Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/203

MASTERS. 175 MASTODON. from 1865 to 1SG8 was lecturer on botanj' at Saint George's Hospital. In lS(i5 lie became the principal editor of tlie Oar<l( iicr's Chronicle. Among his publications are Vemttihle Terutoloijij (180U), I'lant Life, and liutuny for Beginners, all of which have been translated into foreign languages. MASTER-SINGERS. See Meistersinger. MASTERWORT (translation of Neo-Lat. lini" niluriii, fciii. sg. of l.at. imperutoriiis, im- perial). Ptucedanum Ostriithinni. A perennial plant of the natural order Umbel 1 if cnT, from one foot to two feet high, with broad bi-ternate leaves, large flat umbels of whitish flowers, and flat, orbicular, broadlj- margined fruit. It is a native of the north of Europe and has probably been introduced in a few localities in America. It was formerly much cultivated as a pot-herb, and was held in great repute as a stomachio, sudorific, diuretic, etc. ; its virtues being reclc- oned so many and great that it was called diri- num rcnicdiiiin. It still retains a place in the medical practice of some countries of Europe, although probably it is nothing more than an aromatic stinuilant. The root has a pungent taste, causes a flow of saliva and a sensation of warmth in the mouth, and is said to aft'ord relief to toothache. Some recent monographers have separated this and its related species from Peu- cedanum, grouping them in the genus Impera- toria. MASTIC (Fr. mastic, from Lat. mastiche, from Gk. ij.aarix'n. mastiche, mastic, from najTii'ai', iiKislizcin, to chew ; so called because used as chew- ing-gum in the East). A species of gum resin yii-kleil l>y the mastic or lentick tree (I'istacia LcntiKctis. I'istaciu Atlantiraj . and other species of the natural order Anacardiaeeje. It oozes from cuts made in tlie bark, and hardens on the stem in small, round, tear-like straw-colored lumps, or, if not collected in time, it falls to the ground; in the latter state it acquires some impurities, and is consequently less valuable. Its chief use is in making the almost colorless varnish for varnishing prints, maps, drawings, etc. It is also used by dentists for stopping hollow teeth, and was formerly employed in medicine as a mild stimulant. Small quantities are exported chiefly from the Morocco coast. Init some is occasionally shipped from the south of Europe. The name mastic is also given to oleaginous cements, com- posed of about seven parts of litharge and ninety- three of burned clay, reduced to fine powder, made into a paste with linseed oil. See Sideb- oxYI.o^. MASTIFF (OP. mestif. Fr. mctif. of mixed bree<l. mongrel, from Lat. 'IhiXhs. p.p. of mtsrcre, Gk. filayeiv, misrieiii, fuyvmai, miqnynai, to mix. Skt. miHrn. mixed. (X'hinch Slav, mvsiti, Welsh mjisgu. Gael, measij, OHG. miskan. Ger. mischrn, AS. tniscian, Eng. mix). A large dog of the hound group, kept since ancient times to guard property, and moi-e recently as a pet. See Holxd. MASTIFF BAT. One of a group of tropical Anrericaii Iiats (genus JIolossus). characterized by mastifl'-like faces, general muscularity, and long, thick tails free from the membrane. They are better able than most other bats to scramble about on their feet. They assemble in large com- panies in hollow trees, caverns, and old houses, and sometimes constitute a nuisance by taking possession of roofs and garrets. One species {ilolossus periotis) measures two feet across the outstretched wings. Consult; Gosse, A yatural- ist's tiojourn in Jamaica (London, 1851) ; Bates, The Saturalist on the River Amazon (ib., 1892). MASTIGOPH'ORA (Neo-Lat. nom. pi., from Gk. iia(rTi.yo(p6pos, mastigophoros, whip-bearing, from judffTif, mustix, wliip + (pipeiv, phercin, to bear). A class of Protozoa characterized by the presence of one or more flagella. or lash-like ap- pandages. Some (Euglena) approach the plants, and were formerly placed with them ; others closely resemble Ehizopoda. The group is di- vided' into four orders: (1) Flagellata (q.v.) ; (2) Choanoflagellata : (3) Dinollagellata; (4) Cystoflagellata. Compare NoCTlLftw. CHOANOFLAGELLATA MASTIOOPHORA. 1, Monosig-a; 2, Salpingoeca: 3, Pnlyeca; 4, Proterospon- (^ia; 2 h, illustrates lougitudiual flssiou; 2 c, the production of p:eriiis (flafxellula?); c, collar; e. vac. cnntractUe vucuole; tl, liagellum; 7, lorica; nu, nucleus. (After Kent.) The Choanoflagellata, or collared monads, are mostly fixed and remarkable for their 'collar,' a vase-like prolongation of the protoplasm of the body. In this respect they resemlile the collared digestive cells lining the digestive sacs (am- pull.T) of sponges. These forms are fixed or stalked, and tend to grow in colonies, so as to suggest the derivation of the sponges from some such forms. They have but a single flagellum, but no trace of a mouth or gullet. They multiply by longitudinal fission, or produce numerous young ( tlagelluhp) . The third order. Dinoflagellata, move by means of two flagella, and are remarkable for having the body often protected by a very beautiful and elaborate shell formed of cellulose in plates, which is provided with three long processes or horns. They are mostly marine. Some are phosphorescent, while certain species occasionally abound in such enormous numbers as to color the -sea-water deep brown or red. See article Red V.ter. Of the Cystoflagellata, which have two flagella, one is modified into a large long tentacle, the other minute and situated within the gullet. Xoetiluca (q.v.) is the type. MASTODON (Xeo-Lat.. from Gk. p.a.aTbi, mastos, breast + dSovs, odoiis. tooth). The name for a genus of extinct elephants. This genus is that most remote from the family type (Elephas) and nearest the Dinothcrium type, by reason mainly of the structure of its molar teeth, which are provided with but few transverse ridges — not more than five — that have a /-form in cross- section (occasionally broken into isolated conical tubercles), and are separated by little or no cement: (Compare Ma.mmoth.) Another dental dilTcrcneo of the mastodon from nearly all other