The Mysterious Island, Jules Verne [inspiring books for teens TXT] 📗

PTEROPODA. A class of mollusks which live In the open sea, and have a pair of flippers or wings, by which they pass rapidly through the water.

PULP. The common name for marine animals of the genus octopus, such as the cuttle-fish. They have eight feet or arms around the head, with which they swim, creep, and seize their prey. It is the Pieuvre of Victor Hugo.

PUZZOLAN. Fine volcanic ashes, which harden under water, forming a kind of cement.

PYROXYLINE. Called also gun-cotton. It burns In the open air with a flash, though without smoke or report; but It is violently explosive when fired in a confined space.

QUADRUMANA. Animals having four hands, as apes, baboons, etc.

QUININE. The most important of the vegetable alkaloids found In the cinchona (see CINCHONIA). It is one of the most valuable antiperiodics and febrifuges known.

RECRUDESENCE. The state of becoming sore again.

RINFORDZANDO. A musical sign denoting an Increase of sound. Usually expressed by the abbreviation rf.

RUMINANT. An animal that chews the cud.

SAGOIN. A species of sapajo. The squirrel monkey; so called on account of its hairy tail.

SALICIN. A white and very bitter substance, obtained from the bark of the willow and other trees.

SAPAJOS. The proper name for tailed monkeys, as distinguishing them from apes, baboons and gorillas, which are tailless.

SEXTANT. An Instrument for measuring angles by reflection.

SPHENISCUS. Penguins; a sub-family of auks. Oceanic birds remarkable for their short legs, very short wings—which are useful only In swimming; and their upright position when at rest.

STEARINE. The most abundant of the solid constituents of fats and oils. Also a popular name for stearic acid, used in candles.

SUCCEDANEOUS. Supplying the place of something else.

TALUS. A sloping heap of fragments accumulated at the foot of a steep rock, from the face of which they have been broken off by the action of the weather.

TETRA. Tetraonieda, or grouse. The bird here described resembles the pinated grouse, or prairie-chicken.

TINAMONS. A family of birds belonging to the order gallinæ. They are about the size of quail.

TOURACO-LORIES. Climbing birds of the parrot family.

TRAGOPANS. A large species of pheasant.

TUFA. A name given to volcanic dust, cemented by the Infiltration of water into a porous rock.

[Illustration: Lincoln Island]

Publication Date: 02-03-2018

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