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A small venomous serpent of the genus Vipera. The common European adder is the Vipera (or Pelias) berus. The puff adders of Africa are species of Clotho.

A genus of ferns (Ophioglossum), whose seeds are produced on a spike resembling a serpent's tongue.

t had its flowers botanically examined, and therefore has not been referred to its proper genus.

A genus of ferns, the leaves of which shed water; maidenhair. Also, the black maidenhair, a species of spleenwort.

A genus of plants of the family Ranunculaceæ, containing the pheasaut's eye (Adonis autumnalis); -- named from Adonis, whose blood was fabled to have stained the flower.

A genus of plants, called also hardgrass.

A genus of lizards, one of the few which feed upon vegetable substances; also, one of these lizards.

A fungus of the genus Agaricus, of many species, of which the common mushroom is an example.

A genus of plants (order Amaryllidaceæ) of which the chief species is the maguey or century plant (A. Americana), wrongly called Aloe. It is from ten to seventy years, according to climate, in attaining maturity, when it produces a gigantic flower stem, sometimes forty feet in height, and perishes. The fermented juice…

A genus of plants, one species of which (A. Mexicanum) has lavender-blue flowers in dense clusters.

A rodent of the genus Dasyprocta, about the size of a rabbit, peculiar to South America and the West Indies. The most common species is the Dasyprocta agouti.

A genus of plants of the Rose family.

A genus of grasses, including species called in common language bent grass. Some of them, as redtop (Agrostis vulgaris), are valuable pasture grasses.

A genus of beautiful trees, natives of the East Indies. The tree imperfectly di

A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long- continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere.

A genus of perching birds, including the European kingfisher (Alcedo ispida). See Halcyon.

A genus of fleshy Alcyonaria, its polyps somewhat resembling flowers with eight fringed rays. The term was also formerly used for certain species of sponges.

A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the genus Alnus. The wood is used by turners, etc.; the bark by dyers and tanners. In the U. S. the species of alder are usually shrubs or small trees. Black alder. (a) A European shrub (Rhamnus frangula); Alder buckthorn. (b) An American species of holly (Ilex ve…

Any of numerous neuropterous insects of the genus Sialis or allied genera. They have aquatic larvæ, which are used for bait.

A name given to two species of the genus Smyrnium, formerly cultivated and used as celery now is; -- called also horse parsely.