Search the Dictionary

A tribe of spiders including those which lie in wait and leap upon their prey; the leaping spiders.

One of the Saltigradæ a tribe of spiders which leap to seize their prey.

A small lamprey eel; the pride. Curlew sandpiper. See under Curlew. -- Stilt sandpiper. See under Stilt.

es inserted along each edge, forming a sawlike organ with which it mutilates or kills its prey.

Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); -- with of. [Obs.] "A region scarce of prey." Milton.

Of quick or keen smell. The scentful osprey by the rock had fished. W. Browne.

species of chilopod myriapods of the genus Scutigera. They sometimes enter buildings and prey upon insects.

te- tailed sea eagle, or fishing eagle (Polioaëtus ichthyaëtus). The bald eagle and the osprey are also sometimes classed as sea eagles.

ns. Sedentary spider (Zoöl.), one of a tribe of spiders which rest motionless until their prey is caught in their web.

ny one of several species of raptorial birds of the genera Circaëtus and Spilornis, which prey on serpents. They inhabit Africa, Southern Europe, and India. The European serpent eagle is Circaëtus Gallicus. -- Serpent eater. (Zoöl.) (a) The secretary bird. (b) An Asiatic antelope; the markhoor. -- Serpent fish (Zoöl.…

ly, one who cheats in bargains; a swinder; also, a cheating gamester. Sharpers, as pikes, prey upon their own kind. L'Estrange.

lurk. "Want skulks in holes and crevices." W. C. Bryant. Discovered and defeated of your prey, You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. Dryden.

mmon in the fresh waters of the United States; -- so called from its habit of seizing its prey by a snap of its jaws. Called also mud turtle. (b) See Alligator snapper, under Alligator.

To swoop or plunge, as a bird upon its prey; to fall suddenly; to rush with speed; to make a sudden attack. For then I viewed his plunge and souse Into the foamy main. Marston. Jove's bird will souse upon the timorous hare. J. Dryden. Jr.

Prey. [Obs.] Spenser.

eggs and young. Many species spin also complex webs to entrap the insects upon which they prey. The eyes are usually eight in number (rarely six), and are situated on the back of the cephalothorax. See Illust. under Araneina.

n web which is formed by most kinds of spiders, particularly the web spun to entrap their prey. See Geometric spider, Triangle spider, under Geometric, and Triangle.

To come down as a hawk does on its prey; to pounce; to souse; to swoop. The bird of Jove, stooped from his aëry tour, Two birds of gayest plume before him drove. Milton.

To descend with closed wings from a height upon prey, as a hawk; to swoop.

The claw of a predaceous bird or animal, especially the claw of a bird of prey. Bacon.