Animals And Plants (F-G)

Animals And Plants (F-G)


Faeces

Faeces is the term applied to egested food.

Falcon

The falcon is a bird of prey.

Fasciola

Fasciola is a member of the order digenea.

Fennec

The fennec is a small nocturnal desert fox found in north Africa and Arabia.

Fennel

Fennel is a perennial umbelliferae.

Filaria

Filaria is a phylum nematoda.

Finch

The finch is a popular name of the Fringillidae.

Firefly

Firefly is a popular name for winged insects possessing luminosity.

Fish

see "pisces"

Fish-hawk

Fish-hawk is an American name for the Osprey.

Fish-louse

The fish-louse are several crustaceans of the order Ichthyophthira which are parasitic on fish.

Fishes

see "pisces"

Fissurellidae

Fissurellidae is a family of gasteropodous molluscs resembling the limpets in appearance and habits, but differing in structure. They are generally too large for their shell, and so it appears that the shell is rudimentary.

Fistularia

Fistularia is a genus of acanthopterygious fish characterized by the elongation of the facial bones into a long fistula or tube at the extremity of which the mouth opens.

Fistulina

Fistulina is a genus of Fungi, allied to Boletus, found on old oak, walnut, ash, beech and horse chestnut trees. It is eaten in Europe grilled and is said to taste like broiled meat.

Flamingo

The flamingo is a bird of the genus Phoenicopterus allied to the ducks. The flamingo has long legs and stands about 180 cm tall. The beak is naked, lamellate at the edges and bent. Flamingos are generally pink or scarlet in colour and live in southern Europe and northern Africa around sea coasts and salt marshes.

Flatworm

Flatworm is a common name for phylum platyhelminthes.

Flatworms

see "flatworm"

Flax

Flax is a popular name of plants of the genus Linum, natural order Linaceae of which there are roughly 100 species. They are herbs or small shrubs with narrow leaves and yellow, blue or white flowers arranged in variously formed cymes.

Flea

The flea is several insects constituting the order Aphaniptera. They are small with two eyes, six feet and piercing stilets and a suctorial proboscis which is used to feed on the blood of animals. They can leap amazing distances.

Flounder

A flounder is one of the flat-fishes, family Pleuronectidae, genus Pleuronectes. The flounder is found in the sea and near the mouths of large rivers around the British coast.

Fluke

Fluke is a parasitic flatworm that causes rot and dropsy of the liver.

Flustra

Flustra is an ectoprocta.

Fly-catcher

The fly-catcher is several species of insectivorous birds of the genus Muscicapa with a bill flattened at the base, almost triangular, notched at the upper mandible and beset with bristles. They perch on branches and wait motionless for passing insects which they dart at and catch with a snap of the bill.

Flying Gurnard

The Flying Gurnard (Trigla volitans) is a Mediterranean fish of the Gurnard genus.

Flying-fox

The flying-fox or fox-bat is a fruit-eating bat of the family Pteropidae including some of the largest of the bats, one species reaching 140 cm in length across the wings! Flying-foxes are found in Australia, Asia and Africa.

Flying-lemur

The flying-lemur is an insectivorous mammal native to India. They have a membrane which extends as a broad expansion from the nape of the neck to the tail which they use to glide when leaping from tree to tree.

Flying-squrrel

The flying-squrrel is a genus of rodent animals of the squirrel family. The skin of the flank, extending between the fore and hind legs allows them to glide and make great leaps. Flying-squrrels are found in Europe, Asia and North America.

Foraminifera

Foraminifera is an order of animals of low type belonging to the class Rhizopoda, sub-order Protozoa, furnished with a shell or test, simple or complex, usually perforated by pores called foramina from which the animals get their name.

Forest-fly

The forest-fly is a two-winged fly parasitic on birds and quadrupeds.

Forficulidae

see "earwig"

Forget-me-not

Forget-me-not is a common British plant of the natural order Boraginaceae found growing in damp or wet places. It is a pretty flower considered as the emblem of friendship throughout Europe.

Fowl

The term fowl was once used as a synonym for bird, but since around 1900 the term fowl has come to refer to birds of the genus Gallus. They resemble the pheasants, but the crown of the head is generally naked and furnished with a fleshy comb, the base of the lower mandibles also bears fleshy lobes (wattles).

Fox

The fox is an animal of the genus Vulpes closely allied to the dog, with a straight bushy tail, elongated pupils and erect ears. Foxes are intelligent, adaptable and omnivorous, consuming small animals, eggs, honey and refuse.

Fox-bat

see "Flying-fox"

Foxglove

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a common British flower of the natural order Scrophulariaceae. It grows on banks and pastures. The flowers are campanulate and resemble the fingers of a glove, hence the name. Foxglove posesses diuretic, narcotic and sedative qualities which are used in medicine. It is also deadly in sufficient quantity.

