ni 



MEOATREMA. 



MELANIA. 



75! 



of the feet, but UIOM of the posterior limb* present the name torrion 

 M the feet of Bradyptu tridaelyltu, although proceeding from a dif- 

 ferent caiue. In the Ai thu tonion ii produced by the particular 

 mode of the articulation of the leg with the astragalus; in the 

 Mtyalonyjr. according to M. Luud, the articulation it effected in the 

 ordinary manner, and it is the carpal lurface of this lait bone which. 

 by it* anomalous conformation, caused the contortion of all the reit 

 of the foot 



"The molar*, to the number of five above And four below, are 

 deprived of root* a* in the animals of the order Edentata ; in that 

 they differ from those of Megatherium, which are described a* having 

 two root*. 



'The Megalonyxe* were provided with a tail, which was exces- 

 sively strong and probably prehensile, and this, joined to the contorsion 

 of the hind feet and the enormous size of their claws, leads to the 

 belief, says M. Lund, that these animals, notwithstanding the enormous 

 weight of their body, were destined to climb, like their analogues in 

 the present creation. 



" This genus appears to have been very rich in species. M. Lund 

 already distinguishes five ; one of which, M. Cavieri, was of the stature 

 of a very stoat ox ; and this was not the largest specie*. 



" By the Megalonyxes a new genus (Spheitodon), which was of the 

 size of a hog, finds its place. 



"Still nearer to the Sloths must be arranged a new genus which 

 M. Land designate* under the name of Colodon, and which consists of 

 one specie*. 



" Returning to the consideration of the animals which he enumerates, 

 and which are comprised in the order Bruta, or Edentata of Cuvier, 

 M. I.und observes : 



" 1. That the family of Ant-Eatcrg properly so called, that of the 

 Tatous, and that of the Sloths, which, at the present epoch, are peculiar 

 to America, were also found at the preceding epoch. 



"2. That then, these same families were exclusively proper to 

 this part of the worl-J, as they are at the present epoch ; and that 

 this gives cause for thinking that no species of these three families 

 ha* hitherto been found in the diluvial beds of the other parts of 

 the world. 



" 3. That this great order of the Edentata was then more numerous 

 both in genus and species than it now is. 



" 4. That the greater part of these mammiferous genera which 

 once peopled the country have disappeared. 



" 5. That every species has been destroyed, two species only exhibit- 

 ing affinity, but not perfect identity, with the living species. 



" 0. Finally, that the animals of this order attained at that epoch 

 dimensions much greater than those which they now present 



" The family of the Sloths has now entirely disappeared in the basin 

 of the Rio da* Velhas, which is explained by the want of virgin forest*, 

 all this country being occupied by the form of vegetation called by the 

 Brazilians 'Campos.' It is probable that at the epoch when these 

 great animals lived it was otherwise, and that the country was then 

 covered by immcnes forests. Everything leads to the belief that they 

 led the same kind of life as their analogues of the present creation, 

 that is to say, that notwithstanding the colossal proportions of their 

 bodies, they sought their nourishment on tree*." (' Comptes Rendus.') 



MKOATRE'MA, Dr. Leach's name for those species of Pyrgoma 

 which have a large aperture. [CiRRirEDU.] 



MK'iKIM. [I'l-EUBOSECTIDi.] 



MKIONITE. [SCAPOLITE.] 



MELALEUCA (from n<\a\, black, and Afiwds, white), a genus of 

 riant* belonging to the natural order Myrtacea. It has the calyx- 

 tubs nearly hemispherical, the limb S-partite ; the petals 6 ; the 

 stamens numerous, combined into 5 elongated bundles, which alternate 

 with the petals ; the anthers incumbent ; the style filiform, the stigma 

 obtuse ; the capnule connate with and inclosed in the thickened tube 

 of the calyx, which U sessile on and adnate at its base to the flower- 

 boring branch, 8-celled, many-seeded; the seeds angular. The 

 species are trees or shrub* with alternate or opposite entire leaves, 

 equal at the bast, with flower* perfectly sessile, or somewhat combined 

 with the branch, arranged in spikes or heads, and of a white, yellowish, 

 or purplish colour. 



M. CajuptUi (Roxburgh), .V. minor (Smith), has the leaves alternate, 

 elliptic-lanceolate, acutisb, rather falcate, 3-5 -nerved; the flowers 

 rather ilwtant, in spikes, the racbis and calyxes villoua. This U the 

 specie* which yields the chief part of the oil brought to Europe 

 under the name of Csjeput Oil. It is a native of Amboyna and other 

 East India inlands. 



