Micropuccinia 
Micropuccinia (mi*kro-puk-8iii'i-&), n. pi. 
[NL., < Gr. fuKp6f, small, + NL. P'uccinia.] 
A small group of tremelloid Uredinete distin- 
guished by Schroeter, in which only teleuto- 
spores are known, as in Puceinia Pnini and P. 
Asari. The teleutospores drop off when ripe, 
and only germinate after a long period of rest. 
See Uredine<e. 
Micropus (mi'kro-pus), . [NL., < MGr. /a- 
Kp6nov(, having sinall feet, < Gr. [UKp6f, small, 
+ n-ot'f (irotS-) = E. foot.'] 1. In ornitlt.: (a) 
The typical genus of Micropodidce : same as 
Cypselus. Meyer and Wolf, 1810. (6) A genus of 
short-footed thrushes or Bracliypodinw found- 
ed by Swainson in 1831, now referred to the 
TimeliidlK. It contains a number of Indian and Malayan 
afeele3,aaK.chalcocepltalus,phaeocepltalus,melanocephalus, 
melanoleucus, and others. The genus is also called Micro- 
tarsus, Brachypodius, Prosecusa, and Ixocherus. 
2. In ichth., a name of two genera of fishes, one 
founded by J. E. Gray, 1831, the other by Kner, 
1868. 3. Inentom., a tropical American genus 
of lygffiid bugs erected by Spinola in 1837. For 
a long time the destructive chinch-bug of the United States 
was called M. destructor, but it is now placed in the genus 
BKstut. 
micropylar (mi'kro-pl-lar), a. [< micropyle + 
-ar.~\ Pertaining to or having the character of 
a micropyle. 
micropyle (mi'kro-pil)^ . [= F. micropyle, < 
Gr. funpof, small, + TTI'MJ?, gate, orifice.] 1. In 
hot., the orifice or canal in the coats of the ovule 
leading to the apex of the nucleus, through 
which the pollen-tube penetrates. The name is 
also applied to the corresponding part of the seed, which 
indicates the position of the embryo. See foramen, 2. See 
cut under amphitropous. 
2. In zoo'L: (a) The scar or hilum of an ovum at 
the point of its attachment to the ovary. (6) 
Any opening in the coverings of an ovum 
through which spermatozoa may gain access 
to the interior, or a cluster of minute pores on 
the surface of an egg through which fertiliza- 
tion is effected. On the eggs of lepidopterous 
insects these pores often form a rosette at one 
end. 
microrhabd (mi'kro-rabd), . [< Gr. /KPO?, 
small, + NL. rlutbdtis, q. v.] A little rhabdus ; 
a microsclere or flesh-spicule of a sponge in 
the form of a rhabdus. W. J. Sollus, Encyc. 
Brit, XXII. 417. 
microrheometrical (mi-kro-re-o-met'ri-kal), a. 
[< Gr. lunpof, small, + poia, a flowing ({ falv, 
flow), +p.Tpov, a measure. Of. rhepmetric.'} Per- 
taining to a method of determining the nature 
of bodies in solution when flowing through small 
or capillary tubes. 
Microrhynchus (ml-kro-ring'kus), n. [NL.,< 
Gr. /UKp6f, small, + p'vyxoc,, snout, beak.] In 
mammal., a genus of woolly lemurs, of the sub- 
family IndrisiiuE. The species is called M. la- 
niyer. See avalii. 
Microsauria (mi-kro-sa'ri-a), _. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. fuKpoc;, small, + aaiipos, a lizard.] A group 
of labyrinthodont amphibians founded by J. W. 
Dawson upon the genera Dendrerpeton, Hyler- 
peton, and Hylonomus. 
microsaurian (mi-kro-sa'ri-an), a. and n. [< 
Microsauria + -ore.] ' I. a. Pertaining to the 
Microsauria, or having their characters. 
II. n. A member of the group Microsauria. 
microsclere (mi'kro-skler), n. [< NL. micro- 
sclerum, < Gr. fHfftf, small, + oi&rjp6<;, hard.] 
A flesh-spicule of a sponge. Microscleres are 
generally of minute size, and serve usually for 
the support of a single cell. 
microsclerous (mi-kro-skle'ms), a. [As micro- 
sclere + -ous.~\ Having the character of a mi- 
crosclere. 
microsclerum (ml-kro-skle'rum), n. ; pi. micro- 
sclera (-ra). [NL.] Same as microsclere. 
microscope (mi'kro-skop), . [= F. microscope 
= Sp. Pg. It. microscopio, < NL. microscopium, < 
Gr. u</cpof, small, + anovelv, view.] 1. An op- 
tical instrument consisting of a lens or combi- 
nation of lenses (in some cases mirrors also) 
which magnifies and thus renders visible mi- 
nute objects that cannot be seen by the naked 
eye, or enlarges the apparent magnitude of 
small visible bodies, so as to render possible 
the examination of their texture or structure. 
