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- Zebu
The oldest civilized peoples, including the Indians, had no other Domestic Cattle than the Zeboe, or moreover, a breed that differs relatively little from them, as well as the long-horned breed of ancient Egyptians. Since the Zeboe beef is nowhere near in the wild, and since no bones of this animal have been found in the ancient layers of the earth, it is obvious that the Zeboe has evolved from other forms of Cattle. - Zebra with young
Zebra with young - Zebra with young
Zebra with young - Young Specimen of an African River Crab
- Young Persian Kitten
Young Persian Kitten - Young Half-breed (Buffalo-Domestic) Bull
Young Half-breed (Buffalo-Domestic) Bull - Yellowthroat
Yellowthroat The adult male of this species wears a black mask over his eyes and is only 5¼ inches long. The female lacks the mask but has a yellow throat, white belly and olive-brown head, back, wings and tail which identify the birds. They nest over a wide area, favorite habitat being bushy thickets near water. He is quick to resent any invasion of his privacy and uses a variety of scolding notes to let you know how unhappy he is. His movements are wren-like and hurried and his black eyes fairly sparkle to show his excitement. He soon vanishes into the undergrowth but you will have a chance to learn his call which sounds like “witchity, witchity, witchity,” or “witcheree, witcheree, witcheree,” usually repeated 3 times. - Yellow-shafted Flicker
Colaptes auratus People once called this bird a Yellow-hammer. Lots of folks still do, and it’s but one of the many names applied to this beautiful woodpecker. His brown-barred back, black crescent on the throat, spotted breast, white rump patch and bounding flight, his large size, his loud drumming, his posturing and his loud calls all point to this bird or, if you live in the west, the Red-shafted Flicker. The latter shows a reddish tint to the wings and tail where this bird shows yellow. Heads of males are marked differently, in that the western bird shows a red line extending down from the mouth, while the Yellow-shafted shows black lines. A flicker prefers ants to any other food, and nature has equipped him with a long, sticky tongue which permits him to explore anthills or tunnels in trees where these insects might be lurking. When ants are not available, he turns to other insects, fruit or berries, one of his favorites the seeds of the poison ivy. - Yellow-headed Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird Eastern birders are unfortunate for only on rare occasions do they have a chance to see and study this handsome bird. He is larger than the Red-winged Blackbird, with which he often is associated, but smaller than the Grackles. During migration, they join other members of their family in feed lots, pastures or fields and any mixed flock is worth inspecting. They are identified easily for no other bird has the black body, white wing patch and yellow head and breast. The female lacks wing markings and shows dusky, grayish-brown coloring with a yellowish tinge on lighter head markings. They walk with almost a strut, as if they were proud of their brilliant plumage. Yellow-headed Blackbirds nest in colonies and affix their bulky nests to tules and other vegetation which grow in the center of marshes and swamps in western areas. There seems to be a tendency to move eastward, for a few are nesting in the marshes of the upper Mississippi valley. Their song is distinctive and consists of a series of chuckles, squeaks and grating notes, all produced by what seems to be a great physical effort. The results hardly justify such a strain. - Yellow-green biting adder
Yellow-green biting adder - Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted Chat The Yellow-breasted Chat is not only the largest, but the most unwarbler-like of this colorful family. If you live near thickets of dense shrubbery, where brier tangles and brushy, low bushes grow in profusion, there you will find this bird. He prefers low, damp ground but does not overlook similar habitat on dry hillsides. His loud and varied song will let you know when he arrives. Each series of notes is followed by a long pause, and then another series, but on an entirely different pitch; clear-whistled notes, low grating tones, caws or reed-like tones all find a place in this bird’s song. - Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo This slim, long-tailed bird is far more common than people suspect for he seldom is seen. He prefers to move slowly thru the heavy foliage, peering under each branch and leaf for the leaf-eating worms which form his diet. Wooly worms, which other birds seem to shun, are relished by him. His long bill is a perfect tool for breaking into webs where he creates havoc with the wiggly inhabitants. Cuckoos are larger than Robins and their long tails make them look even longer than the 12¼ inches which they measure. They fly directly from the center of one tree to the next, thus