Megachile 
Meeachile (meg-a-ki'le), n. [NL., < Gr. pe-yaf, megaleme (meg'a-lem), w. A scansorial barbet 
great, large, + jM, lip-] A genus of aculeate of the genus Megalaima, in a broad sense. Alsc 
hymenopterous insects, or bees, of the family megaleeme, megalaime. 
Apidai and group Dasi/gastrte ; the leaf-cutters, megalerg (meg'a-lerg), n. .. 
It is a large genus, of world-wide distribution, containing great (see mega-), + E. erg.] 
many species of varied habits : all furnish their cells with - 
trunksof dead trees and old rotting palings. The nest of ( < Gr. JtfyatyoUL, 
11. muraria is composed of grains of sand glued together 
with its viscid saliva, and is so hard as not to be easily 
penetrated by a knife. About 50 European and as many 
North American species are known. M. centuncularis is 
one of the common species of Europe and North America. 
Megachilidas (meg-a-kil'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
Megachile + -idee.] "The leaf-cutting bees re- 
garded as a family. 
Megalops 
What Thurnam calls medium brains range in weight be- 
tween 40 and 524 ounces for men and 35 and 47J ounces 
for women. All brains in size above this are called mega- 
locephalous. Set. Amer., N. S., LXI. 289. 
ra megalocyte (meg'a-lo-sit), . [< Gr. uiyae f>e- 
9 ' ","'-), great, large, + Kvrof, a cavity: see cyte.] 
A large blood-corpuscle, measuring from 12 to 
15 micromillimeters in diameter, found in the 
human blood in cases of anemia, especially of 
[< Gr. 
MaterorCybele)neut.pl.of^^^,pertain- ^33S^S 
ingtoMegale,< Gr. Me j-a/,, ' the^Great,^ an epi- megalogonidium (meg''a-lo-go-nid'i-um), . ; 
pi. mcgalogonidia(-&). [Nlj.^Gr./ifjaf (ueya^-), 
thet of the Magna Mater, fern, of /ityaf (utya/-) 
great: see>oz 2 , mickle, much.] Of or belonging 
f o Cybele, the Great Mother Megalesian games, 
Megachiroptera (meg"a-ki-rop'te-ra), n. pi. 
NL., ueut. pi. of megachiropterus: see inega- 
chiropteroKS.] Same as Macroehiroptera. 
Dobson. 
G.E. 
celebrated at Rome in the month of April, and lasting for 
six days, in honor of Cybele. The image of this goddess was 
brought to Rome from Pessinus in Galatia, about 203 B. 0., 
and the games were instituted then or shortly afterward, 
in consequence of a sibylline oracle promising continual 
victory to the Romans if due honors were paid to her. 
great, large, + NL. gonidium.] Same as ma- 
erogonidiiiiii. 
megalograph (meg'a-lo-graf), . [< Gr. fieyai: 
(fteya/.-), great, large, + ypafyeiv, write.] A form 
of camera lucida used for microscopic drawing, 
or for industrial pattern-drawing, as from de- 
signs formed by the kaleidoscope. It admits of 
drawing directly from the microscopic or kalei- 
megachiropteran (meg"a-ki-rop'te-ran), a. and megalesthete (meg-a-les'thet), n. [<Gr. jikyas doscopic image'. 
n. [< Megachiroptera + -an.] I. o. Pertaining (ueyaX-), great, large, + <zi<7%rfc, one who per- megalography (meg-a-log'ra-fi), n. 
ceives: see esihete^esthetic.] A supposed tac- 
tile organ of the chitons. Also written mega- 
hesthete. H. N. Moseley. 
[< Gr. pi- 
(fieya/.-}, great, large, -f -ypaQia, < ypafytiv, 
write.] A drawing of pictures to a large scale. 
Bailey, 1731. 
to the Megachiroptera, or having their charac- 
ters ; being a fruit-bat. 