The single microscope, which is the simplest form, is mere- 
ly a convex lens, near to which the object to be examined 
is placed ; it is also called a magnifyiny-ylas* or -lens (see 
magnifying-lens, under tens). The compound microscope 
consists essentially of two lenses, or systems of lenses, one 
of which, the object-glass or objective, forms an enlarged 
inverted image of the object, and the other, the eyepiece 
or ocular, magnifies this image. The eyepiece and objec- 
tive (see these words) are placed at the opposite ends of 
the tube or body, which is often made of two closely fltting 
3752 
parts so that its length (and thus the distance between the 
glasses) can be varied at will ; it is then called a draw-tube. 
The object under examination is placed upon a support, 
called the stage, beneath the objective ; its position upon 
this may be adjusted by the hand, or, better, the object 
and the stage (then called a mechanical stage) are moved 
together by some mechanical arrangement, as, for exam- 
ple, by two screws giving motions in two directions at 
right angles. The proper distance between the objective 
and the object (such that the image of the latter shall be 
seen clearly, or be in focus) is usually attained by the move- 
ment of the tube as a whole. This is accomplished by the 
rapid motion of the coarse adjustment, and more slowly and 
accurately, as is necessary in the case of high powers, by an 
arrangement called the wow motion OTfine adjustment. The 
necessary illumination is obtained by a concave mirror be- 
low the stage, which reflects the light upon the object. An 
achromatic condenser, usually in connection with a dia- 
phragm, is often added to converge the light more strong- 
ly; for opaque objects a bull's-eye condenser, a lieberkiihn, 
or some other form of reflector is employed. The body of 
the microscope, with the stage, etc., is supported firmly 
upon a stand, and usually attached by a joint which al- 
lows of its being inclined at any desired angle between 
the vertical and horizontal positions. Many accessories, 
or special devices applicable to particular uses, may be add- 
ed to the microscope in its essential form, as a micrometer, 
polarizing prisms, camera lucida, etc. The compound mi- 
croscope itself often varies widely in construction, accord- 
ing to the character of the work for which it is to be used. 
(Compare also the phrases below.) 
2. [cop.] A constellation. See Microscopium. 
Achromatic microscope. See achromatic. Binocular 
microscope, a microscope so constructed that the object 
may be viewed simultaneously by both eyes, with theadvan- 
tage (usually but not neces- 
8arilyattained)thatitistheu 
seen in relief. It has a sin- 
gle objective, but two tubes, 
each with its own eyepiece ; 
a prism causes the luminous 
rays from the objective to 
separate and pass through 
each tube. Double-bod- 
ied microscope, a micro- 
scope in which the object 
under examination can be 
viewed by more than one 
person at the same time. 
As in the binocular micro- 
scope, a prism divides the 
rays from the objective. 
Two other prisms receive 
the separated rays, and the 
respective pencils are di- 
rected through the different 
bodies of the instrument. 
Filar microscope, a mi- 
croscope having cross-wires 
in the focUS Of the eyepiece, for coarse adjustment of focus; D, 
Inverted OF Chemical screw for fineadjustmentoffocus; 
microscope, o,,e with the f^S'^^io^E; 
object-glass placed beneath H _ f otatory movement; /, iilumi- 
the object and the stage, nating minor. 
The luminous rays which 
have passed down through it are reflected by an inverting 
prism up the obliquely placed tube to the eyepiece. This 
form is sometimes used in chemical work, when acid fumes 
are present. Magnifying power of a microscope. See 
magnify. Monocular microscope, one with a single 
tube, for use with one eye only. Pankratlc microscope, 
a name sometimes given to a microscope having the eye- 
piece in a sliding draw- 
tube (see def. 1). Pe- 
trographlcal micro- 
scope, a form of micro- 
scope especially adapted 
for minute study of the 
structure of rocks. It is 
provided with a gradu- 
ated and revolving stage 
and an arrangement for 
accurately centering the 
object-glass. It has also 
a polarizing apparatus, 
of which the upper nicol 
prism or analyzer is con- 
tained in a separate sup- 
port which can be easily 
revolved on a graduated 
circle or removed at will. 
The lower nicol or po- 
larizer is supported be- 
neath the stage, and can 
also be revolved in a 
graduated collar. With 
these arrangements the 
directions of light-ex- 
tinction in a section of a 
crystal can easily be de- 
termined. Besides the 
usual eyepiece and ob- 
ject-glass, an additional 
lens, or series of lenses, 
can be placed over the 
lower nicol prism when 
converging light is re- 
quired, as in examining 
the uniaxial or biaxial 
Petrographkal or Polarization Mi- interference-figures of 
crcscope (after Rosenbusch), section- ^^ectionf - K 
/ A fixed support in which the tube fleeting microscope, a 
is moved by hand (coarse adjustment); form Of microscope in 
ff; screw of the fine adjustment; r r, which the object 18 
polarizer; s s, analyzer, in movable nHrcrl niirsUlp nf rhp 
index for fixing position of rotating of the tube, and reflects 
stage ; x s, quartz plate, which slides its image to the specil- 
centering objective 
mirror inclined at an an- 
gle of 45 to the axis of 
the former. Solar, lucernal, and oxyhydrogen mi- 
croscopes, instruments in which the illumination em- 
microseismograph 
ployed comes from the sun, a lamp, and an oxyhydrogen 
lime-light respectively. 
microSCOpe-lamp (mi'kro-skop-lamp), . A 
special form of lantern, usually provided with a 
reflector, a bull's-eye lens, and a metallic chim- 
ney lined with some poor conductor of heat. 
