gressory

comparative more gressory · superlative most gressory

1. rareGressorial.

   Characters. Bill awl-ſhaped, flattiſh, obtuſe, ſtrait, with broad briſtles at the baſe. / Feet greſſory.

   1793, [translator], “Appendix, I. Of systems in ornithology”, in Count de Buffon, The natural history of birds, volume IX, London: Printed for A. Strahan, and T. Cadell […]; and J. Murray […], Picæ. XVIII. Todus, page 394

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   The anterior pair of feet are compreſſed laterally, and ſerrated on one ſide, their extremities terminating in a ſingle nail. The four back feet are ſmooth and greſſory, being formed rather for advancing ſlowly than for performing quick movements.

   1792, “Natural history of insects. Chapter III”, in A new system of the natural history of quadrupeds, birds, fishes,—and insects, volume III: A new system of the natural history of fishes and insects, Edinburgh: Printed for Peter Hill […] and Thomas Cadell […], Section I. Order II.—Hemiptera. Genus II.—Mantis, or Soothſayer, page 409

   This order of birds is extremely numerous, comprehending twenty-three diftinct genera. Of theſe, eleven have ambulatory feet; that is, have three diſtinct toes before and one behind; eight have ſcanſory feet, or two toes before and two behind; and four have greſſory feet, that is, two fore toes connected, but without a membrane.

   [1794?], “Of birds”, in An universal system of natural history, including the natural history of man […], volume IV, London: Printed for the Proprietor, and sold by Champante and Whitrow […], Birds of the order of Picæ, page 197