Foxhound

The Foxhound is a breed of dog bred for chasing foxes. The foxhound is smaller than the staghound, its average height being about 53 cm.

Foxtail-grass

Foxtail-grass is a grass of the genus Alopecurus so called because of the close cylindrical panicle in which the spikelets of flowers are arranged which look rather like a fox's tail.

Francolin

The francolin is a genus of birds belonging to the same family as the partridge which they resemble except for one or more strong and sharp horny spurs on the tarsi.

Frasera

Frasera is a genus of plants of the natural order Gentianaceae containing seven species of erect perennial herbs native to North America.

Fratercula

Fratercula is a genus of web-footed birds which contains the puffin.

Fraxinella

Fraxinella is a species of dittany. It is an ornamental herbaceous annual plant cultivated for its fragrant leaves and rose-coloured flowers.

Fraxinus

Fraxinus is a genus of deciduous trees of the order Oleaceae which includes the ash.

French Beans

French Beans is a twining annual plant with alternate leaves on footstalks composed of three oval pubescent folioles. The seeds are shaped rather like a kidney, and from this the plant gets its alternative name, the Kidney Bean.

French Oak

The French Oak is a tree of the genus Catalpa. It contains a lot of tannin in its bark.

Frigate-bird

The frigate-bird is a tropical, web-footed bird of the family Pelecanidae. The male bird reaches 1 meter in length, including the tail, but the body is comparatively small. The bill is longer than the head, hooked at the end and sharp. The wings are very large, and the bird has a wing span of over 2 meters.

Fringillidae

Fringillidae is a large family of conirostral birds comprising the finches.

Fringillidea

Fringillidea is the Finch family of birds. They are a large family of small seed-eating birds found in all parts of the world. Fringillidea belong to the order Insessores, section Conirostres. They are distinguished by having a sharply-pointed, conical, and in most cases strongly-formed, bill suitable for crushing seeds and other hard objects.

Fritillary

Fritillary is a genus of plants of the order Liliaceae, native to northern temperate regions.

Frog

The frog is an anura with four legs, four toes on the fore feet and five on the hind. The feet are more-or-less webbed. The body is naked and has no ribs and no tail. The tongue is fleshy and attached in front to the jaw but is free behind so that it can be protruded.

Frog-fish

see "Cheironectes"

Frogs

see "frog"

Froth-fly

The froth-fly is an insect of the family Cercopidae, the larvae of which is found in a frothy exudation on plants (Cuckoo-spit).

Fruit-pigeon

Fruit-pigeons are pigeons of the genus Carpophagus. They have brilliant plumage and are found in India and Australia. They are so named because they eat nothing but fruit.

Fucaceae

Fucaceae is a natural order of dark-coloured algae consisting of olive-coloured inarticulate seaweeds distinguished from other algae by their reproductive organs which consist of archegonia and antheridia, contained in common chambers, united in club-shaped receptacles at the ends of the fronds.

Fucus

Fucus is a genus of seaweeds of the family Fucaceae comprising several common seaweeds with a flat or compressed forked frond, sometimes containing air vessels.

Fulmar

The fulmar is a sea bird which lives on the sub-arctic shores of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Fumariaceae

Fumariaceae is a small natural order of exogenous plants closely allied to Papaveraceae. The species are slender-stemmed, herbaceous plants, generally erect, though some climb by means of their twisting leaf-stalks.

Funaria

Funaria is a genus of mosses.

Fungi

Fungi is a large natural order of cryptogamous plants, Fungi agree with algae and lichens in their cellular structure, which is, with few exceptions, devoid of anything resembling vascular tissue; but differing from them in deriving their nutrition from the body on which the grow, not from the medium by which they are surrounded.

Furze

see "Gorse"

Fusus

Fusus is a genus of gasteropodous molluscs nearly allied to Murex with a spindle-shaped univalve shell.

Gadidae

Gadidae is a family of malacopterous fish including the cod, ling and haddock.

Gadwall

The gadwall (Anas strepera) is a species of duck. It is common in North America, and rare in Britain. It is not so large as a mallard and has long pointed wings and a vigorous and rapid flight.

Galbulinae

The galbulinae are a family of tropical American fissirostal birds allied to the trogons and kingfishers.

Galeidae

Galeidae is the tope family of small sharks.

Galemys

The galemys are a genus of mammals allied to the shrews. They live in burrows at the sides of streams and feed on insects.

Galeopsis

Galeopsis is a genus of plants of the natural order Labiatae characterized by the equally five-toothed calyx. They are herbaceous plants with square stems usually clothed with sharp bristly hairs, nettle-like leaves on long stalks, and red, white or yellow labiate flowers.