giving us a chance to check the rufous coloring of the wings and the large white spots on the ends of their black tails. The back is dark gray while the breast and belly are white. The yellow lower bill, the rufous wings and larger white spots on the tail are the main difference between this and the slightly smaller Black-billed Cuckoo. Both have a series of clucking notes but the Yellow-billed Cuckoo song gets slower, then runs down the scale, different from his relative’s long efforts. - Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler The Yellow Warbler, commonly called “Wild Canary,” is the best-known member of the warbler family. Its breeding range extends from the northern part of Alaska, thru Canada, United States and into Mexico, and from coast to coast. It winters as far south as Peru. Unlike most warblers, this friendly little bird seems to enjoy being near people and may nest in some shrub or bush near your home. You will recognize him instantly for he is the yellowest of all our warblers, even in confusing fall plumage. The male shows pale, chestnut streaks on the throat, breast and sides. The female may show a few obscure markings, but not the distinct pattern worn by her mate. - Xenopsylla cheopis, male
- Wreathed Weaving Spider
The Wreathed Weaving Spider ( Theridium redimitum), which occurs quite commonly, especially in gardens, becomes at most 5 mM. long; this fat little spider inhabits all kinds of low-growing herbs and shrubs; here it spins (fig. 1) a few leaves together by irregularly oriented threads, on which the small animals that make up its food stick to. The mother attaches the spherical, bluish egg sac to a leaf (fig. 2), keeps watch next to it until the young have hatched, and continues to do so for the few days of their cohabitation. These beautiful spiders are very variable in color and drawing. Transparent and almost white in their early youth, spotted black only on the back of the abdomen; towards the end of June, in July and in August, they have taken on a pale yellow color, some plain, others with a stain on the abdomen, which can be pure pinkish red or partially greenish, circular or oval. In addition, the rim and a line across the center of the head-breast, 6 pairs of round dots on the abdomen, the tip of the probes and the shins are black. grab. [As translated from the Dutch by online translator ] - Wounded lion
[A drawing taken from a bas relief of the royal Assyrian lion hunt] - Woodpecker drilling a hole for a nest
The woodpeckers are carpenters; they not only bore holes in trees in search of food, but they also chisel out deep holes in which to deposit their eggs and rear their young. They generally build their nest in May, selecting an old apple tree in the orchard; the boring is first done by the male, who pecks out a circular hole; as the work progresses, he is occasionally relieved by the female. They both work with great diligence, and as the hole deepens they carry out the chips, sometimes taking them some distance to prevent discovery or suspicion. The nest usually requires a week to build, and when the female is quite satisfied she deposits her eggs, generally six in number and of a pure white color. - Wood turtle
Wood turtle - Wood Thrush
Wood Thrush To know the Wood Thrush is to love him. Unfortunately he seldom visits cities unless parks or other heavily-wooded areas are found within the borders. Forests, with a plentiful undercover, offer the seclusion which this bird demands. There you will hear the flute-like tones which make this bird famous as a singer. It is not a continued effort; each series of notes is followed by a rest, allowing you to absorb the full beauty of the rounded tones—then another, but completely different series, sometimes higher, sometimes lower, but always the same pure quality. Some think the Hermit Thrush is a better singer, but the Wood Thrush is a close competitor. - Wolves hunting a deer
Wolves hunting a deer - Wolves
Wolves - Wolf Head
Wolf Head - Wolf Head
Wolf Head - Wolf
Wolf - Wolf
Wolf - Wing of a Bird, Showing the Arrangement of the Feathers
The longest feathers or primaries (PR) are borne by the two fingers (2 and 3), and their palm-bones (CMC); the second longest or secondaries are borne by the ulna bone (U) of the fore-arm; there is a separate tuft (AS) on the thumb (TH). - Wilson’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler When you make this bird’s acquaintance, you will wonder why he was not called a “Black-capped Warbler,” for no name would be more fitting. In fact, many ornithologists now refer to him by that name. Those who do their birding in the Western United States might feel the same about the Pileolated Warbler, which is similar. Both birds show olive-green above and yellow below, with no wing marks or other distinguishing features, except the black cap worn by the males. Some females carry this mark faintly outlined, but it is lacking on the young. The western bird is slightly larger. - Wilson’s Snipe
