Megalops 
which the eyes arc enormous. The term Is retained 
as thu designation of tills condition, commonly known 
its the megalopt or megaJaat ttaye. First called meualova 
(W. E. Leach, 1815). 
I n the higher Decapoda the zoea frequently gives rise to a 
,!/.'<"'"/'*. with very largo, stalked eyes, and the complete 
number of appendages, from which, by a aeries of moults, 
the adult form is produced. Stand. Sal. Hint., II. 11. 
3. A genus of rove-beetles or staphyUuids, con- 
laiiiinga few Hiiuill species of America and Af- 
rica. liij'Hit, 1833. 4. A genus of reptiles. 
megalopsia (meg - a -lop' si -ji), n. [NL., < Gr. 
/'* ; f ("tjaA-), great', large, + ity, eye/) A patho- 
logical condition of the eyes in which objects 
appear enlarged. 
megalopsychy (meg*a-lop-si'ki), . [< Gr. 
Heya'/.oTltvxia, greatness of soul, < ^s/o/lityvjof, 
great-souled, higli-souled, < /it ynf (fie yaX-), great , 
+ ^c^,soul.] Magnanimity; greatness of soul. 
Coles. 1717. [Rare.] 
Megaloptera (meg-a-lop'te-rS), n. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. /wyac (/if} QA-), great, large, + irrc p6v, wing, = 
E. feat/ier.] A tribe oi' Neiiroptera, containing 
the families Alyrmcleontida 1 , Hemerobiidw, anil 
Mantixpid(i: Latreille, 1803. 
Megalopteris (meg-a-lop'te-ris), n. [NL., < 
Gr. ittyas (/ieya'A-), great, + 'irreptf, a fern.] A 
genus of fossil ferns established by Dawson 
(1871), which is related to Neuropteris by its 
nervation, and to Alethopteris by the position 
of the leaflets. The fronds are very large and simply 
pinnate. This genus (according to Lesuuereux not sep- 
arable from Daiuzopms except by the characters of the 
venation) is found in the Devonian of New Brunswick, In 
the Subcarboniferous of West Virginia, and also in the 
coal measures of Illinois and Ohio. 
The fragments (referred to Mrgaltipterii) pertain to a 
group of ferns which, at the beginning of the Carbonifer- 
ous epoch, represents this family by plants as remarkable 
by their magnitude as by the elegance and beauty of their 
forms. Lenquereux, Coal Flora of Pennsylvania, p. 152. 
3091 
MegalotinSB (meg'a-lo-ti'ne), it. pi. [NL., < 
Mi</iilt>tis + -inn.] A subfamily of Canidtr, 
represented by the genus J//"'"'". liaving 
enormously large ears, three true tubercular 
molars of upper jaw, and short gectorial teeth 
of both jaws. 
megalotine (meg-a-16'tin), a. [< Gr. jrfyaf 
(geya?.-), great, large, + ov; (UT-) = E. MM*,] 
Having large ears, as a fox; specifically, of or 
pertaining to the 
Megalornis (raog-a-ldr'nis), n. [NL., 
(/itj-aA-), great, large, + dpvif, bird.] 1. Same as 
Grits, 1. G. It. Gray, 1840. 2. A genus of huge 
fossil birds founded by Seeley upon a fragmen- 
tary tibia from tne Eocene of Sheppey, Eng- 
land. It was the same specimen that had been referred 
to Litharnii by Bowerbank, the true Litharnu of Owen, 
1841. being regarded as different. A species has been 
called M. fmuinin, from its supposed relationship to the 
emu. 
megalosaur (meg'a-lo-sar), it. [< NL. Afega- 
liis<it<riit!.] A dinosaur of the family Megalo- 
sauridce. 
megalosaurian (meg"a-lo-8a'ri-an), a. and w. 
[< NL. Meijtilosaurus '4- 4Mb] I. a. Having 
the characters of a megalosaur. 
II. . A megalosaur. 
Megalosauridae (meg'a-lo-s&'ri-de), n. pi. 
[NL.,< IfegalotOMnu + -ida,:] Afamily of dino- 
saurians with biconcave vertebra, pubes slen- 
der and united (list ally, and tetradactyl feet, 
typified by the genus Meqalosaurus. 
megalosauroid (meg* a-lo-sa'roid), a. and . 
[< NL. Megalosaurus -F Gr. Mot, form.] Same 
as iiK/iiiltis/niiiiiii. 
MegaiosaurilS (meg'a-lo-sa'rus), n. [NL., < 
Gr. /f^yflc (/' e >' a ^-) 
great, large, + oarpof, 
a lizard.] A genus of 
dinosaurian reptiles, 
typical of the family 
MegaJotaurida, estab- 
lished by Buckland 
upon remains indicat- skull of ,,<' 
ing a gigantic terres- 
trial reptile of carnivorous habits. The size has 
been variously estimated at from SO to 40 and even 50 
Megalotis (meg-a-16'tis), n. [NL., < Gr. . 