Gall-fly

Gall-fly is a name for several hymenopterous insects of the family Cynipidae, which form galls, each species prefering a different plant. The gall is due to an iritating fluid which the insect deposits on the plant along with its egg.

Galliwasp

The galliwasp is a species of lizard about 30cm long and stout and plump. It is generally brown in colour and is native to the West Indies and was particularly common in Jamaica during the 19th century.

Galls

Galls (gall-nuts) are a vegetable excrescence produced by the deposit of the egg of an insect in the bark or leaves of a plant.

Gamete

A gamete is one of the two cells which fuse together to commence reproduction.

Gametes

see "gamete"

Gannet

The gannet is a British sea bird of the genus Sula, family Pelecanidae. It is about 1 meter long and the plummage is dirty white or grey. The bill is straight, and about 15 cm long.

Ganoid

The ganoids are an order of fish characterized by angular, rhombic, polygonal or circular scales composed of horny or bony plates covered with a thick plate of a glossy enamel like substance.

Gaper-shell

The gaper-shell is a lamellibranchiate mollusc common on British coasts. It has a rectangular shell and burrows in sand and mud.

Gar-fish

The gar-fish (sea-pike, gar-pike, sea-needle) is a long and slender sea fish of the genus Belone, about 90cm long. The head projects forward into a very long sharp snout. The sides and belly are of a bright silvery colour and the back is green.

Gar-pike

see "Gar-fish"

Garcinia

Garcinia is a genus of plants of the natural order Guttiferae.

Garden-warbler

The garden-warbler is a migratory song-bird which visits Britain from the end of April to September. It is about 15cm long, the head and upper surfaces are greenish brown and the underside is brownish white.

Gardenia

Gardenia is a genus of trees and shrubs of the natural order Cinchonaceae. They are native to trpoical Asia and Africa and have pretty white or yellowish flowers and a powerful fragance.

Garganey

The garganey is a small British duck.

Garlic

Garlic is a perennial liliaceae with an edible bulb divided into segments known as cloves.

Garrot

Garrot is a popular name of ducks of the genus Clangula. They are oceanic ducks with a bill shorter than the head, and are widely distributed over the temperate regions of Europe and America.

Garrulus

Garrulus is a genus of insessorial birds of the crow family.

Gasteropod

The gasteropods are a class of mollusc, consisting of animals inhabiting a univalve shell, although some of the group are wholly devoid of a shell. Generally the shell is cone-shaped and spiral. The distinguishing characteristic is the foot, which is broad, muscular and disc-like and attached to the ventral surface.

Gasteropoda

see "Gasteropod"

Gasteropods

see "Gasteropod"

Gasterosteus

Gasterosteus is a genus of fish which comprises the sticklebacks.

Gastropod

see "gasteropod"

Gastropoda

see "gasteropod"

Gaur

The gaur (or gour) is one of the larget of the ox tribe found in the mountain jungles of India it is renowned for its shoulder hide, which even when dried is often more than 5cm thick, and was used to make shields.

Gavial

The gavial (Gavialis gangeticus) is the Indian crocodile. It is characterized by narrow, almost cylindrical jaws which form a very long elongated muzzle. It has 120 teeth, of equal length, and the feet are webbed.

Gaviiformes

The Gaviiformes are an order of birds. These are the divers or loons. They are water birds with legs set very far back and webbed feet. The bill is long and pointed for catching fish.

Gazelle

The gazelle (Gazella dorcas) are various species of small, fast running antelope (the Gazellinae).

Gean

The gean (Prunus Avium) is a wild cherry tree found in Britain. It has fruit which are red when unripe, and a deep purple or black when ripe. The timber can be used for making furniture.

Gebang Palm

The gebang palm (Corypha gebanga) is a fan-leaved palm of south east Asia. Sago is extracted from its pith and its leaves are used for thatch, hats, baskets and bags. The root is used in medicine and the fibres of the leaf stalks are used for making ropes, nets and cloth.

Gecko

The Gecko are a family of nocturnal lizards (Gekotidae) characterized by the general flatness of their form, especially of the head, which is rather triangular. The body is covered on the upper part with numerous round prominences or warts and the feet are rather short with toes nearly equal in length and furnished with flattened suction pads which enable the gecko to run up perpendicular walls.

Gelada

The gelada is an Ethiopian baboon. It has a heavy mane which hangs over its shoulders.

Gelsemium

The gelsemium is a woody vine found in Asia and southern America.

Gemma

A gemma is a small cellular body that separates from the mother-plant and starts a new one. It is common in moss and liverwort.

Gemsbok

The gemsbok (Oryx gazella) is a large powerful member of the antelope family inhabiting the plains of South Africa.

