Herpetologist

One versed in herpetology. Herpetology, n. [Gr. herpetos, a reptile; logos, a discourse.] ( Zool.) That branch of the science which treats of reptiles. H. has received the attention of nat uralists both in ancient and modern times. Linnæus gave much study to the subject, and Ray devoted considerable time to it. Lacépède, Brongniart, Latreille, and Daudin, also contributed to its advancement in the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century. In later times the principal writers on H. have been Schlegel, Gray, Müller, Owen, Aga iz, and others. Additional interest is added to the study of this branch of science on account of the numerous fo il remains of reptiles belonging to former geological periods which have been found. Many of these po e extraordinary characters, and are of immense size. Until lately, the Batrachia, or Amphibia, have always been included with the reptiles; consequently, in most works on H. a description of them is to be found. In this work they are separated in a distinct cla , as proposed by Prof. Aga iz, who, in his E ay on Cla ification (1857), insists on the separation of the amphibians from the reptiles by the different manner in which their structural plan is carried out; the former breathing by lungs or gills, undergoing metamorphosis, laying a large number of small eggs, and having a naked skin,-while the latter are covered with horny scales, lay few and comparatively large eggs, breathe by lungs, and undergo no marked transformation. See BATRACHIA and REPTILES. Her'polhode, n. [A word coined from the Gr. herpo, I wind along, polos, an axis, and hados, a road.] ( Math.) A plane transcendental curve, employed first by Poinsot in his graphic representation of the motion of a body around a fixed point. It is the locus of the point of contact with a fixed plane of an ellipsoid movable around its fixed centre. breeding-season, when they congregate in large flocks, Herre'ra, FRANCESCO, el Frejo, (the elder,) an eminent IMG:content-0573.jpg:[graphic] they are generally seen alone. Their food is nearly entirely composed of fish, and they will be seen for hours standing by the side of ponds and streamlets, watching for their prey, which they catch by a single dart of their powerful beak. Like the rooks, they build their nests on trees with sticks, lined with dried gra , wool, and other warn i materials, (Fig. 1282.) The female lays from 4 to 6 eggs, of a pale greenish-blue color. The H. is largely represented in America; and one of the largest Fig . 1283. THE GREAT BLUE HERON, ( Ardea Herodias .) species, the Great BlueH., or Crane, Ardea Herodias , (Linn.,) (Fig. 1283.) is common in the United States. It measures upwards of 5 feet in length; the beak is 8 inches long, and of a brown color, inclining to yellow on the sides; on the back of the head is a long-feathered crest; the space between the beak and eye is naked, and of a pale-yellow; all the upper parts of the body, with the belly, tail, and legs, are brown; the quills black; the neck, breast, and thighs rufous. Like the other species, it frequents the borders of the lakes and rivers, and feeds on reptiles and small fishes. When wounded, it at once prepares for defence; and the dog or man who comes within reach is sure to receive a severe wound; and the danger is greater as these birds generally aim at the eye. Her'on Isles, a group of islands in the Gulf of Mexico, S. of the mouth of Mobile Bay; Lat. 30° 12′ N., Lon. 88° W.