and earths. The great diversity of chemical composition and other characters led to its division into several species, which were supposed to have distinctive crystallographic and chemical characters. The word is now used to designate a group of minerals having certain characters in common, the most important of which is the eminently perfect basal cleavage, which affords very thin, tough, and shining laminæ.
MICAH, the name of various persons spelled Micah, Michah (I Chron. xxiv: 24, 25), or Micha (II Sam. ix: 12) mentioned in the Old Testament. Specially: The prophet called Micah the Morasthite. Morasthite means of Moresheth, probably Moresheth-gath (Micah i: 14). Scarcely anything is known of him, except what may be gathered from his prophecies.
In the Old Testament canon: The 6th in order of the “minor prophets,” i. e., of the minor prophetic books. The most natural division of the book is into three sections, ch. i.-ii., iii.-v., and vi.-vii., each beginning with a formula calling on the people to hear (i: 2, iii: 1, vi: 1). Passages in Micah resemble others in Isaiah (see Micah iv: 1-5 and Isa. ii: 1-5). Micah is quoted or alluded to in Matt. ii:5, 6; x: 35, 36; Mark xiii: 12; Luke xii: 53; John vii: 42. The canonical authority of the book has never been doubted.
MICA SCHIST (shist), or MICA SLATE, a slaty metamorphic rock composed of mica and quartz. The mica is usually muscovite (potash mica), though sometimes it is biolite (magnesian mica). The rock usually splits along the micaceous folia. Occasionally mica seems to constitute the whole mass of the rock. Next to gneiss, mica schist is the most common metamorphic rock.
MICE. See Mouse.
MICHAEL, the name of several emperors of Constantinople. Michael I. succeeded to the throne in 811, abdicated, on occasion of a military sedition, in favor of Leo the Armenian, 813. Died in 846. Michael II. succeeded Leo the Armenian, 820; died in 829. Michael III. succeeded in the third year of his age, 842, under the guardianship of his mother, Theodora. In 866 he made Basil, the Macedonian, his associate in the empire, who killed him in 867. Michael IV. was raised to the throne by Zoe, after she had poisoned her husband, Romanus Argyrus, 1034. He died in 1041. Michael V., nephew of the preceding, occupied the throne a few months after his death, and was dethroned by Zoe and Theodora, 1042. Michael VI. succeeded Theodora in 1056. and was dethroned by his officers, who elevated Isaac Comnenus to the imperial dignity in 1057. Michael VII., son of Constantine Ducas and Eudoxia, succeeded his father, 1067; and being dethroned by Nicephorus Botoniates in 1078, retired to a monastery, and died Archbishop of Ephesus. Michael VIII., surnamed Palæologus, regent of the empire during the minority of John Lascaris, whom he deprived of his eyes and throne in 1260, and in the following year took Constantinople. He died in 1288.
MICHAEL ANGELO. See Angelo.
MICHELET, JULES (mēsh-lā), a French historian; born in Paris, France, Aug. 21, 1798. After the revolution of 1830 he was appointed chief of the historical section of the archives of France, and in 1838 became Professor of History at the College of France and an Academician. He lost all his offices at the coup d'état in 1851. His principal historical works are: “History of France” (21 vols. 1833-1875); “Roman History”; “The Beginnings of French Law”; and others of less importance. Several of his works on social subjects deserve mention: “On the Jesuits” (1843), written in collaboration with Edgar Quinet; “Woman, Priest, and Family” (1844); “The People” (1846). About 1856 he turned into another path, and wrote and published works on natural history and philosophy. A collection of his works was begun in 1895. He died in Hyères, France, Feb. 5, 1874.
MICHELSON, ALBERT ABRAHAM, scientist. Born in Strelno, Germany, in 1851, was brought to San Francisco when young, and in 1873 graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy. He taught physics at Annapolis and then pursued his studies in Europe, and on his return became professor of physics at the Case School, Cleveland, and in 1892 head of the physics department, University of Chicago. His experiments in the determination of the velocity of light began in 1878, and to this end he invented the interferential refractometer, which was followed by the echelon spectroscope. President of the American Physical Society (1901-1902) and of American Association for Advancement of Science (1910). Many honorary degrees from universities.
MICHIGAN, a State in the North Central Division of the North American Union; bounded by Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Ontario; counties, 83; area, 57,430 square miles; pop. (1890) 2,093,889; (1900) 2,420,982; (1910) 2,-