Genes

Genes are hereditary information material arranged in a single row along the length of each chromosome.

Genet

The genet is a digitigrade carnivorous mammal of the family Viverridae. It is about the size of a small cat, but longer. Genets were used in Constantinople (Istanbul) to catch rats. The genet is common around the mediterranean.

Genipap

Genipap is the fruit of the Genipa americana tree, of the natural order Rubiaceae. It is about the size of an orange and has a pleasant vinous flavour.

Genista

Genista is a genus of leguminous plants consisting of about 100 species.

Gentian

see "Gentiana"

Gentiana

Gentiana is a genus of bitter herbaceous plants which have opposite, often strongly ribbed leaves, and blue, yellow or red, often showy flowers. The calyx consists of four or five valvate segments, and the corolla is four or five parted. The fruit is a two-valved, one celled, many-seeded capsule.

Gentianaceae

see "Gentiana"

Geotrupidae

Geotrupidae are a family of burrowing lamellicorn beetles.

Geraniaceae

Geraniaceae is a natural order of exogenous plants the distinguishing character of which is to have a fruit composed of five capsules or cases, connected with as many flat styles, consolidated around a long conical beak.

Geranium

The Geranium is the typical genus of the order Geraniaceae of plants.

Germander

The germander are plants of the genus Teucrium.

Gervas

Gervas (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) is a small shrub of the natural order Verbenaceae. It is native to the West Indies and warm parts of America. Its leaves were used to make Brazilian tea and to adulterate tea in Britain in the 19th century.

Geum

Geum is a genus of hardy herbaceous perennials, belonging to the natural order Rosaceae, chiefly natives of the northern hemisphere.

Ghost-moth

The ghost-moth is a nocturnal lepidopterous insect (Hepialus humuli), so called from the male being of a white colour, and from its habit of hovering with a pendulum-like motion in the twilight over one spot where the female is concealed.

Gibbon

A gibbon is a type of small ape of the genus Hylobates, particularly the species Hylobates lar which inhabits the islands of the Indian Archipelago. It is noticeable by the extraordinary length of its arms and its slender form.

Gibel

The gibel (Cyprinus gibelio) is a fish of the carp genus. It is also called the Prussian Carp. The gibel rarely weighs more than 250 gms.

Gill

Gills are very efficient organs of respiration found in fish and the early development stages of amphibians. They are highly vascular and are bathed in oxygen containing water from which the oxygen is extracted.

Gilthead

The gilthead (Chrysophrys aurata) is an acanthopterygious fish of the Sparidae or sea-bream family common in the Mediterranean. It has strong grinding teeth which it uses to crush the shells of the molluscs on which it feeds. It has a yellow band which extends from eye to eye, and typically weighs 9kg.

Ginger

Ginger is a perennial plant of the order Zingiberaceae found in south east Asia, the West Indies, South America and Africa of which Jamaican ginger is the most prized.

Gingko

The gingko are coniferous trees of the genus Salisburia belonging to the yew family and which are native to China and Japan.

Ginkgo

The ginkgo is a tree related to the conifers and native to China and Japan.

Ginseng

Ginseng (Panax schinseng) is a plant of Northern Asia of the order Araliaceae. It is herbaceous and grows to about 30cm tall. Its root has long been regarded by the Chinese as a source of sexual potency.

Giraffe

The giraffe is the tallest mammal, found only in Africa south of the sahara.

Girdle of Venus

The Girdle of Venus is an animal of the Ctenophora found in the Mediterranean.

Gladiolus

Gladiolus are a genus of plants of the iris order, having a bulbous root with a reticulated covering. They are natives of Europe and north Africa, but especially South Africa. The leaves are ensiform and the flowers brilliantly coloured.

Glass Snake

The Glass Snake is a lizard of the genus Ophiosaurus which resembles a snake in form and reaches a length of 1 meter. The joints of the tail are not connected by caudal muscles and so the tail is very brittle and joints break off when the animal is even slightly irritated.

Glasswort

Glasswort are plants of the genus Salicornia, natural order Chenopodiaceae. They are succulent marine herbs growing abundantly on the coasts of southern Europe and north Africa. When burnt their ashes yield soda which was once used in making glass, hence the name glasswort.

Gleditschia

Gleditschia is a genus of plants of the order Leguminosae to which the honey-locust belongs.

Globe-fish

Globe-fish is a popular name applied to several fish of the genera Diodon and Tetraodon of the order Plectognathi, on account of their ability to assume a globular form by swallowing air or water which inflates a ventral sac and inflates the whole animal like a balloon.

Globe-flower

The globe-flower (Trollius europaeus) is a European plant of the natural order Ranunculaceae. It is found in mountainous regions and has five-lobed, deaply serrated leaves and round pale-yellow blossoms the sepals of which are large and conspicuous while the petals are very small.

