ovis

[Lat.; cogn. with Sansc. avi; Gr. ois; Lith. awi - s; Slav oujza. ( Lewis & Short.).] 1. Zobl .: Sheep (q. v.); in modern taxonomy a genus of Bovide containing the genera Ovis and Capra of older authors, and so coextensive with Ovide (q. v.). The genera have been united, be cause, as intermediate forms were discovered, it ovum was impo ible to say where one genus ended and the other began. Horns in both sexes, or in males only; mam me, two; hoofs compre ed. The true goats are bearded, and small, rounded, spurious hoofs are present. Ovis aries is the Domestic Sheep, of which there are many varieties. The chief of these, and of the Wild Sheep, will be found described under their popular names. According to the views of recent naturalists, O. aries is descended from several distinct species; but 0. musimon and O. argali have considered, by writers of authority, as the original of the domesti cated species. 2. Palæont.: Not known earlier than the Post Pliocene age. ō-vi-săc, s. [Pref. ovi-, and Eng. sac.] Zool.: The egg-bag or membrane which invests or connects in one ma the eggs, spawn, or roe, of crustacea, spiders, insects, shell-fish, and other allied creatures. [PARKA.] ō-vō-, pref. [OVI-.] ō-void, ō-void-al, adj . [Lat. ovum=an egg; suff. -oid , -oidal .] Having the shape or appearance of an egg. Used in botany, ., of egg-shaped solids.