Capella gallinago Wilson’s Snipe, frequently known as a “Jack Snipe,” is the most common of 3 species which have extremely long, straight bills. All feed by probing in soft mud where their sensitive bills soon locate and obtain their food. This bird prefers marshy areas near streams or ponds. When disturbed, he leaves the scene so rapidly that you might miss the erratic, zig-zag flight, the pointed wings, the stripes on his head, the brownish-striped plumage. You might even miss the orange tail, but you probably will hear the rasping note which he usually utters when he departs. The Woodcock, a similar species, feeds in dense cover and has bars across his crown, rounded wings and a chunky build. A third long-billed bird is the Dowitcher, which feeds in open, shallow water and is found often in small flocks. - Wilson’s Phalarope
Steganopus tricolor Phalaropes are unique. Unlike most birds, the female is more colorful, does most of the courting, leaves nest building, incubating and rearing of young to the long-suffering male. Her lone contribution to the rearing of the family is laying eggs. She does deserve some credit, however, for she remains in the area and will join the male in circling overhead when the nest is disturbed, both uttering a sort of nasal, trumpet-like toot. Wilson’s Phalarope is not only the largest phalarope, but prefers inland marshes, while the Red Phalarope and Northern Phalarope spend more time at sea. In breeding plumage, the female shows a distinctive black line down the side of the neck, starting in front of the eye and blending into a chestnut wash on the shoulders. Under parts and throat are white, wings gray with a gray line extending thru the cinnamon buff of the back. The male is grayer with a cinnamon wash on the neck. In fall, both birds show dark wings, white rump patch and light plumage. The long, needle-like bill and the whirling motion when swimming are good clues to identification in any season. When feeding in shallow water, these birds are active, always in a hurry and running from place to place. - Wildebeest
Wildebeest - Wild Cat shown at the Crystal Palace Cat Show, 1871
Wild Cat shown at the Crystal Palace Cat Show, 1871 - White-Eared Antelope (A. leucotes), Male, Central Africa
White-Eared Antelope - White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow White-crowned Sparrows are known only as migrants or winter residents to birders living east of the Great Plains. Westerners are more fortunate for White-crowns and the similar Gambel’s and Nuttall’s Sparrows nest in much of their area. When flushed from their feeding grounds, these birds will impress you by their alert appearance. The habit of erecting the crown feathers makes the head appear round and puffy, and brings out the beauty of the broad black and white stripes which surround the white crown. These birds have a gray throat and breast, 2 wing bars, grayish-brown backs with darker stripes. The feet and bill are pinkish. A white line over the eye of the White-crowned Sparrow does not extend to the beak, as it does on Gambel’s and Nuttall’s. Nuttall’s Sparrow has a yellow bill. - White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis Nuthatches are one of the few “upside-down” birds. Chickadees and titmice sometimes feed by hanging below a cone or some limb which they want to explore; woodpeckers and Brown Creepers may brace themselves beneath a limb, but nuthatches seem to feel more at ease, when coming down a tree headfirst. That must be an advantage for they may see food which the climbers overlook. It is amazing to see the ease with which they travel, never using their tails as props. The White-breasted Nuthatch, largest of the family, is about sparrow-size (6 inches), and shows a bluish-gray back, white under parts with blackish crown and nape. Beady black eyes are noticeable since they are surrounded by the white cheeks. These birds seem to favor deciduous trees rather than evergreens, the preferred habitat of the smaller Red-breasted Nuthatch. - White Persian - 'Lambkin 2'
White Persian - 'Lambkin 2' - White Persian 'Tim'
White Persian 'Tim' - White Persian 'Miss Whitey'
White Persian 'Miss Whitey' - White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Soaring overhead during migration, a flock of White Pelicans is a magnificent sight. These great birds weigh as much as 15 pounds, have a wingspread of 9 feet and a total length of more than 5 feet. Their legs are sturdy but short, the toes fully webbed. The bill is long and flat with a pouch beneath the lower mandible. Three contrasting colors make this bird easily identified. The bird is white except for the outer two-thirds of the wings where the end and rear half is black. The bill, pouch and feet are yellow or reddish-yellow. The head is carried well back, which rests the bill and pouch on the shoulders. They float high on the water and when surrounded by ducks and grebes, they look like aircraft carriers with a destroyer escort. - White Cat, winner of many prizes
