rt of the bottom of a ship.

~Kettle drum~ (ket'-l drum). A musical instrument made of a hollow brass
hemisphere over which is stretched parchment. This is sounded by blows
from a mallet or stick.

~Larva~ (lar'-va); pl. ~Larvae~ (lar'-v[=e]). The young insect.

~Lock~ To fasten in place.

~Locust~ (l[=o]'-kust). A shorthorned grasshopper.

~Mantis~ (man'-tis); pl. ~Mantes~ (man'-t[=e]z). (Gr. = prophet.) An
orthopterous insect that holds its arms as if in prayer.

~Membrane~ (mem'-br[=a]n). (L. membrana = thin skin.) A thin, soft
tissue that connects two parts, or lines a body.

~Mercaptan~ (mer-kap'-tan). (L. mercaptans = taking mercury.) A
vile-smelling liquid that gets its name because of its strong action on
mercury. It seizes upon mercury, so to speak.

~Metallic~ (me-tal'-ik). Made up of metals, or like metals.

~Metamorphosis~ (met-a-mor'-f[=o]-sis). (L. metamorphosis = change,
transformation.) A change of form; a development, as the change of the
caterpillar into the chrysalis.

~Mica~ (m[=i]'-ka). A transparent mineral that can be separated into
thin sheets or layers.

~Microscope~ (m[=i]'-kr[=o]-sk[=o]p). An instrument that magnifies, or
makes objects look larger when placed beneath it.

~Moult~ (m[=o]lt). (L. mutare = to change.) To shed or cast off the
feathers, hair, or skin.

~Muscle~ (mus'-l). Bundles of fibres that have the power of growing
longer or shorter. The body is moved by means of the muscles.

~Nary~ (ner'-i). "Ne'er a," a contraction of "never a."

~Nerve~ (nerv). (L. nervus = a fibre _or_ tendon.) The nerves are fibres
or threads that carry impressions to the brain. Nerved = having fibres,
as in the wings of insects.

~Neuroptera~ (n[=u]-r[)o]p'-te-ra). (Gr. = nerve-wing.) The name of an
insect order.

~Nymph~ (nimf). (L. nympha = a bride, a young girl.) The young of
insects that undergo an incomplete metamorphosis.

~Ocelli~ (o-sel'-le), pl. of Ocellus. (L. = a little eye.) The tiny,
simple eyes of insects.

~Odonata~ ([=o]-d[=o]-na'-ta). The name of an insect order to which
belong the dragon flies.

~Odors~ Pleasant or unpleasant smells.

~Opera-glass~ (op'-e-ra-glas). Magnifying glasses used at the theatre or
opera to make things seem nearer.

~Organism~ (or'-gan-izm). A member of the animal or vegetable kingdom.

~Orthoptera~ (or-thop'-t[=e]-ra). (Gr. = straight-wing.) An insect order
to which belong the grasshoppers.

~Ovipositor~ ([=o]-v[)i]-poz'-[)i]-tor)