in zoology, a genus of birds of the order piciformes. The bill is short, roundish, and pointed; the nostrils concave and naked; the tongue very long and cylindrical; there are two fore and two hind claws. There is only one species, the torquilla, wry-neck, which is a native of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and is often seen in Britain. It is ash-coloured above, with light black and brown strokes. Beneath light brown, with black spots. Tail ash-colour, with four black bars. Weight 1½ oz. Irides hazel. Length 7 inches. Migrates.

Z.

Z, or z, the 24th and last letter, and the 19th consonant of our alphabet; the sound of which is formed by a motion of the tongue from the palate downwards and upwards to it again, with a shutting and opening of the teeth at the same time. This letter has been reputed a double consonant, having the sound ds; but some think with very little reason: and, as if we thought otherwise, we often double it, as in puzzle, muzzle, &c. Among the ancients, Z was a numeral letter, signifying 2000; and with a dash added atop, Z signified 2000 times 2000, or 4,000,000.

In abbreviations this letter formerly stood as a mark for several sorts of weights; sometimes it signified an ounce and a half; and very frequently it stood for half an ounce; sometimes for the eighth part of an ounce, or a dram Troy weight; and it has in earlier times been used to express the third part of an ounce or eight scruples. ZZ were used by some of the ancient physicians to express myrrh, and at present they are often used to signify zinzibor or ginger.