Means are provided for adjusting the lamp in any posi- 
tion in order to throw the light upon the object under ex- 
am ination. 
microscopic (ml-kro-skop'ik), a. [< F. micro- 
scopique = Sp. Pg. ft. microscopico, < NL. micro- 
scopicus, < microscopium, microscope : see micro- 
6-cope.] 1. Pertaining to a microscope, or having 
its character or function ; adapted to the pur- 
poses of a microscope, or to the inspection of 
minute objects : as, a microscopic lens, eyepiece, 
or stand; microscopic sight or vision. 
Why has not man a microscopic eye ? 
For this plain reason, man is not a fly. 
Pope, Essay on .Man, i. l:i. 
Such microscopic proof of skill and power 
As, hid from ages past, God now displays. 
Counter, Tirocinium, 1. 637. 
The present limit to microscopic vision is simply the 
goodness of the objective. 
Amer. Jour. Sci., 2d ser., XIVIIL 172. 
2. Of minute size ; so small as to be invisible or 
indistinct to the naked eye ; adapted to or pre- 
pared for 'examination by the miscroscope : as, 
microscopic creatures or particles ; a microscopic 
object. 3. Made or effected by or as if by the 
aid of a microscope ; hence, relating to things 
of minute size or significance ; infinitesimal : 
petty : as, microscopic observations or investi- 
gations ; microscopic criticism. 
So far as microscopic analysis would enable us to decide 
this question. Todd and Bovman, Fhysiol. A nut.. II. 301. 
4. Characteristic of the microscope or its use : 
as, to observe anything with microscopic mi- 
nuteness; microscopic definition of an object. 
5. Employing or working with a microscope, or 
as if with a microscope. 
The tree that has stood for centuries bears to the micro- 
scopic investigator marks of every winter that has passed 
over it. Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 103. 
Also microscopical. 
Microscopica (mi-kro-skop'i-ka), n. pi. [NL., 
neut. pi. of microsco^icus : see microscopic.] In 
zool., microscopic animals; microzoans: applied 
to infusorians, rotifers, and other animalcules. 
microscopical (mi-kro-skop'i-kal), a. [< micro- 
scopic + -al.\ Same as microscopic. 
microscopically (ml-kro-skop'i-kal-i), adv. [< 
microscopical + -fy 2 .] In a microscopic man- 
ner or degree; by means of, or so as to require 
the use of, the microscope: as, to .examine a 
plant microscopically ; an object microscopical- 
ly small. 
microscppist (mi'kro-sko-pist), n. [< F. mi- 
croscopistc = It. m icroscopista ; as microscope 
+ -ist.] One skilled or versed in microscopy : 
one who makes use of the microscope. 
Microscopium (mi-kro-sko'pi-um), n. [NL. : 
see microscope.'] A constellation south of Cap- 
ricorn, introduced by Lacaille in 1752. 
microscopy (ml'kro-sko-pi), n. [= F. micro- 
scopie = Sp. microscopia ; as microscope + -y 3 .] 
The act or art of using the microscope ; inves- 
tigation with the microscope : as, to be skilled 
in microscopy. 
microsection (ml-kro-sek'shon), n. [< Gr. fii- 
Kp6c, small, + E. section.'] A slice, as of rock, 
cut so thin as to be more or less transparent, 
and mounted on a glass in convenient form to 
be studied with the aid of the microscope. 
microseism (mi'kro-sism), n. [< Gr. /uKp6e, 
small, + aetofiof, a shaking.] A slight or weak 
earthquake-tremor. 
We may feel sure that earth-tremors or mwrosefoms 
are not confined to countries habitually visited by the 
grosser sort of earthquakes. 
G. 11. Danrin, Pop. Sci. Mo., XXXI. 368. 
microseismic (ml-kro-sis'mik), a. K micro- 
seism + -ic.] In seismology, of, pertaining to, 
or of the nature of microseisms, or very slight 
earthquake-tremors. 
Should microseismic observation enable us to say when 
and where the minute movements of the soil will reach 
a head, a valuable contribution to the insurance of human 
safety in earthquake regions will have been attained. 
J. Jlilne, Earthquakes, p. 304. 
microseismical (mi-kro-sis'mi-kal), a. [< mi- 
croseismic + -rt?.] Microseismic. 
A series of inicrosfixmical observations. 
J. Milne, Earthquakes, p. 316. 
microseismograph (ml-kro-sis'mo-graf), n. [< 
Gr. /JiKp6f, small, + aeia/i6c, a shaking, + ypafynv, 
write.] An instrument for measuring and re- 
cording very slight earthquake-shocks or earth- 
tremors. 
