pheromone a sex attractant released by male and female.
Pieridae the butterfly family of whites, sulfurs, and marbles, each resembling its namesake.
proboscis the double-coiled tongue, which is extended to suck up nectar or water.
prothorax the first or frontmost of the three thoracic segments to which the forelegs are attached.
pupa the quiet, metamorphic stage that grows into a butterfly or moth.
reniform spot a kidney-shaped spot on the fore- wing, similar to an orbicular spot.
skipper once thought to be a link between butterflies and moths, actually a small, quick-flying, short- winged butterfly.
sphragis a device deposited by a male moth on the abdomen of a female to prevent her from mating with another male.
spinneret the silk-spinning organ near the mouth of a caterpillar.
thorax the middle of the three body sections consisting of the prothorax, the mesothorax, and the metathorax.
underwing a large family of moths, recognized by their hind wings, which are all black or brightly colored with black bands; the forewings resemble the bark of trees.
venation the pattern formed by branching veins in wings, helpful in identification.
WHALES
ambergris a waxy substance formed in the intestines of sperm whales and used in the manufacture of perfumes.
baleen in baleen whales, the comblike plates hanging from the palate that strain out small fish and crustaceans.
baleen whale a toothless whale that eats plankton. blowhole the nostril(s) on top of the head. breaching jumping out of the water. calf a juvenile whale.
cetacean the order of fishlike aquatic mammals, including whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
cetology the study of whales, porpoises, and dolphins.
dorsal fin the stabilizing fin on the top of the back of many species.
finning of a whale on its side, slapping the water with its fin.
flukes the horizontal tail fins.
Jonah biblical character who survived three days in the belly of a whale.
lobtailing raising the flukes high out of the water then slapping them down hard on the water.
mysticeti "mustached whales"; the suborder of baleen whales, with 10 species known.
odontoceti the suborder of toothed whales, with more than 66 species known.
orca the species of killer whales.
pod a school of whales.
right whale once considered by whalers as the "right" whale to catch because it is slow and floats when dead.
scrimshaw the decorating and carving of whale bones and teeth.
sonar the use of sound by some whales to locate objects obscured in dark or murky water; echoloca- tion.
sounding diving.
spermaceti a waxy, fatty substance taken from the heads of sperm whales and used for making candles, ointments, and cosmetics.
spy-hop to stick the head upright out of the water.
stranding stranding or beaching in shallow waters.
zeuglodon a prehistoric forerunner of the whale from the Eocene epoch, 50 million years ago.
RCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE TERMS
abutment the mass of masonry that receives the thrust of an arch or vault.
acanthus Mediterranean plant whose leaves are represented as decoration on the capitals of Corinthian and composite columns.
allegory any symbolic sculpture.
amphiprostyle having columns only at the front and back of a temple or a templelike building.
amphistylar having columns along both sides of a temple or a templelike building.
anteroom a room next to a larger, more important room. Also known as an antechamber.
arabesques decorative acanthus scrolls, swags, candelabrum shafts, and animal and human figures appearing on the pilasters and panels of Roman and Renaissance architecture. Also, decorative geometric designs appearing on same.
arcade a series of arches on raised columns; also, a covered walk with such arches.
arcading a line of columned arches represented as decorative relief against a wall.
arcature arcading or miniature arcading.
arch the curved supporting structure of masonry spanning an opening.
arch brick a wedge-shaped brick used in an arch or any circular masonry construction. Also known as compass brick, radial brick, and voussoir brick.
architrave in classical orders, the lowest member of the entablature; the common beam that spans a series of columns.
arcuated having arches.
ashlar any type of squared building stone.
astylar without columns; a facade lacking columns or pilasters of any kind.
atlas a figure of a man used in place of a supporting column.
backing brick a lower-quality brick used behind face brick.
balconet a false balconet projecting out slightly from a window and intended only for decoration.
balloon framing in a wooden building, studwork that extends the full height of the frame from floor to roof.
baluster any one of the vertical posts supporting a stair handrail or other railing.
balustrade an entire railing system, including rail, balusters, and other components.
banister the handrail of a staircase.
bargeboard a decorative board hanging from the projecting end of a roof and covering the gables; the older versions are elaborately carved. Also known as gableboard and vergeboard.
barrel ceiling a semicylindrical ceiling.
barrel vault a masonry vault with a semicylindrical roof.
bar tracery within the arch of a gothic window, the interlocking stone forming a decorative pattern and filled with glass.
basket weave a checkerboard pattern of bricklaying.
bas-relief low relief or protrusion of a carving, embossing, or casting.
bay window a window set in a protruding bay.
bead molding a strip of metal or wood used around a pane of glass to keep it in place. Also, any convex, decorative molding.
belvedere a rooftop pavilion providing an excellent view.
blindstory a floor level without windows.
blindwall a wall unbroken by doors or windows. Also known as a dead wall.
boss a carved ornament placed at the intersection of beams, ribs, or groins.
bowstring beam a girder or truss having a curved or bowed member and a straight member to tie it together.
bow window a window in a rounded or semicylin- drical bay. Also known as a compass window.
brick nogging the laying of bricks in the spaces of a timber frame.
brownstone a brown or reddish brown sandstone used in the facades of many eastern U.S. apartment houses in the 19 th century.
buttress an exterior mass of masonry bonded into or angled against a wall to add strength and support.