Globigerina

Globigerina is one of the Foraminifera, a microscopic animal having a many-celled shell found fossilised in the chalk and tertiary formations and alive in the seas where shells of the abundant dead animals form vast calcareous deposits of mud known as globigerina ooze.

Gloriosa

Gloriosa is a genus of tuberous-rooted climbing herbs of the natural order Liliaceae, so named from their splendid flowers. They have branched stems and flowers mostly of a pretty red and yellow colour, with six long lanceolate undulated segments, which are entirely reflexed.

Glow-worm

The glow-worm is an insect of the genus Lampyris, natural order Coleoptera. The name glow-worm is only really applicable to the female, which is without wings, resembling a caterpillar, and emits a shining green light from the extremity of the abdomen. The male is winged, and flies about in the evening when it is attracted by the light of the female.

Gloxinia

Gloxinia is a genus of plants of the natural order Gesneraceae, distinguished by the corolla apprroaching to bell-shaped, the upper lip shortest and two-lobed, the lower three-lobed, with the middle lobe largest, and also by the summit of the style being rounded and hollowed. The species are native to tropical America and were introduced into Britian in the 19th century.

Glutton

The glutton (Gulo arcticus) (Wolverene, Wolverine) is a carnivorous quadruped, about the size of a large badger, and intermediate between the bear family and the weasels. It inhabits northern Europe and America.

Glycyrrhiza

Glycyrrhiza is a genus of leguminous plants.

Gmelina

Gmelina is a genus of plants of the order Verbenaceae found in Asia. All the species form either shrubs or trees, some providing valuable timber.

Gnaphalium

Gnaphalium is a genus of widely-spread composite plants which have their foliage usually covered with a white wooly down, and their flower-heads of the ecerlasting kind.

Gnat

Gnat is a popular name for several species of insects of the genus Culex.

Gnathostomata

Gnathostomata is a branch of the sub-phylum craniata group of animals. The mouth is bounded by jaws which are formed from the mandibular visceral arch.

Gnu

The gnu (wildebeeste) is an antelope found in Africa. Both sexes have have horns projecting slightly outwards and downwards, then forming an abrupt upward bend. They have bristly black hair about the face and muzzle, a white stiff mane, and horse-like tail. They reach a length of about 270cm and a height at the shoulder of about 120cm.

Goat

The goat is a ruminant mammal of the genus Capra. They are slightly smaller than a sheep, but stronger, more agile and less timid.

Goat's-beard

Goat's-beard is a popular name of plants of the genus Tragopogon, order Compositae, which are herbaceous perennials, chiefly natives of Europe. The seeds have feathery appendages from which the plants get their name.

Goat's-rue

Goat's-rue (Galega officinalis) is a leguminous plant indigenous to southern Europe. It is used as forage and was once used as a cordial to treat fever and convulsions.

Goat's-thorn

Goat's-thorn is the name given to two hard evergreen plants of the genus Astragalus.

Goat-moth

The goat-moth (Cossus ligniperda) is a large British moth. The larvae are about 7cm long and hollow out galleries in trees and form cocoons from the sawdust in which the chrysalids are formed. The larval condition lasts for three years. The fully-developed insect is ash-coloured, with numerous small black lines on the first pair of wings.

Goatsucker

Goatsucker is a popular name of birds of the genus Caprimulgus. They got the name from the incorrect assertion that the birds suck goats. The goatsuckers actually feed on nocturnal insects and beetles which are caught as the bird flies with its mouth open.

Gobiidae

see "Goby"

Goby

Goby is the popular name of a family of acanthopterous fish (Gobiidae) characterized as having two dorsal fins nearly united into one, the anterior fin having flexible rays, not spinous. The ventral fins are thoracic and united more or less by their bases. the body is scaly and the head unarmed. there are about 400 species of goby.

Godwinia

Godwinia is a genus of plants of the natural order Araceae.

Godwit

Godwit is a popular name for birds of the genus Limosa or the family Scolopacidae.

Gold of Pleasure

Gold of Pleasure (Camelina sativa) is a cruciferous annual of the order Brassicaceae, with stem-clasping leaves and terminal racemes of yellow flowers which produce pear-shaped pods containing numerous small seeds.

Golden-beetle

Golden-beetle is a popular name for several tetramerous beetles of the genus Chrysomela. There are some British species, but most are tropical. They are characterized by their brilliant colouring.

Golden-crested Regulus

see "Golden-crested Wren"

Golden-crested Wren

The Golden-crested Wren (Golden-crested Regulus, Kinglet, Regulus cristatus) is a beautiful bird belonging to the family Sylviadae, distinguished by an orange crest. It is the smallest of British birds, being only 8cm long, very agile and almost continually in motion. The upper part of the body is yellowish olive green and the under parts are pale reddish white. It lives mostly in tall trees, particularly the oak, yew, pine and fir.