(jitya/.-), great, -f- oi'f (or-) = E. carl.] J_ T nfl 
typical genus of Megalotina; founded by Illiger 
in 1811. M. lalantli is the large-eared fox of 
Africa. The genus is also named Ai/riotlux 
and Otoeyon. 2. A genus of African and In- 
dian larks of the family Alimdida; named by 
Swainson iu 1827. See Pyrrliulaiida. 
Megamastictora (meg'a-mas-tik'to-rtt), n. pi. 
[NL., < Gr. piyas, great, 4- /taarinrup, a scourger, 
< /WOT!CIV, whip, flog, scourge, <yudrrr<f (/IOT<}-), 
a whip, scourge.] In Sollas's classification of 
sponges, one of two main branches of the phy- 
lum Parazoa or fipongia; characterized by the 
comparatively large size of the choanocytes, 
which are 0.005 to 0.009 millimeter in diameter; 
the chalk-sponges : contrasted with Mieromas- 
tictora. 
megamastictoral (raeg'a-mas-tik'to-ral), . [< 
MiijaiiKistictora + -a/.] Having large choano- 
cytes, as a chalk-sponge; of or pertaining to 
the Megamastictora. 
Megamys (ineg'a-mis), . [NL., < Gr. /^yof, 
great, large, + /wf, mouse.] A genus of fos- 
sil hystricomorphic rodents from the Eocene 
of South America, of the family Octodontida:. 
IfOrbigny. 
megapiohe (meg'a-fon), . [< Gr. piyas, great, 
+ tyuvi/, sound. Cf. iiiegaltinlionoiis."] An instru- 
ment devised by Edison for assisting hearing, 
adapted for use by deaf persons or for the per- 
ception of ordinary sounds at great distances. 
It consists essentially of two large funnel-shaped receivers 
for collecting the sound-waves, which are conducted to 
the ear by flexible tubes. 
Megaphyton (me-gaf i-ton), n. [NL. (Artis, 
1825), < Gr. fiiyac, great, large, + 6vr6v, plant.] 
A fossil fern-stem found in the coal-measures of 
Europe and America. This fossil belongs to the trunk 
of a tree-fern, and is marked by large scars, which are some- 
times nearly square Inoutlineand sometimes transversely 
oval, and placed in opposite biserial rows. The internal 
disks of the scars often have horseshoe-shaped vascular 
impressions. This fern occasionally grew to a very con- 
siderable size, having seal's three inches wide. 
megapod (raeg'a-pod), a. and n. [< Gr. jutyac, 
great, large, + Jfojf (;r<x5-) = E. foot. Cf. Gr. fie- 
ya/jkrovf, having large feet.] I. a. Having large 
feet: specifically applied to the Megapodiida: 
II. w. One of the McgapodiidtK. 
megapodan (me-gap'o-dan), a. and . Same as 
niffftijtotl. 
megapode (meg'a-pod), . Same as megapod. 
A. Xeicton. 
Megapodidse (meg-a-pod'i-de), . pi. [NL., < 
Megapodius + -irfie.j Same as Megapodiidte. 
Megapodiidae (meg'a-po-di'i-de), n. pi. [NL., 
< Segapodiug + -iaiai.'] A family of peristeropo- 
dous alectoromorphous birds of the order Gat- 
Una, typified by the genus Mtgapodius; the 
megapods or mound-birds; the jungle-fowls of 
Australia. They have relatively large feet, with four 
toes on a level, as in the American curassows or Craddce, 
which latter the megapods represent in the Australasian 
region. They are known as mound-birds from their singu- 
Megarrhiza 
color. The family Is divided Into MegapodHna and Tale 
yailina. See the words, and ileyapodiut. IsuallyJO- 
MfMMte 
Megapodiinae (rneg-a-po-di-i'ne), ii.pl. rKJjt, 
< Mii/ii/iiiiiinx + -war.] A subfamily of Mega- 
/Ki/liida! contrasting with ToUoalUmm, MffltUB- 
ing two genera, Migapwtius and Leipmi ; IIKHI nil- 
birds or megapods proper. 
Megapodius (meg-a-po'di-us), n. [NL., < C!r. 
/j/>af, great, large, + 7roi-f (jrorf-) = E. foot.] 
The typical and principal genus of J/<o/.</i- 
iilir. established by Quoy and Gaimard in 1824. 
It contains all the MtgajxMi'na excepting Leipoa nerllata 
in all upward of 20 species. The Australian M. tttmWtu, 
figured above, Is a characteristic example. 
megapolisHme-gap'o-lis), n. [<Gr.//^of,great, 
+ jro/jf , city. (Jf. megalopolis.] A metropolis. 
Amadavad ... is at this present the manapolu of Cam- 
baya. Sir T. Herbert, Travels fn Africa, p. 4. 
Megaptera (me-gap'te-rii), w. [NL., < Gr. //fjof, 
great, + nrep6v, wing, = E. feather. Cf. Mc- 
galoptera.] A genus of furrowed whalebone- 
whales, the humpbacks, belonging to the family 
liala-nopterida; and typical of the subfamily 
Mcgapterino', established bv J. E. Gray in 1846. 
