micropus

[Pref. micro-, and Gr. pous =a foot.] 1. Ichthy.: A genus of Acanthopterygians, family Scorpænide. They are exceedingly small, about an inch and a half in length. Two species are known, from the neighborhood of the coral reefs of the Pacific. *2. Ornith.: A genus of Brachypodine, short footed Thrushes, founded by Swains on. opening.] micro-pyle, s. [Pref. micro-, and Gr. pyle =an 1. Animal Physiol.: (See extract.) "In the O eous Fishes it has been shown by Dr. Ransom that the spermatozoa pa through a minute opening in the external membrane of the ova, termed the micro pyle. A similar opening has been observed by Müller and others in insects, acephalous mollusks, and in several echinoderm at a; and its use, as Dr. Allen Thompson has suggested, is probably to facilitate the fecundation of ova po e ed of very thick external coverings. A micro pule has not been seen in any of the mammal i a."-Carpenter: Human Physiol ., p. 886. 2. Vegetable Physiol . The foramen in a ripe seed. It is formed by the united exostome and endostome. It is always opposite the embryo. The position of the latter can therefore be determined by the inspection of the micropyle. mi-cro-rhe-o-mět-ri-cal, adj . [Pref. micro-; Eng. rheometric , and suff. -al .] A term applied to a method of determining the nature of bodies in solution, when flowing through small or capillary tubes. microscopic mi-cro-sau-ri-a, s. pl. [Pref. micro-, and Greek sauros a lizard.] Palæont .: A group of Labyrinthodonts, founded by Dawson. Thoracic plates unknown; o ification of limb bones incomplete. Dentine nearly or entirely non-plicate; pulp-cavity large. Three genera: Dendrerpeton Hylonomus, Hylerpeton.