II. n. A member of the Megachiroptera; a 
fruit-bat. Megalichthys (meg-a-lik'this), n. [NL., < Gr. megalomania (meg'a-lo-ma*ni-a), n. [NL., < 
mejjachiropteroilS (meg"a-ki-rop'te-rus), a. [< ^-y^ (fteya'A-), great," large, + \X&t, fish.] A <} r . fteyaf (fieya).-), greatj | 4- /uivia, 'madness: see 
genus of large fossil ganoid fishes of Carbon- *- -i * * *; - ;]!: , i... ,,L,;..... 
iferous age, established by Agassiz. Their re- 
mains occur in Devonian beds of Europe. By Giinther 
the genus is referred to the family Saurodipterida, sub- 
order Palypteroidei ; by others to families called Saurodip- 
tfrini or Saurichthyidae. 
NL. megachiropterus, < Gr. //eyaf, great, large, + 
X^'p, hand, + irrepAv, awing, = E. feather: see 
chiropteroiis.] Same as megachiropteran. 
megacocci (meg-a-kok'si), n. pi. [NL., < Gr. 
//fyof. great, large, + K<SKKOC, a berry : see coccus.] 
The largest kind of cocci: distinguished from 
micrococci. 
megacosm (meg'a-kozm), n. [< Gr. /ifyaf, great, 
, world. J Same as macrocosm. 
smooth, but minutely punctured, enameled scales, some of 
which have been found 5 inches in diameter, indicating 
:i Ilsh of great size. The jaws were furnished with immense 
laniary teeth. Several species have been described from 
the Carboniferous strata of Scotland and England. 
lith), . [< Gr. fj.tya(, great, 
+"//ft>f, stoneT] A great stone; specifically, a 
stone of great size used in constructive work or 
as a monument, as in ancient Cyclopean and so- 
megaderm (meg'a-derm), n. [< NL. Mcgader- ealled Druidic or Celtic remains. 
ma.] A bat of the family Megiidermatidfe. 
Megaderma (meg-a-der'ma), H. [NL., < Gr. 
ufyof. great, large, + tiipfia, the skin: see derma.] i-j.v r/ 
The typical genus of the family Megadermatida; megalithic (meg-a-lith ik) a. [< megalith + 
(or subfamily Megadermatime of Xycteridw). -'] Consisting of megaliths or very large 
M. gigas of Australia is the largest bat of the suborder 
mania.] A form of insane delusion the subjects 
of which imagine themselves to be very great, 
exalted, or powerful personages ; the delusion 
of grandeur. 
It was characterized by large, MegalonyX (me-gal'o-niks), n. [NL. (Thomas 
" Jefferson, 1797), so called from the great size 
(utyak-), great, 
I desire him togivemeleavetoset forthourmicrocosm, megalith (meg'a-lith), n. 
man, in some such deformed way as he doth the mega- ~ " 
cottm, or great world. 
Bp. Croft, Animad. on Burnet's Theory (1685), p. 138. 
[(Latham.) 
Hundreds of our countrymen rush annually to the French 
megaliths. 
J. Fergitsson, Rude Stone Monuments, p. 181, note. 
Microchiroptera, the forearm measuring 4J inches. M. 
lyra is a smaller species, common in India. There are 
several others. 
Megadermatidae (meg*a-der-mat'i-de), n. pi. 
[NL., < Megaderma(t-) '-ida;.] The Megader- 
matiiue rated as a family. 
Megadermatinae (meg-a-der-ma-ti'iie), w. pi. 
[NL., < Megad#rma(t-) + -inai.] A subfamily 
of bats of the family Nycteridue, typified by the 
Kenus Mcijaderma ; the megaderms. 
Megaderus (me-gad'e-rus), n. [NL. (Serville, 
1834), < Gr. fieyae, great, large, + Sepr/, neck, 
throat. ] A genus of longieorns or cerambycids 
liaving the three sternal sclerites continuoTis. 
They exhale a strong, peculiar odor, though no odoriferous 
glands have been discovered. They are mostly tropical 
American, but M. btfasctiitw occurs in Texas. 
megadont (meg'a-dont), a. [Irreg. < Gr. /ityas, 
great, large, + bSoi'f (odovr-) = E. tooth.] Hav- 
ing large teeth. W. H. Flower. 
megadyne (meg'a-dln), n. [< Gr. /it/of, great 
(see mega-), + Ei dyne, q. v.] A unit equal to 
a million dynes. 
megaerg (meg'a-erg), . [< Gr. nfyaf, great (see 
mega-), + E. erg, q. v.] A unit equal to a mil- 
lion ergs. Also megerg, megalerg. 
megafarad (meg'a-far-ad), . [< Gr. i^yaf, great 
(see mega-), + E. farad, q. v.] In electrometry, 
a unit equal to a million farads. 
