74 GLOSSARY. 



MESOTVPE. A simple mineral, white, and needle-shaped, one of the 

 Zeolite family, frequently met with in the trap rocks. 



METAMORPHIC ROCKS. For an explanation of this term, see vol. iii. 

 p. 374. 



MICA. A simple mineral, having a shining silvery surface, and 

 capable of being split into very thin elastic leaves or scales. 

 It is often called talc in common life, but mineralogists apply 

 the term talc to a different mineral. The brilliant scales in 

 granite are mica. Etym., mico, to shine. 



MICA-SLATE, MICA-SCHIST, MICACEOUS SCHISTUS. One of the lowest 

 of the stratified rocks, belonging to the primary class, which is 

 characterized by being composed of a large proportion of mica, 

 united with quartz. 



MIOCENE. See an explanation of this term, vol. iii. p. 54. 



MOLASSE. A provincial name for a soft, green sandstone, associ- 

 ated with marl and conglomerates, belonging to the Miocene 

 tertiary period, extensively developed in the lower country of 

 Switzerland. See vol. iii. p. 212. 



MOLLUSCJE, Molluscous Animals. Animals, such as shell-fish, which, 

 being devoid of bones, have soft bodies. Etym., mollis, soft. 



MONITOR. An animal of the saurian or lizard tribe, species 

 of which are found in both the fossil and recent state. 



MONOCOTYLEDONOUS. A grand division of the vegetable kingdom, 

 founded on the plant having only one cotyledon, or seed-lobe. 

 Efym., fjiovoQ, monos, single. 



MOSCHUS. The quadruped resembling the chamois or mountain- 

 goat, from which the perfume musk is obtained. 



MOUNTAIN LIMESTONE. A series of limestone strata, of which the 

 geological position is immediately below the coal measures, and 

 with which they also sometimes alternate. See Table II. L, p. 393. 



MOYA. A term applied in South America to mud poured out from 

 volcanos during eruptions. 



MURIATE OF SODA. The scientific name for common culinary salt, 

 because it is composed of muriatic acid and the alkali soda. 



MUSACE^J. A family of tropical monocotyledonous plants, including 

 the banana and plantains. 



MUSCHELKALK. A limestone which, in geological position, be- 

 longs to the red sandstone group. This formation has not yet 

 been found in England, and the German name is adopted by 

 English geologists. The word means shell-limestone : muschel, 

 shell, and kalkstein, limestone. See Table II. K, p. 392. 



NAPHTHA. A very thin, volatile, inflammable, and fluid mineral 