Golden-rod

Golden-rod (Solidago) is a genus of plants of the natural order Compositae. They are chiefly natives of North America. Most of the species have erect, rod-like, scarcely branched stems, with alternate serrated leaves, and terminal spikes of small yellow flowers.

Golden-saxifrage

Golden-saxifrage is a popular name for Chrysoplenium.

Goldfinch

The Goldfinch (Fringilla carduelis) is a common British bird of the Finch family. It is about 13cm long and the plumage is a mixture of black, scarlet, yellow and white colours.

Goldfish

The goldfish is a member of the carp family found in east Asia.

Goliath-beetle

The goliath-beetles are beetles of the genus Goliathus which are native to Africa and South America and are so named on account of their remarkable large size which can reach 10cm. They are eaten in South America.

Gomuti Palm

The Gomuti Palm (Saguerus saccharifer) is the sago-palm and yields a bristly fibre known as gomuti or ejoo which is manufactured into cordage, and used for thatching. The sweet juice of the palm is fermented into a toddy by natives. The Gomuti Palm is also one of the chief sago producing palms.

Gonad

see "gonads"

Gonads

The gonads are essential reproductive organs.

Goosander

The goosander is a duck found in Scotland.

Goose

The goose is a bird of the genus Anser.

Gooseberry

Gooseberry (Ribes grossularia) is a low branching shrub growing wild in Siberia and northern Europe. It is part of the order Grossulariaceae. the branches are armed with numerous prickles and bear three to five lobed leaves and inconspicuous flowers. The fruit is a succulent berry which makes rather good eating.

Goosefoot

see "Chenopodium"

Gopher

The gopher is a burrowing rodent found in north and central America.

Gorgonia

Gorgonia is a member of the order of alcyonaria.

Gorilla

The gorilla is the largest anthropoid ape, found in west Africa.

Gorse

Gorse (furze, whin) is a plant of the family leguminosae. It is a low shrubby plant, the stem generally 80cm to 1m high, much branched and most of the leaves converted into spines. The flowers are solitary and yellow.

Goshawk

The goshawk (Astur palumbarius) is a raptorial bird of the genus Astur. It grows to around 60cm long, has deep brown plumage and was much used in falconry. It flies low and pursues its prey in a line after it.

Goura

Goura is a genus of large pigeons native to Papua New Guinea comprising about six species known as crowned pigeons which are remarkable for their large size and open erect crest with which the head is adorned. They spend most of their time on the ground and nest in low branches.

Gourd

Gourd (Cucurbita) is a genus of plants of the natural order Cucurbitaceae.

Grain-moth

The grain-moth is two species of very small moth whose larvae eat grain in granaries. The moths have narrow, fringed wings of a satin lustre.

Graining

The graining is a fish of the dace kind found chiefly in the Mediterranean and its tributaries and in some of the Swiss lakes. The nose is more rounded than that of the dace, the eye larger, and the dorsal fin commences half-way between the point of the nose and the end of the fleshy portion of the tail.

Grakle

Grakle is a genus of birds of the order Passeres and of the starling family. They are found in India and New Guinea.

Grallatores

Grallatores is an order of birds. They are generally wading-birds and frequent the banks of streams and marshes. They have long legs and a long beak.

Graminaceae

see "Grass"

Grampus

The grampus are several marine cetaceous mammals allied to the dolphins. Grampus are found in the Atlantic and North Sea. They grow to about 8 meters long, and are very thick in proportion to their length with a black back and white belly. On each shoulder is a white spot. Grampus are carnivorous and voracious and will attack even whales.

Grantia

The grantia is a member of the calcarea class.

Grapple-plant

The grapple-plant is a South African procumbent plant of the natural order Pedaliacea. the seeds have many hooked thorns which cling to the mouths of grazing cattle causing considerable pain.

Grass

Grass (Graminaceae) is an extensive order of endogenous plants comprising about 250 genera and 4500 species. The roots are fibrous; the stem is usually cylindrical and jointed varying length from a few centimeters to 30 meters in the case of the bamboo.

Grass-tree

The Grass-tree (Xanthorrhoea) is a genus of Australian plants pf the natural order Liliaceae. They have shrubby stems with tufts of long grass-like wiry foliage, from the centre of which arises the tall flower-stalks which sometimes reach a height of 5 meters and bear dense cylindrical spikes of blossom at their summit.

Grass-wrack

Grass-wrack (Sea-Grass, Zostera marina) is a phanerogamous plant belonging to the Naiadeae, forming green beds at the bottom of the sea where it is shallow. The ash contains soda.