White Cat, winner of many prizes - White cat - prize winner in 1879
White cat - prize winner in 1879 - White Angora
White Angora - What is it
Kittens watching a mouse - Well-marked Silver Black-banded Tabby
Well-marked Silver Black-banded Tabby - Waterbuck
Waterbuck - Waterbok (Antilope [Kobus] ellipsprymna, Ogilby)
- Water flea
The Water Fleas ( Cladocera ) are the second suborder next to the Leaf-legged. Early in the morning, but also on warm, quiet evenings, and moreover in cloudy skies, these little creatures, the largest of which are seldom longer than 6 mM, swim close to the surface of the water; but they go down to the depths as soon as the sun begins to shine on the water with some force. Some species, by the way, always prefer to stay close to the muddy soil than in higher water layers. It is not surprising that they have long attracted the attention of naturalists, as they usually populate still and slowly flowing water in great crowds. The Cladoceren and Copepods make, according to Leijdig, almost the only food from the most estimated Visschen der Bavarian mountain lakes and from Lake Constance, from the Roode Trout ( Salmo salvellinus ) and Blauwe Houtingen ( Coregonus Wartmanni ), whose catch is a means of subsistence for a large number of inhabitants of the lake districts. [As translated from the Dutch by online translator ] - Warbling Vireo
Warbling Vireo The Warbling Vireo is not colorful. If you happen to see his back, you will see he is a grayish olive-green, slightly grayer on the head. When looked at from below, and that is the way you generally see him, you may see a tinge of yellow on the white under parts. A white line over the eye is the only other marking. But don’t give up; you will note the slow, deliberate vireo movement. He loves to sing and soon you will hear a pleasing series of notes, all connected but each note on a different pitch; a wave of bird notes, not hurried but clear and musical. This song could be confused with that of the Purple Finch but the latter is slightly higher in pitch and faster. Unlike other vireos, he likes to nest in the high, deciduous trees which line the streets of cities and towns. Parks and farm homes also offer suitable habitat. The nest is a neat structure, placed near the end of a drooping branch on some well-developed tree; one which is growing in the open, for these small birds like plenty of room around their homes. The male is so proud of his home he often sings while taking his turn with the incubating. - Wandering Crab Spider
Wandering Crab Spider ( Thomisus viaticus ): in the background a specimen, which ejects a thread and another, which is suspended by the wind while hanging on a thread; in the foreground a male, b a female and c the eye-bearing part of the head-breast seen from behind. - Walrus, showing the upper incisors in the form of tusks
- Walrus skull, showing the powerful canine teeth
- Wall gecko
Wall gecko - Wading Birds
Wading Birds - Volvox
The Volvox is found in some canals and the like. It is one of the first animals to suggest the beginning of a body. It is a colony of a thousand or even ten thousand cells, but they are all cells of one kind. In multicellular animals the cells are of different kinds with different functions. Each of the ordinary cells (marked 5) has two lashes or flagella. Daughter colonies inside the Parent colony are being formed at 3, 4, and 2. The development of germ-cells is shown at 1. - Virginia Deer
Virginia Deer - Viper
Viper - Violets
The use of Oyle of Violets. Oyle of Violets, Cammomile, Lillies, Elder flowers, Cowslips, Rue, Wormwood, and Mint, are made after the same sort; Oyle of Violets, if it be rubbed about the Tempels of the head, doth remove the extream heat, asswageth the head Ache, provoketh sleep, and moistneth the braine; it is good against melancholly, dullnesse, and heavinesse of the spirits, and against swellings, and soares that be over-hot. - Vicuña
More graceful than the Lama,is the Vicuña ( Auchenia vicugna ). Because of its size it stands between the Lama and the Paco; however, it differs from both in the much shorter and crimped wool, which excels in fineness. The crown, the top of the neck, the trunk and the upper parts of the limbs have a peculiar, reddish-yellow color (vicuña or vigogne color); the underside of the neck and the inner surface of the limbs are ocher; the 12 cm. long chest hairs and lower body are white. - Vesper Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow Several kinds of sparrows can be found in open fields, along roadside fences and hedgerows, but the Vesper Sparrow is easiest to identify. If you should miss the chestnut patch on the bend of the wing or the white belly, bordered by fine lines, you still will notice the white outer-tail feathers. The back is a light grayish-brown with dark stripes. - very Light Blue Tabby, 'Sylvie'.
very Light Blue Tabby, 'Sylvie'. - Vertical section of the skull, showing the sinuses of the dura mater
Vertical section of the skull