LEP 



425 



LET 



LEOP'ARD. In zoology, the Felii ieopar- 

 *, Lin., from Africa. Similar to the 

 panther, but has ten rows of smaller 

 spots. It is also smaller than the pan- 

 ther, but larger than the ounce. 



LEP'ADITIS, the goose-barnacle ; sub- 

 genus of Cirripedes, the species of which 

 are distinguished by a tendinous andccn- 

 tractile tube, fixed by its base to some 

 solid marine substance, supporting a com- 

 pressed shell, consisting of valves united 

 to each other by membrane. 



LE'PAS, a genus of multivalve marine 

 shells, inhabited by a triton, known po- 

 pularly by the name of barnacles. Name 

 XErroj, a. limpet. The genus is subdivided 

 into balaniles, or acorn-barnacles, and 

 Lepadites or goose barnacles. Thirty-two 

 species are described. 



LEPID'ICM, the Dittande r or Peppertcort : 

 a genus of herbaceous plants. Tetrady- 

 namia Siliculosa. Name from Ajrr/?, a 

 scale, in allusion to its supposed usefulness 

 in cleansing the skin from scales and im- 

 purities. Most of the species are hardy. 



LEPID'OIDS, a family of extinct fishes 

 found in the oolitic series, remarkable for 

 their large rhomboidal bony scales, which 

 were of great thickness, and covered with 

 enamel: hence the name from fame, a 

 scale, and utiof , like. The scales appear to 

 have been fitted together like roofing tiles. 



LEPIDOP'TERA, from JLET/J. a scale, and 

 jrrE^av, a wing ; scaly- winged insects. The 

 tenth order of insects in Cuvier's arrange- 

 ment, comprising butterflies, moths, and 

 sphinxes. The scales are attached so 

 slightly to the wings, that they are re- 

 moved by the slightest touch of the finger, 

 to which they adhere like farinaceous 

 dust. Epithet Lepidopterous. 



LEPIS'M.V, a genus of apterous insects of 

 the order Thysanoura, Cuv., and the type 

 of the family Lepismente, Latr. Subgenera, 

 Machilis, Lat. , and Lepisma, Lin. Several 

 of the species conceal themselves in cracks 

 and in the framework of windows, ward- 

 robes, &c. Name from /j-r;s> a scale, 

 the body being covered with small shin- 

 ing scales. 



LEp'RosY,from XEir^e?, scaly. This name 

 has been given to several diseases, but is 

 now restricted to a common form of cu- 

 taneous disease, characterised by scaly 

 patches, generally of a circular form. 



LEPTOCEPHALI'U*, Leptocephalus the 

 type. A family of fishes remarkable for 

 the smallness of the head. 



LEprocEPH'ALus.agenusof anguilliform 

 fishes, the L. morisii, Gm., inhabits the 

 coast of France and England, but all the 

 other known species inhabit the seas of 

 hot climates, and are all thin as paper 

 mod transparent as glass, so that even the 

 kdleton it not visible. Name from ^nrrtf, 



slender, and xiQotXos , head, the head be- 

 ing in particular remarkably small. 



LE'PUS, the hare. 1. In zoology, agenog 

 of Mammalia; order Rodentia. The genus 



comprehends the hares and rabbits. 



2. In astronomy, a constellation of the 

 southern hemisphere. 



L'ERMITE (OISEAU), a constellation 

 formed by M. Monnier under the southern 

 scale of the celestial balance. 



LE ROI LE VEUT, Fr. the sovereign as- 

 sents. The form of royal assent to the 

 passing of bills in parliament, pronounced 

 by the clerk. 



LE'SE-MAJESTY. Any crime committed 

 against the sovereign power in a state. 



LES'TRIS, a genus of birds separated from 

 the gulls of Illiger, and named from 

 t-Wr/is, a robber, because they pursue 

 the small gulls with singular ferocity to 

 rob them of their food. See LARVS. 



LE'THE, A^ft?, oblivion ; a mythological 

 name of one of the rivers of hell. Its 

 waters, according to the fictions of the 

 poets, make those who drink it entirely 

 forget whatever is past. 



LET'TER, Lat. litera. 1. Amark or cha- 

 racter written, printed, or engraved ; 

 used as the representative of a sound or 

 articulation of the human organs of 

 speech. Hence a letter is the first ele- 

 ment of written language, as a simple 

 sound is the first element of spoken lan- 

 guage. Sounds are addressed to the ear, 

 letters to the eye. 2. A written com- 

 munication from one person to another 

 at a distance: the medium of epistolary 

 correspondence. 3. A type, or collec- 

 tively, types. 



LETTER or ATTORNEY, a document or 

 writing, whereby a person constitutes 

 another to do a lawful act in his stead, as 

 to receive debts, &c. 



LETTER OF CREDIT, a letter written by 

 a merchant or banker to his correspondent 

 abroad, requesting him to credit tlie 

 bearer to a certain specified amount. 



LETTER OF LICENCE, an instrument or 

 writing granted by a person's creditors, 

 allowing him a certain time for the pay- 

 ment of his debts, by whidi means he is 

 enabled to prosecute his business without 

 legal molestation. 



LETTER OF MARQUE, an extraordinary 

 commission granted to commanders of 

 merchant-ships, or so commissioned, is 

 called a letter of marque. 



LETTER MISSIVE, a letter sent out of 

 Chancery in a process of la w against a peer. 



LETTERS-PATENT (overt or open), vritings 

 sealed with the Great Seal of England, 

 and so called because they are open with 

 the great seal affixed to them. Letters- 

 patent are granted to authorize a man to 

 do some act or enjoy tome right. AM 



