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at in the judgment of competent scientists, they may receive a common substantive name. A genus is not necessarily the lowest definable group of species, for it may often be divided into several subgenera. In proportion as its definition is exact, it is natural genus; if its definition can not be made clear, it is more…

A subdivision of a genus, comprising one or more species which differ from other species of the genus in some important character or characters; as, the azaleas now constitute a subgenus of Rhododendron.

An edentate mammal, of the genus Orycteropus, somewhat resembling a pig, common in some parts of Southern Africa. It burrows in the ground, and feeds entirely on ants, which it catches with its long, slimy tongue.

A univalve mollusk of the genus Haliotis. The shell is lined with mother-of-pearl, and used for ornamental purposes; the sea-ear. Several large species are found on the coast of California, clinging closely to the rocks.

A genus of coniferous trees, properly called Fir, as the balsam fir and the silver fir. The spruces are sometimes also referred to this genus.

A genus of malvaceous plants of many species, found in the torrid and temperate zones of both continents; -- called also Indian mallow.

A genus of leguminous trees and shrubs. Nearly 300 species are Australian or Polynesian, and have terete or vertically compressed leaf stalks, instead of the bipinnate leaves of the much fewer species of America, Africa, etc. Very few are found in temperate climates.

A genus of herbaceous prickly plants, found in the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and India; bear's-breech.

A genus including many species of small mites.

A genus of European birds (so named from their sweet notes), including the hedge warbler. In America sometimes applied to the water thrushes.

A genus of rapacious birds; one of the Accipitres or Raptores.

A genus of land snails, often large, common in the warm parts of America and Africa.

A genus of ganoid fishes, including the sturgeons, having the body armed with bony scales, and the mouth on the under side of the head. See Sturgeon.

The herb wolfsbane, or monkshood; -- applied to any plant of the genus Aconitum (tribe Hellebore), all the species of which are poisonous.

Anciently, a snake, called dart snake; now, one of a genus of reptiles closely allied to the lizards.

One of the sessile cirripeds; a barnacle of the genus Balanus. See Barnacle.

A genus in the family Actinidæ.

A peculiar larval form of Phoronis, a genus of marine worms, having a circle of ciliated tentacles.

(Bot.), the mullein (Verbascum thapsus). -- Adam's needle (Bot.), the popular name of a genus (Yucca) of liliaceous plants.

A genus of great trees related to the Bombax. There are two species, A. digitata, the baobab or monkey-bread of Africa and India, and A. Gregorii, the sour gourd or cream-of-tartar tree of Australia. Both have a trunk of moderate height, but of enormous diameter, and a wide-spreading head. The fruit is oblong, and fill…