22 EXPLANATION OF TERMS 



Margin, that portion of a surface which is within the edge, 

 bounded on the inner side by the submargin, and consisting 

 of a more or less dilated imaginary line. 



Marginal cellules, the radial cellules. 



Marginated, surrounded by an elevated or attenuated margin. 



Mazilfofj&vts', one on each side of the mouth immediately be- 

 neath the mandibles, moving transversely, usually corneous 

 at base, and membranaceous or coriaceous at tip, and furnished 

 with one or two palpi. 



Maxillary palpi, or exterior palpi, articulated moveable filaments 

 near the middle of the dorsal edge of the maxillse ; in some 

 .Coleoptera there are two pairs, and are then distinguished into 

 internal and external, the former is biarticulate and incum- 

 bent on the back of the maxilla. 



Members, (artus) the exterior organs of locomotion taken col- 

 lectively, as well as the appendices of the trunk and abdomen. 



Membranaceous, thin, skinny and semitransparent like parch- 

 ment ; of a thin pliable texture. 



Meniscoidal, somewhat globular, with one side concave. 



Mentum, the chin; the lowest piece of the mouth, supporting 

 the ligula or tongue, and sometimes covering it in front. 



Metamorphosis, an alteration in the appearance of an insect, 

 owing to the development of parts previously concealed, by a 

 sudden vernantia ; the transformation from the imperfect or 

 larva state to the perfect insect ; it is imperfect, semicomplete, 

 or coarctate. 



Metathorax, the posterior portion of the stethidium on the 

 superior surface ; it is separated from the thorax and scutel by 

 sutures, and is particularly obvious in the Hymenoptera. See 

 dorsum. 



Miniatus, red, like red-lead. 



Modioliform, somewhat globular, truncated at both ends like 

 the nave of a wheel. 



Monadactyle, armed with a moveable nail which closes on the 

 tip ; it differs from chelate in having but one process. 



Monarsenous, that kind of polygamy in which one male suffices 

 for many females. 



Moniliform, (antennae) beaded like a necklace. See aristate 

 and perfoliate. 



Monogamous, propagating by the union of one male and one 

 female only. 



Monothclious, that kind of polygamy in which a female is fecun- 

 dated by many males. 



Mouth, the anterior and terminal part of the head, containing 

 the trophi. 



