cypsela

[Gr. kypselē =any hollow ve el.] Bot.: A kind of fruit placed by Lindley under his cla Syncarp i or Compound Fruit. It is one seeded, one-celled, indehiscent, with the integuments of the seed not cohering with the endocarp. In the ovarian state it evinces its compound nature cypselidæ by the presence of two or more stigmas, but at last it is unilocular, with only one ovule. It is generally called an achene, but as that term has been used in different senses, Lindley prefers cypsela. Example, the fruits of the Compos itæ. çyp-sěl-i-dæ, s. pl. [Lat. cypsel ( us ), and fem. pl. adj. suff. -idœ.] Ornith.: A family of birds, tribe Fi irostres. It consists of birds, the affinity of which, in general characters, to the Swallows all must recognize. They differ, however, in having all the four toes pointed forward, in having longer and narrower wings, in the structure of the trachea, . [CYPSELUS.] çp-sěl-ŭs, s . [Lat. cypsellus, the spelling of which it will be observed has been altered in the modern genus; Gr. kypselos =the Sand-martin.] Ornith.: A genus of Birds, the typical one of the family Cypselide (q. v.). Cypselus apus is the Common European Swift. It has a forked tail, is blackish-brown in color, with a grayish-white throat, It flies with amazing rapidity, with a loud screaming voice; sometimes careering in small parties round steeples or other elevated objects. It is migratory, like the Swallows, going off earlier in the autumn than they. C. pelagic a is the Common American Swift, or Chimney Swallow .