Megalaema (meg-a-le'ma), n. [NL., < Gr. //eyaf 
(/it-yaA-), great, large, + %<uu6f, throat (breast).] 
The typical genus of Megalcemidce or scansorial 
barbets. The species of Megaloema proper are Asiatic. 
M. hcemacephala, the crimson-breasted barbet, is a com- 
mon Indian one, known as the tambagut or coppersmith. 
Also Megalai'ina, as originally by G. it. Gray in 1842. 
Megalaemidse (meg-a-le'mi-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
Megaltema + -idte.] A family of chiefly Old 
of its claw-bones ; < Gr. 
large, + 6wf , a claw.] 1 . A genus of gigantic 
extinct Pleistocene edentate quadrupeds re- 
lated to the sloths, belonging to the family 
Mi/lodontido! (sometimes, however, referred to 
the Megatheriidai), having the foremost tooth in 
each jaw large and separated from the others 
by a wide diastema. M. cuvieri is one of the 
best-known species. 2. [?. c.] An individual 
or a species of this genus. 
megalopa(meg-a-lo'pa), n. Same as megalops, 2. 
megalophonous (meg"a-lo-f6'nus), a. [< Gr. 
[iyaJ>.6<t>uvof, having a loud voice, < neycu; (jieya/.-), 
great, + (jxjvij, voice.] 1. Having a loud voice ; 
vociferous; clamorous. [Bare.] 2. Of grand 
or imposing sound. [Bare.] 
This is at once more descriptive and more megalopho- 
Note on Shelley's Peter Bell the Third, Prol. 
stones: as, megalitliic monuments; the mega- 
lithic architecture of Egypt. The word megalithic, 
however, as now almost exclusively used, has reference 
to a peculiar class of monuments or remains, of which the 
most essential feature is that the stones used in their con- 
struction in a vast majority of cases have nearly or quite 
their natural form. Hence these remains, in so far as 
they consist of stone, have been designated as "rude stone __ i__v, / mn // n i f^'n-.-.^ ri*JT / 
monuments." The stones used in them are frequently, MegalophonUS (meg'a-lo-fo nus), n. [NL., < 
Gr. //eyo/lo^uvof , having a loud voice : see mega- 
lophonous.] A genus of larks, of the family 
Alaud.ida;, founded by G. E. Gray in 1841 upon 
certain African species which have naked nos- 
trils and are colored like quails, as M. apiatvs 
(or clamosa) : so called from being megalopho- 
nous. Also called Coryplia. 
but not always, of very large size. The menhir and dolmen 
are perhaps the most characteristic of the various f orms of 
megalithic construction (see these words), but circles and 
avenues or ulinements of standing stones, as well as tumuli 
or barrows of earth, either covering or inclosing dolmens, 
and frequently surrounded by one or more rows or circles 
of upright stones, are almost equally common and charac- 
teristic. The region especially notable for the number 
and variety of its megalithic remains extends from north- . , ,.r- 
ern Africa through France and Great Britain to Scandi- megalOplC (me^-a-lop IK) 
uavia. The most remarkable display of the various forms ' 
is in Algiers, in Brittany, in Cornwall and various districts 
in southwestern England and Wales, as well as in parts of 
Ireland and Scotland; also in northern Germany, Den- 
mark, and southern Scandinavia. There are also great num- 
r , 
a. [< Gr. 
large-eyed, < /ieya( (peyaA-), great, large, + 
eye: see Ofic. Cf. Megalops.] Having large 
. ane^finnllv nf rnniatnppnns liavincr trip 
e y es ' specifically, ol IStaceans, Having t 
Character Ot a megalops. 
of Khassia, where such monuments are still being erected. 
