Word Study
altrices
CIDE DICTIONARY
altrices, n. pl. [L., nourishes, pl. of altrix.].
Nursers, -- a term applied to those birds whose young are hatched in a very immature and helpless condition, so as to require the care of their parents for some time; -- opposed to præcoces . [1913 Webster]
For further exploring for "altrices" in Webster Dictionary Online