Band books

Ca*du"ce*us (?), n. [L.
caduceum, caduceus; akin to Gr. &?; a herald's
wand, fr. &?; herald.] (Myth.) The official staff or
wand of Hermes or Mercury, the messenger of the gods. It was
originally said to be a herald's staff of olive wood, but was
afterwards fabled to have two serpents coiled about it, and two
wings at the top.

Ca*du`ci*bran"chi*ate (?), a. [L.
caducus falling (fr. cadere to fall) + E.
branchiate.] (Zoöl.) With temporary
gills: -- applied to those Amphibia in which the gills do not
remain in adult life.

Ca*du"ci*ty (?), n. [LL.
caducitas: cf. F. caducité. See
Caducous.] Tendency to fall; the feebleness of old
age; senility. [R.]

[A] jumble of youth and caducity.

Chesterfield.

Ca*du"cous (?), [L. caducus falling, inclined
to fall, fr. cadere to fall. See Cadence.] (Bot.
& Zoöl.) Dropping off or disappearing early, as the
calyx of a poppy, or the gills of a tadpole.

Ca*duke" (?), a. [Cf. F.
caduc. See Caducous.] Perishable; frail;
transitory.


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