MIMOSA 



220 



M1NTAKA 



i unlike in structure to be mistaken for each 

 other: almost confined to the tropics. Laws 

 of M. in animals: (1), usually of others in 

 same locality; (2), usually by animals less 

 numerous and often rare ; (3), usxially of 

 animals more numerous. In Mammalia the 

 only example is the Malay Cladobates, which 

 mimics the squirrel. In plants = Pseudo- 

 morphism : usually between plants that are 

 far apart. 



Mimosa, (mi-m5'za). [Gk. mimos, imitator.] 

 A plant belonging to Leguminacese : J/. 

 pudica, a sensitive plant. M. gum=A.ca.cia. 

 gum. 



Mimotannic acid = C^H^O^ : a variety of 

 tannin, q.v. 



Mimulus, (mim'u-lus). [Gk. mimo, ape.] 

 Monkey-flower : an herb belonging to Scro- 

 phulariaceaj; named from the shape of the 

 flowers. 



Mimus, (mi'mus). [Gk. mimos, an imitator.] 

 Mocking-bird: a bird belonging to Meru- 

 lidse which can imitate the cries of other 

 birds. 



Mineral, (min'er-al). [The French word.] 

 Inorganic substances of natural origin and 

 homogeneous composition, such as quartz, 

 felspar, &c. ; ice and coal are both some- 

 times considered as minerals. M. acids: 

 such as sulphuric, phosphoric, nitric, &c. 

 M. alkali=Sodsi, q.v. M. blue: a mixture 

 of Prussian blue and clay. M. carbon: 

 charcoal found with coal. M. caoutchouc 

 Elaterite: a solid variety of bitumen. M. 

 chameleon = Manganic acid ; named from 

 changing colour when diluted with water. 

 M. food-stuffs: water and salts of various 

 metals. M. green: a pigment obtained 

 from carbonate of copper; as also called 

 Bcheele's green. M. oils: naptha, petroleum, 

 &c.,q.v. M.pitch= Asphalt, q.v. M.purple 

 =Purple of Cassius, q.v. M. tallow=Ua.t- 

 chettite: a solid variety of bitumen. M. 

 *ar=Maltha: a viscid variety of bitumen. M. 

 veins: beds, usually thin, of metallic ores; 

 fissures in which are accumulations of 

 chemical and mechanical deposits. M. 

 icaters contain lime, magnesia, alumina, 

 iron, and silicic soda, in combination with 

 sulphuric, carbonic, and hydrochloric acids. 

 M. 3pox=Petrolene, q.v. 



Mineralogy, (min-er-al'6-ji). [Mineral, q.v.; 

 Gk. logos, discourse.] A sub-division of 

 Geology: the science of the composition and 

 properties of minerals. 



Minerals, groups of 

 Sulphides. 

 Oxides. 

 Silicates. 



Tantalates, Niobates, &c. 

 Arseniates and Phosphates. 

 Sulphates. 

 Carbonates. 

 Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides, and 



Iodides. 

 Coal. 



Soft M.: asbestos, chalcedony, tremolite, 

 which are flexible when in the ground. 



Mineralization, (min-er-al-i-za'shun). [Mine- 



ral, q.v.] The replacement by a mineral, 

 such as silica, of the particles of an organic 

 body. 



Mine, (rain). [The French word.] 1. An 

 excavation made in the earth for the ex- 

 traction of coal, metallic ores, &c. 2. An 

 excavation made for the purpose of de- 

 stroying a fort, &c., by the explosion of 

 gunpowder, &c. , beneath it. 



Miniature, (min'i-a-tur). [The French word.] 

 A small painting; especially a 

 small portrait painted on ivory. 



Minie, (min'i). [Captain Minie.] 

 M. ball: a partially hollow 

 cylinder which is expanded to 

 fit the rifle at the time of firing 

 by an iron wedge. M. rifle: one fS 

 adapted to the discharge of th 

 Minie ball. ; Minie ball. 



Minim, (min'im). [L. minimus, the least.] 



1. A musical note equal to 



half a semibreve or two -*-< 



crotchets. 2. A small drop r^- 



of any liquid. 



Minimum thermometer for H 



registering the lowest tern- Minim, 

 peratures reached in a given time. cf. 

 Maximum thermometer. 



Minium, (min'i-um). [The Latin name.] 1. 

 =Red Lead: a red, greasy, opaque mineral, 

 chiefly oxide of lead. 2.=Cinnauar: a, mine- 

 ral, chiefly sulphuret of mercury. 



Mink, (mingk)=Minx, q.v. 



Minnow, (min'no). [F. menu, little. ]=Leti- 

 ciscusphoxinus: a small 

 fresh-water fish. 



Minor, (ml 'nor). [L. , 

 minor, less.] M. planets 

 =Asteroids: small 

 planets, 139 in number, Minnow. 



October 1874; all discovered during the 19th 

 century; the 1st on 1st January 1801; all 

 between Mars and Jupiter. The nearest is 

 200, and the most distant 300, millions of 

 miles from the sun. The largest is 200, and 

 the smallest 20, miles in diameter. M. axis: 

 at right angles to the major axis or diameter. 

 v. Ellipticity. M. chord: less by a semitone 

 than the corresponding major chord. 



Minotaur, (min'o-tavvr). [Minotaurus, the 

 Latin name.] A fabulous 

 animal said to have the 

 head of a bull on a human 

 body, or vice versa. 



Minotto battery, (min-ot'to). |j 

 A galvanic battery: zinc in r^ 

 sand above, and copper in 

 solution of sulphate of cop- Minotaur, 

 per below, in the same glass jar, filled up 

 with soft water. 



Mint, (mint). [1. A.-S. mynet, money. 2. 

 Minte, the A.-S. word.] 1. A place where 

 money is coined. 2. Mentha: an herb be- 

 longing to Lamiaceje. Bergamot M. =Mentha 

 aquatica. Cat M. =Nepeta cataria. Horse 

 M. =Mentha syl vestris. Pepper M. =Mentha 

 piperita. Spear Af.=Mentha viridis. 



Mintaka=0rionis: the western star in the 

 belt of Orion. 



