(Encyclopedia) Opie, John, 1761–1807, English portrait and historical painter. Opie showed a remarkable talent as a young man. He became the protégé of the poet John Wolcot, and enjoyed a brief…
(Encyclopedia) Wall, Richard, 1694–1778, Spanish statesman. Born in France of Irish parents, Wall entered the Spanish military service as a young man and later held important diplomatic posts. He…
Growth ringsComplete babyStages of growthSome of the most exciting fossil finds over the last fifty years have been those that have something to do with young dinosaurs – their nests, eggs, or…
PARASITIC FLUKEA LONG LIFEMETAMORPHOSISFIND OUT MOREThe life cycle of an animal consists of all the stages from the start of one generation to the beginning of the next. For many insects, it…
(Encyclopedia) molting, periodical shedding and renewal of the outer skin, exoskeleton, fur, or feathers of an animal. In most animals the process is triggered by secretions of the thyroid and…
(Encyclopedia) Elgar, Sir Edward WilliamElgar, Sir Edward Williamĕlˈgär [key], 1857–1934, English composer. He received his training from his father, who was an organist, music seller, and amateur…
(Encyclopedia) racer, name for several related swift, slender snakes, especially those of the genus Coluber. All of the racers are nonpoisonous, nonconstricting, day-active snakes. The black racer, C…
(Encyclopedia) Ransom, John Crowe, 1888–1974, American poet and critic, b. Pulaski, Tenn., grad. Vanderbilt Univ. and studied at Oxford as a Rhodes scholar. He is considered one of the great stylists…
(Encyclopedia) skink, a lizard of the family Scincidae, a large, diverse group found in a range of environments in temperate and tropical regions throughout most of the world. Skinks are generally…
