sub tropical herbaceous plant. The cotton is the white or tawny mass of fibres which envelope the seeds within the dry capsular fruit of the plant.
The Cotton Boll Weevil is the larva of a Noctuid moth which destroys the cotton bolls and the fruit of other useful plants in north America and elsewhere.
Cotton-grass is a group of sedges. They are plants of the colder parts of the northern hemisphere and have long silky hairs springing from the base of the ovary to envelop the seed. The hairs were once used to stuff pillows, but cannot be spun because they do not twist, as do cotton fibres.
The cotton-wood is a north American tree.
Couch-grass is a noxious weed whose spiked flowers somewhat resemble an ear of wheat in structure. It is a perennial grass and the rhizome spreads rapidly in all directions in light soil, sending up leafy stems from the nodes.
The cougar is a large American cat. Also called the puma.
A cow is a female ox. Also the female of the elephant, rhinocerous, whale and seal.
The cow-bunting is a north American bird of the Sturnidae (Starling) family. It leaves its own eggs in other birds nests for them to hatch.
The Cowrie is a marine gastropod mollusc with an oval shell which in some species is the size of a hen's egg.
The Cowslip (Paigle) is a wild flower found in British pastures and hedge-rows. The flowers possess sedative properties and used to be made into wine.
The coyote is a type of wild dog found in north America.
The Coypou (Coypu) is a South American rodent about the size of and resembling a beaver.
The coypu is a south American water rodent.
The Crab-apple is a small, wild and very sour species of English Apple.
Cranberry is the fruit of the whortleberry bush. It is native to Europe, north asia and north America.
The crane (Megalornithidae) is a family of birds distinguished by long legs and neck and powerful wings.
The Crane-fly is a genus of two-winged insects (Daddy-long-legs).
The cranium is the skeleton enclosing the brain.q
Crassulaceae is the stonecrop family of herbs and shrubs. They have thick fleshy leaves and starlike flowers and are found in most parts of the world, especially South Africa. They grow in the diest regions where grass and moss cannot grow, on naked rocks, old walls and on hot sandy plains.
Crayfish are various crustaceans. The common crayfish is also known as the river lobster which resembles the lobster in appearance and habits. They are also called crawfish.
The creeper is a family of birds which resemble the woopecker in their habbit of creeping up tree trunks.
Cress is the name of several species of plants, most of them of the order Cruciferae. Water cress is used in salad and was used as a medicine for its antiscorbutic properties.
The crinoidea are the sea lily class of phylum echinodermata. The body is cup shaped and attached to the substratum by a stalk. Both the mouth and anus are on the side of the body away from the stalk. The five main arms bifurcate, and on the branches are small side branches.
The crocodile is a large aquatic carnivorous reptile. Related to the alligator.
Crocodilia is an order of diapsida. They are large reptiles adapted to life in rivers and lakes. The tail is flattened from side to side and is a powerful swimming tool.
The crossbill (Loxia) is a genus of birds of the finch family. They are distinguished by the crossed tips of the bill.
The crossopterygii is a division of fish known as the lung fishes. They have a single or double lung, and a modified heart and vascular system. They live in shallow fresh water where oxygen levels are insufficient for gills.
The crow is a family of 35 species of bird.
Crowberry is a plant found in northern Europe, Asia, England and Scotland.
Cruciferae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants with cross like four petaled flowers.
Crustacea is the crustacean class of arthropods. They are mainly aquatic animals breathing by gills. There are two pairs of antennae and three pairs of jaws.
Cryptogam is a general term embracing all the lower or non-seed bearing plants. The name was given to them before the advent of the microscope made it possible to study their sexual reproduction. The cryptogams are the ferns, mosses, fungi and algae.
The Ctenophora are a phylum of animals represented by a number of marine forms which somewhat resemble jelly-fish.
The cuckoo (Cuculidae) is a family of birds. They lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.
Cucurbitaceae is a large and important group of herbacious plants with succulent stems which climb by means of tendrils which spring from the base of the leaf-stalks. The leaves are usually lobed and rough; the flowers often large, white, red or yellow; the fruit juicy or fleshy. The group includes the melon.
Cumacea is an order of malacostraca where the carapace is small exposing four or five of the thoracic segments. The abdomen is slender.
Cunina is a member of the order trachylina.
Cupuliferae is a family of trees distributed chiefly in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere and also in tropical Asia. The family includes the beech, chestnut, oak and birch.
Curassows are a family of game-birds inhabiting Central and South America but related to the bush-turkeys of Australia.
The curlew is a British water bird.
The cusk (Brosme brosme) is an edible fish found in North Atlantic coastal areas.
The Cuttle-Fish is a name applied to various ten-armed molluscs of the class Cephalopoda. They are distinguished by their internal calcerous shell (cuttle bone).
The Cycads are an order of tropical trees and shrubs with usually simple, sometimes dichotomous trunks marked with leaf scars, and resembling palms and tree ferns. The leaves are pinnate, and curled in the bud-like fan fronds. The flowers are always terminal, resembling cones.
Cyclamen is a group of low-growing herbaceous plants of the Primrose family found in the mountains of the Mediterranean and Central Europe. They have globular, bulb-like roots from which arise long stalked, heart-shaped leaves, and white, pink, lilac or crimson flowers.
The cyclostomi are a subclass of agnatha. They are modern eel-like creatures which eat fish.
Cygnet is the name for a young swan.
A cyme is an irregularly branched inflorescence in which later flowers are produced laterally on the stem of the first flower, as in the forget-me-not.
Cyperaceae is the sedge family of plants somewhat resembling grasses, but differing from them in the possession of triangular solid stems, closed leaf sheaths, and no ligules. The inflorescence is a group of spikes of glumes, in the axial of each being three stamens and one carpel.
Cypress is a group of evergreen cone-bearing trees and shrubs, with small adnate opposite leaves, and small globular cones on a few fleshy scale-leaves.
The cystoflagellata are an order of phytomastigina. They are transparent plankton.