388 GLOSSARY. 



LEPIDOPTERA (Gr. lepis, a scale ; pteron, a wing). An order of Insects, com- 

 prising Butterflies and Moths, characterised by possessing four wings which 

 are usually covered with minute scales. 



LEPIDOSIREN (Gr. lepis, a scale ; seiren, a siren the generic name of the Mud- 

 eel or Siren lacertina). A genus of Dipnoous fishes, comprising the " Jiud- 

 fishes." 



LEPIDOSTROBUS (Gr. lepis, a scale ; strobiles, a fir-cone). A genus founded on 

 the cones of Lepidodendron. 



LEPT^NA (Gr. leptos. slender). A genus of Brachiopods. 



LlNQULA (Lat. linaula, a little tongue). A genus of Brachiopods. 



LYCOPODIACK.-E (Gr. lupos, a wolf; pous, foot). The group of Cryptogarcic 

 plants generally known as "Club-mosses." 



MACH.ERACANTHUS (Gr. machaira, a sabre ; acantha, thorn or spine). An ex- 

 tinct genus of Fishes. 



MACHAIRODUS (Gr. machaira, a sabre ; odous, tooth). An extinct genus of 

 Carnivora. 



MACROTHERIUM {Gr. makros, long: therion. beast). An extinct genus cf 

 Edentata. 



MACRURA (Gr. makros, long ; oura, tail). A tribe of Decapod Crustaceans with 

 long tails (e.g. , the Lobster, Shrimp, &c. ) 



;MAMMALIA (Lat. tnamma, the breast). The class of Vertebrate animals which 

 suckle their young. 



MANDIBLE (Lat. mandibulum, a jaw). The upper pair of jaws in Insects ; also 

 applied to one of the pairs of jaws in Crustacea and Spiders, to the beak of 

 Cephalopods, the lower jaw of Vertebrates, &c. 



MANTLE. The external integument of most of the Mollusca, which is largely 

 developed, and forms a cloak in which the viscera are protected. Techni- 

 cally called the " pallium." 



MANUS (Lat. the hand). The hand of the higher Vertebrates. 



MARSIPOBRANCHII (Gr. marsipos, a pouch ; bragchia, gill). The order of 

 Fishes comprising the Hag-fishes and Lampreys, with pouch-like gills. 



MARSUPIALIA (Lat. marsupium, a pouch). An order of Mammals in which the 

 females mostly have an abdominal pouch in which the young are carried. 



MASTODON (Gr. mastos, nipple ; odous, tooth). An extinct genus of Elephant- 

 ine Mammals. 



MEGALONYX (Gr. megas, great ; onux, nail). An extinct genus of Edentate 

 Mammals. 



MEGALOSAURUS (Gr. 'inegas, great ; saura, lizard). A genus of Deinosaurian 

 Reptiles. 



MEGATHERIUM (Gr. megas, great ; therion, beast). An extinct genus of 

 Edentata. 



MESOZOIC (Gr. mesos, middle ; and zoe, life). The Secondary period in Geology. 



MICROLESTES (Gr. mikros, little ; lestes, thief). An extinct genus of Triassic 

 Mammals. 



MILLEPORA (Lat. mitte, one thousand ; porus, a pore). A genus of " Tabulate 

 Corals." 



MIOCENE (Gr. melon, less ; kainos, new). The Middle Tertiary period. 



MOLARS (Lat. mola, a mill). The " grinders" in man, or the teeth in diphyo 

 dont Mammals which are not preceded by milk-teeth. 



MOLLUSCA (Lat. mollis, soft). The sub-kingdom which includes tlie Shell-fish 

 proper, the Polyzoa, the Tunicata, and the Lamp-shells ; so called from the 

 generally soft nature of their bodies. 



MOLLUSCOIDA (Mollusca; Gr. eidos, form). The lower division of the Mol- 

 lusca, comprising the Polyzoa, Tunicata, and Brachiopoda. 



MONOGRAPTUS (Gr. monos, single ; grapho, I write). A genus of Graptolites. 



MYLODON (Gr. mulos, a mill ; odous, tooth). An extinct genus of Edentate 

 Mammals. 



.MYRIAPODA or MYRIOPODA (Gr. murios, ten thousand ; podes, feet). A class 

 of Arthropoda comprising the Centipedes and their allies, characterised by 

 their numerous feet. 