Grasses

see "Grass"

Grasshopper

The grasshopper are various leaping inscets of the order Orthoptera nearly akin to the locusts. They are characterized by long and slender legs, the thighs of the hind legs are large and adapted for leaping; by large and delicate wings and by the wing covers extending far beyond the extremity of the abdomen. They are generally of a greenish colour.

Gratiola

Gratiola is a genus of plants of the natural order Scrophulariaceae containing about twenty species of herbs, widely distributed through the extra-tropical regions of the world.

Grayling

Grayling is a genus of fish of the family Salmonidae. The common grayling is found in English streams and in Scotland. Grayling prefer rapid streams where the water is cool and clear, and the bottom sandy or pebbly. Grayling are yellowish-brown with a white under-belly.

Grebe

see "Podiceps"

Green Gage

Green Gage is a variety of plum.

Green-brier

Green-brier (Smilax rotundifolia) is a thorny climbing shrub having a yellow-green stem and thick leaves with small bunches of flowers. It is very common in America.

Green-dragon

Green-dragon (Arisoema Dracontium) is a North American herbaceous plant of the arum family. It is also known as wake-robin.

Greenfinch

The greenfinch is a bird of the finch family common in Europe and north Africa.

Greenheart

The greenheart (Nectandra Rodioei) is a tree of the natural order Lauraceae. It is native to Guiana where it is also called the bebeeru. The bark contains the alkaloid bebeerine.

Greenshank

The greenshank (Totanus glottis) is a species of sand-piper often called the whistling snipe from the shrill note it utters when first disturbed. It breeds commonly in the Hebrides and sometimes in northern Scotland and is a visitor to the coasts and marshes of Britain.

Gregarina

Gregarina is a member of the gregarinida order.

Gregarinida

Gregarinida are an order of sporozoa. They are parasites which live in invertebrates, and are found in the gut, colon and tissues.

Gregarinidae

Gregarinidae are a class of minute animal organisms comprising the lowest forms of Protozoa found parasitic in various animals, especially the cockroach and earthworm. The Gregarinidae consist of an outer colourless transparent membrane, with only faint signs of a fibrillous structure inclosing a granular mass in which there is a nucleus surrounded by a clear space.

Grey buck

see "Grysbok"

Grey Gurnard

The Grey Gurnard (Trigla gurnardus) is a common British fish of the Gurnard genus.

Greyhound

The greyhound is a variety of dog distinguished by a greater length of muzzle than any other; very low forehead, short lips, thin and long legs, small muscles, contracted belly and semipendant ears. They are bred for racing, being the fastest running dogs.

Grilse

A grilse is a young salmon after it returns to the sea from the fesh water for the first time.

Grisbok

see "Grysbok"

Gromwell

Gromwell are plants of the genus Lithospermum of the natural order Boraginaceae.

Grossulaceae

Grossulaceae is a tribe of plants of the natural order Saxifragaceae.

Ground Dove

Ground Dove is a name given to several species of pigeon and especially the Chamoepelia of warmer parts of America.

Ground Ivy

Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is a common British plant of the order Labiatae, with a creeping stem and purple flowers. It was once used as a flavouring in ale.

Ground Squirrel

Ground Squirrel is a a name for squirrels of the genus Tamias. They differ from other squirrels in posessing cheek-pouches and living in burrows.

Ground-hog

Ground-hog is another name for the aardvark.

Ground-nut

Ground-nut is another name for peanut.

Ground-pine

Ground-pine is a herbaceous labiate plant.

Groundsel

Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) is a European plant of the natural order Compositae. The plant is emollient, has a slightly acid taste and is rejected by most animals except pigs and goats.

Grouse

The grouse is a fowl like bird common in north America and north Europe and comprising the family Tetraonidae whose distinguishing mark is a naked band, often of a red colour, in place of an eyebrow. They are wild, shy and almost untamable living in families in forests and barren regions and feeding on berries, buds and leaves.

Growler

The growler (Micropterus nigricans) is a fresh water fish of North America also called the black-bass.

Growth

Growth is the idea of an animal increasing in size, weight or complexity etc.

Grub

Grub is a term applied to the soft worm-like larvae of various insects.

Grugru

Grugru is the larva of the Calandra palmarum, or palm weevil found in the tropical parts of America. It is about the size of a thumb and is often cooked and eaten.

Grunt

The grunt (grunter, pig-fish, red-mouth) is an American fish of the family Haemulonidae which emits a grunt when taken out of the water, hence it's name.

Grunter

see "Grunt"

Grus

Grus is a genus of birds which includes the crane.

Gryllus

Gryllus is a genus of orthopterous insects.