In it* action on the human frame Cajeput participate* in the 

 properties of other volatile oils, and is rubefacient externally, stimu- 

 lant and antinpumodic when taken internally. Mixed with other 

 ingredients it ha* proved a useful application to the joints in rheu- 

 matism and similar affections, while a few drops of it have often 

 relieved or warded off slight attacks of hysteria or epi'.epny. It by 

 no mean* realiwd the expectations entertained of it a* a remedy in 

 spasmodic cholera. 



M. lt*fodtdro, White-Tree, or Cajcput-Tree, has alternate long 

 lanceolate acuminated falcate 3-5-nervcd leaves; the flower-bearing 

 branches pendulous; the flowers -in spikes rather distant, which, as 

 well as the rachii, arc quite glabrous. It is a native of the East 



India Islands, and was at one time supposed to yield the oil of com- 

 merce. Roxburgh asserts that it ponesses little or no fragrance in 

 its leaves, and that it is seldom or never used for the distillation of 

 the oil which is used in the European markets. 



Upward* of 30 ipecie* of MelaUuca have been described, the 

 majority of which are native* of Australia. Many of them aro fine 

 plant* with beautiful blossoms, and very desirable for the conservatory 

 or greenhouse. They grow well in a mixture of peat, loam, and sand, 

 and may be propagated by cuttings, which will readily take root if 

 planted in a |>ot of sand and placed under a hand or bell-glass, 



(Lindley, Flora MtJica; Don, Dichlamydeotu Plaalt.) 



MELA'MPUS, De Montfort'a name for a genus of Turbinated 

 Afolluica (Conovula or Cunovuita of Lamarck), placed by Cuvier 

 next to the great genus Auricula, and by M. De Blaiuville and 

 M. Rang under the family Avriculacea. De Blainviile arranges both 

 Melamput (CvnortUa) and Turnniilln under Petlipa (Adnnmn). 



This genus has, like the A wicula, plaits on the columella or pillar 

 of the shell, but the external lip has no roll or bourrelet, and is 

 finely striated internally. The general contour of the shell U that of 

 a cone, of which the spire forma the base. 



M. conifonitit may be taken as an example. 



J/ liiiiip'ix coHifoniiig, a little enlarged. 



MELASfPY'RUM (from /*Aat, black, and vvptt, wheat), a genus 

 of Plants belonging to the natural order Scrophularinetr, or Scrophu- 

 lariacetr. It has a tubular 4-toothed calyx; a ringent corolla; the 

 upper lip compressed laterally with rcflexed margins ; the lower lip 

 furrowed, trifid ; the capsule oblong, obliquely acuminate, compressed ; 

 one or two seeds in each cell, smooth. The species are annual plants, 

 with opposite lanceolate linear entire leaves, with opposite usually 

 secund terminal flowers. Eight species are enumerated by Don, six 

 of which are European and two American. Of the six European four 

 are natives of Great Britain. 



M. crulatum, Crested Cow- Wheat, has the spikes densely imbricated, 

 4-siiled, and the bract* heart-shaped. It is a native of woods and 

 thickets in the eastern counties of England, and also generally of the 

 north and middle of Europe. 



M. arrow, Purple Cow-Wheat, has lax conical spikes, and ovate- 

 lanceolate attenuated bracts. The bracts are of a purple rose-colour; 

 the flowers yellow, variegated with rose-colour and purple. It is a 

 native in fields of wheat in the south of Europe, and is found in 

 Great Britain, though only rarely, in Norfolk and the \\a of Wight. 



M. pro/true has the flowers axillary, secund in distant pairs ; the 

 calyx closed ; the upper lip protruded. It has large pole-yellow 

 flowers. It is a native of Great Britain, but not a common plant. 

 There is one other British species, M, tylvaticum, with an open 

 and lips equal in length. It is a rare plant, and is found in alpine 

 wood*. M. tylraticum is the other British species. 



(Babingtou, Manual of British Botany ; Don, DicUamydeoul Plantt.) 



MELANCHLOK. [Inos.] 



MKLA'NIA, a genus of Gasteropodous tfollutca, placed by Lamarck 

 in his family Meluuiaus ; by M. Do Blainviile in his family Klli/itoi- 

 tomata [Ei.ursosTOMATA]; by Cuvier in hU order Pectiniiiranchi'itii, 

 between the genera 1/elicina and Kiaoa; and by M. Rang un.l.-r tin- 

 order last mentioned, and in the first family of it (Turbin6a <M' !>. 

 F(5russac), between the sub-genera 1'altulina and Kitsoa. 



Animal nd Shell of Mrlat.ia (/Vrra/i) aurila. 

 a, operculnm. 



The animal elongated, with a foot which is ordinarily short and not 

 thick; head proboscidiform, subconical, truncated, and terminated 



