536 GLOSSARY 



Metamorphic R/cks — Sedimentary rocks which have undergone alteration, 

 generally by the action of heat, subsequently to their deposition and 

 consolidation. 



Mollusca — One of the great divisions of the Animal Kingdom, including 

 those animals which have a soft body, usually furnished with a shell, 

 and in which the nervous ganglia, or centres, present no definite gen- 

 eral arrangement. They are generally known under the denomination 

 of " shell-fish "; the cuttle-fish, and the common snails, whelks, 

 oysters, mussels, and cockles, may serve as examples of them. 



Monocotyledons, or Monocotyledonous Plants — Plants in which the seed 

 sends up only a single seed-leaf (or cotyledon) ; characterized by the 

 absence of consecutive layers of wood in the stem (endogenous 

 growth), by the veins of the leaves being generally straight, and 

 by the parts of the flowers being generally in multiples of three. 

 {Examples, Grasses, Lilies, Orchids, Palms, &c.) 



Moraines — The accumulations of fragments of rock brought down by 

 glaciers. 



Morphology — The law of form or structure independent of function. 



Mysis-stage — A stage in the development of certain Crustaceans (Prawns), 

 in which they closely resemble the adults of a genus (.Mysis) belong- 

 ing to a slightly lower group. 



Nascent — Commencing development. 



Natatory — Adapted for the purpose of swimming. 



Nauplius-fonn — The earliest stage In the development of many Crustacea, 

 especially belonging to the lower groups. In this stage the animal 

 has a short body, with indistinct indications of a division into seg- 

 ments, and three pairs of fringed limbs. This form of the common 

 fresh-water Cyclops was described as a distinct genus under the name 

 of Nauplius. 



Neuration — The arrangement of the veins or nervures in the wings of 

 Insects. 



Neuters — Imperfectly developed females of certain social insects (such as 

 Ants and Bees), which perform all the labours of the community. 

 Hence they are also called zvorkers. 



Nictitating Membrane — A semi-transparent membrane, which can be drawn 

 across the eye in Birds and Reptiles, either to moderate the effects 

 of a strong light or to sweep particles of dust, &c., from the surface 

 of the eye. 



Ocelli — The simple eyes or stemmata of Insects, usually situated on the 

 crown of the head between the great compound eyes. 



(Esophagus — The gullet. 



Oolitic — ^A great series of secondary rocks, so called from the texture of 

 some of its members, which appear to be made up of a mass of small 

 egg-like calcareous bodies. 



Operctilum — A calcareous plate employed by many Mollusca to close the 

 aperture of their shell. The opercular valves of Cirripedes are those 

 which close the aperture of the shell. 



Orbit— The bony cavity for the reception of the eye. 



Organism — An organized being, whether plant or animal. 



Orthospermous — ^A term applied to those fruits of the Umbelliferae which 

 have the seed straight. 



Osculant — Forms or groups apparently intermediate between and connecting 

 other groups are said to be osculant. 



Ova— 'Eggs. 



Ovarium or Ovary {in Plants) — The lower part of the pistil or female organ 

 of the flower, containing the ovules or incipient seeds; by growth after 

 the other organs of the flower have fallen, it usually becomes con- 

 verted into the fruit. 



Ovigerous — Egg-bearing. 



Ovules (of Plants) — The seeds in the earliest condition. 



Pachyderms— A group of Mammalia, so called from their thick skins, and 



including the Elephant, Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, &c. 

 PalcBOSoic — The oldest system of fossiliferous rocks. 