Grysbok

The grysbok (grisbok, grey buck, Antilope melanotis) is a species of antelope found in southern Africa. It reaches a height of 1 meter in length and 50 cm in height at the shoulder. It is reddish-grey in colour and is hunted for food.

Guacharo

Guacharo (Steatornis Caripensis) is a bird of the goat-sucker family. It is nocturnal and a native of South America. It is the size of a common fowl with a curved and toothed bill and long pointed wings. Guacharo feed upon fruit, becoming so fat that Indians kill them for their oil.

Guaiacum

Guaiacum is a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Zygophyllaceae native to the West Indies and the tropical parts of America. They are hardwood trees and the resin of some varieties is used in medicine.

Guan

The guan is a gallinaceous bird of the family Cracidae, genus Penelope. The sides of the head and front of the throat are naked and wattled, the wattles being capable of inflation. The guans perch on trees descending in search of grain and fruits. They are native to Brazil and Guiana, and there was a suggestion in the 19th century of breeding them in Europe as poultry.

Guanaco

The guanaco is a wild member of the camel family found in South America.

Guava

Guava is the popular name of the genus Psidium, which are tropical trees of the natural order Myrtaceae. The fruit of the guava is high in vitamin C.

Gudgeon

The gudgeon is a freshwater fish found in Europe and north Asia. It belongs to the carp family (Cyprinidae) and has short dorsal and anal fins without spines. On each side of the mouth is a small barbel.

Guereza

The guereza (guerza, Colobus guerza) is an Ethiopian monkey with shirt, glossy black fur with long silky white fur on the flanks.

Guernsey Lily

The Guernsey Lily (Nerine Sarniensis) is a beautiful plant with purple red flowers and native to South Africa. It is of the family Amaryllidaceae. It is called the Guernsey Lily because some of its bulbs were washed ashore in Guernsey from a ship wreck and took root.

Guerza

see "Guereza"

Guillemot

The guillemot is a web-footed bird of the Alcidae family. The guillemot has a striaght, compressed and pointed bill covered with feathers as far as the nostrils. The wings are pointed and very short and the legs are short and placed far back. Guillemots eat fish and nest on sea cliffs.

Guinea Pepper

Guinea Pepper (Xylopia aromatica) is a loft tree of the custard apple family. Its fruit, consisting of dry carpels is used as pepper.

Guinea-fowl

The Guinea-fowl (pintado) is a genus of gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae (the pheasants). They are originally natives of Africa.

Guinea-grass

Guinea-grass is a very tall species of grass native to Africa and of the same genus as the millet, it grows to between 2 and 3 meters high.

Guinea-pig

The Guinea-pig is a rodent mammal of the family Cavidae (the Cavies). It is native to South America and rather stupid, but terribly cute and often kept in Europe as a children's pet. The South American Indians prefer to cook it roasted on a spit over an open fire and eat it.

Guinea-worm

Guinea-worm (Filaria Medinensis) is a parasitic worm of the order Nematoda. It is white and about the thickness of string and varies in length from 15 cm to 1 meter.

Gull

Gull is the general name of a family of birds distinguished by their straight bill, bending downwards towards the point, and marked below the under mandible by a triangular prominence, by their large wings, slender legs, palmated feet, and small hind toe. They swim well, but cannot dive.

Gum-cistus

Gum-cistus is a plant cultivated in Portugal and yielding a gum with a balsamic odour.

Gum-tree

Gum-tree is another name for Eucalyptus.

Gunnel

The gunnel (butterfish, Centronotus gunellus) is a fish of the Blennies family. The common gunnel resembles an eel and is about 10 cm long, is brown in colour and has black spots on the base of the dorsal fin.

Gunnera

Gunnera is a genus of plants of the bread-fruit order.

Gurnard

Gurnard or Gurnet is a popular name of acanthopterous fish of the genus Trigla. The head is angular and wholly covered in bony plates. The body is elongated, nearly round and tapering. There are two dorsal fins, the pectoral fins are large and the teeth are small and numerous.

Guttiferae

Guttiferae is a natural order of exogenous trees and shrubs which generally secrete an acrid yellow resinous juice. They are found in hot and humid regions, chiefly South America.

Gymnoblastea

The gymnoblastea is an order of hydrozoa. They are marine colonial forms in which the coenosarc is enclosed within a perisac. The perisac is not extended to form hydrothecae.

Gynerium

Gynerium is a genus of grass which includes Pampas Grass.

Gypaetus

Gypaetus is a genus of birds which includes the Bearded Vulture.

Gypsy-wort

Gypsy-wort is a labiate plant found in Britain in ditches and on river banks. It renders a dye, and gets its name from the rumour that Gypsies used it to darken their skin.

Gyrocotyle

Gyrocotyle is a cestoda.