They have a low dorsal fin, folds 0} skin on the throat, free 
cervical vertebras, short broad baleen plates, and very long 
narrow flippers with only four digits. Numerous tpeclei 
have been described, from all seas, such as the long-tinned 
whale, M. lonyimantu. 
Megapterinae (me-gap-te-ri'ne), n. pi. [NL., 
< Megaph-ra + -inn?.] A subfamily of liahmop- 
terida; or finner-whales, typified by the genus 
Megaptera; the humpbaclcs. The iow dorsal flu 
forms a characteristic hump on the back ; the long mantis 
has the four digits composed of numerous phalanges, and 
the throat is plicated. The genera are three : Megaptera, 
Pvcscopia, and Eschrichtiut. 
megapterine (me-gap'te-rin), n. and . [As 
Mvgaptcra + -inel.} I. a. Having long fins, as 
a finner-whale ; belonging to the Mfgupterina-. 
II. n. A member of the Afn/apterinte. 
Megarhynchus (meg-a-ring'kus), . [NL., < 
Gr. pi jar, great, large, + PI'T^OC, snout, bill.] 
A genus of Americnn tyrant flycatchers, of 
MtgarkynchMS 
i, .lfrj?atotanrHs (restored) ; a, tooth ; 3. part of jaw. 
feet In length. The femur and tibia were each about :) 
feet long. The remains of megalosaurs have been found 
in abundance in the Oolite. 
megalosplenia (meg a-lo-sple'ni-ii), ii. [XL.. 
< Gr. /'*';ac (,"fy< 1 ' 1 --). great, large. T a-tijv, the 
milt, spleen.] In /int/ml., enlargement of the 
spleen. 
Mound-uird {Mr 
tumulus). 
lar and characteristic habit of scraping up heaps of soil anil 
decaying vegetable substances, in which the eggs are buried 
and left to he hati'hcd by the ht.it of the decomposing 
mass. The cmrs are buried to the depth of several feet The 
chicks hatch feathered anil able to fly. The birds Inhabit 
brush and scrub. iiMiulU by the seaside, and go sometimes 
in pairs, sometimes in large companies. They are about 
the size of common fowl and are generally of somber 
the family Tyrnnnida", of which M. pUnngva 
of Brazil is the type, characterized by an enor- 
mous bill. Jf. mrxifarua of Mexico and Central Ameri- 
ca and Jf. chryioffottrr of Ecuador are other species. The 
genus was named by 'Ihunberg In 1824, and is also called 
Scaphorhynchut, Platyrliynchwi, and Meijattmna. 
Megarian (me-ga'ri-an), a. [< L. Megara, < Gr. 
Mr }apa, pi., Megara (appar. pi. of /ifyapni; hall, 
chamber, in pi. palace, caves (cells or chapel) 
of Demeter: see megaron), + -ran.] Of or be- 
longing to Megara, a city of ancient Greece, or 
to Megaris, a territory between Attica and Cor- 
inth, of which it was the capital ; Megaric. 
Megarian school, a school of philosophy founded at Me- 
gara about 40(1 11. e. by Euclid, a native of that city, and 
a disciple of Socrates. The philosophers of this school 
taught that the only reality is the incorporeal essence : 
that the material world has no real existence : that change 
is Inconceivable; that only the actual Is possible ; that the 
good is the only real ; and that virtue is the knowledge of 
the good. The school made much of sophisms, and cul- 
tivated a sort of logic of refutation, which gave it the 
name of the rrutin or dialectical Khixi. 
Megaric (me-^ar'ik), a. and . [< L. J/<//nVi<,v. 
< Gr. itrjapinof, of Megara, < Mfjopa, Megara.] 
I. a. Same as JAjMrfcM. 
II. . A Megarian philosopher, or a follower 
of the Megarian school. 
megaron (meg'a-ron). . : pi. mrgara (-rfi). [< 
Gr. /ie)apav, a large room, a large building, a 
palace, < pfyati gfPat. large, spacious.] In Gr. 
arclutol., specifically, the great central hall of 
the Homeric house or palace. In large houses of 
this early time there was a megaron for the men and for 
the entertainment of guests, and another, more secluded, 
for the women of the household. The plan and disi>ogitfon 
of such megara, with the ceremonial family hearth in the 
middle, have been most clearly made out by the excava- 
tions of Schliemann and Dorpfeld at Tiryns in the Pelo- 
ponnesus in 1884-5. 
Megarrhlza (meg-a-ri'zS), n. [NL., < (ir 
"f;af, great, + pifa, root.] A former genn> 
of plants now included under Erin 'unrux Us. The 
species so separated differ from the others in" their large 
turgid seeds, 15 to 30 millimeters long, and in the enoi 
mons development of their roots. See EfhimxyHii, bitter- 
root. :-hHti-rnil'4f (under rliUH\ and 1 