To the same primitive period [the Neolithic] of rude sav- 
age life must be assigned the rudiments of architectural 
skill pertaining to the Megalithic Age. Everywhere we 
tind traces, alike throughout the seats of oldest civilisa- 
tion and in earliest written records, including the histori 
bersof dolmens and tumuli in India, especially in the hills Megalopinse (meg"a-lo-pi'ne), n. pi. [NL., 
< Megalops (Mcgalop-)' + -ina>.] A subfamily 
of elopine fishes without pseudobranchiee, and 
with large scales and a long anal fin, repre- 
sented by the genus Megalops. They are known 
as tarpons (or tarpmns) aodimMIm. 
cal books of the Old Testament Scriptures of the erection megalopine (meg'a-16-pin), a. and n. I. a. 
of the simple monolith, or unhewn pillar of stone, as a rec- ,,,?": SrrfM trf nr having the nharaptpri nf 
ord of events, a monumental memorial, or a landmark. ul > pertaining to, or navmg tne cnaracters 
Encyc. Brit., II. 338. the Megalopinai. 
But it is in Egypt that iwgalithic architecture is seen in II. . A fish of the subfamily Megalopina. 
its most matured stage, with all the massiveness which so megalopolist (meg-a-lop '6-lis), M. [< Gr. 
aptly symbolises barbarian power. Encyc. Brit., II. 338. ueya Uno7^, a great city, metropolis (also the 
The megoKlhic structures, menhirs, cromlechs, dolmens, na ' me of gg^J cities), < iityaq (ueyal-), great, 
and the like . . . have been kept up as matters of modern 
construction and recognized purpose among the ruder in- 
digenous tribes of India. E. B. Tylor, Prim. Culture, 1. 55. 
megallantoid (meg-a-lan'toid), a. [< Gr. /it yaf, 
great, large, + NL. allantois, q. v.] Having a 
large allantois. 
World non-passerine picarian birds, formerly Me .S al O ba t ra ,9 h S (meg'a-lo-bat'ra-kns) 
confused with the barbets proper or puff-birds 
(Bucconidw) of America; scansorial barbets. 
The technical characters are the homalogonatous and 
antiopelmous musculation of the zygodactylous feet ; a 
single carotid ; no cteca; tufted eheodochon ; acute manu- 
brium sterni; bifurcate vomer; and ten rectrices. The 
term is synonymous with Capitonidce. The megaletnes 
are nearly related to the toucans and woodpeckers. They 
are of small to moderate size, of stout form, with large 
[NL. (Tschudi),< Gr. fiiyas (jieyak-), great, large, 
-r- ffarpaxof, a frog: see batrachian.] An Asiatic 
genus of the family Protonopsida; (or Crypto- 
branchida!), having four small but well-formed 
feet, and no gill-slits; the giant salamanders. 
M. maximus is the largest living amphibian, attaining a 
It is found in Japan and 
[<Gr. 
length of three feet or more, 
some parts of continental Asia. 
heads and heavy bills garnished with long bristles, In the megalocarpOUS (meg"a-lo-kar'pus). 
latter respect resembling the barbets of the family Bucco- fisyaUmpTrof, having large fruit, < /if - 
nidae. The coloration is highly variegated and often bril- great, large, 
liant. Some 80 species are described, chiefly Asiatic and f ru ;t; 
famHy'is divided t^PoganaftynMnn, Mtgalcmfna, and megalOCephalOUS (meg"a-lo-sef 'a-lus), a. Same 
+ Kapjror, fruit.] Having large 
Capitonina. 
as megacepkaUc. 
large, + mi/Uc, city: see police.] A chief city; 
a metropolis. 
Paul and his wife are back in the precincts of megalopo- 
lis. M. Collins, The Ivory Gate, II. 211. (Encyc. Diet.) 
Megalops (meg'a-lops), n. 
[NL., CGr. fiiya^ (ffyaA-), 
great, large, + ui/i, eye: 
see mcgalopic.] 1. Inichth., 
a genus of elopine fishes, 
representing the subfam- 
ily Megalopina> of the fam- 
ily ElopidcE, founded by 
Lac6pede in 1803. M.at- 
luHttnus is a large species, 
known as the tarpon. 2. 
[I. c.] A spurious genus of 
decapod crustaceans, rep- 
resenting a stage in the 
development of crabs in 
Megalops Stage of Shore- 
crab (Carcirius tnafnas). 
