MELODRAMA 184 MELVILLE the reeds by suction bellows was pat- ented. Pressure on the key drives down the pin and the valve, allowing passage to the air. The principle is the same as that of the accordeon. MELODRAMA, originally a dramatic piece in which the interest was heigh- tened by the character of the vocal or instrumental music accompanying certain situations. The melodrama is of French invention; the subjects are generally of a romantic character, illustrated vnth picturesque costumes and scenery, and having serious and sensational incidents. MELODY, an agreeable succession of simple sounds, produced by a single voice or instrument, and so regulated as to give a pleasing effect or to be expressive of some kind of sentiment. It is often founded on relative harmonies and yet is completely distinguished from harmony by not needing the addition of parts to make it perfect. MELOE (mel'o-e), oil beetle; the typi- cal genus of the family Meloidse. One or two species are common on hedgebanks in spring. Wing cases short, color blue- black, abdomen full, and general appear- ance greasy. The eggs are laid in holes in the ground, and the larvas when hatched attach themselves to bees of various species, whence their popular name bee lice. The active six-footed larva changes into a fleshy cylindrical grub with less aborted legs and stronger jaws than the corresponding stage of Sitaris. MELON, in botany, Cuciimis melo. Linn^us, who discriminated it from others of the genus by the angular points of the leaves being rounded off and its torulose, i. e., knotted, fruit, says that it is a native of the Kalmuck country (in Tartary). MELOS (me'los) (Italian Milo), a Greek island, the most S. W. of the Cyclades; length 13 miles, width 8 miles. The island is volcanic, and produces sul- phur, salt, pumice stone, stucco, mill- stones, and a little oil and wine. Among the ruins of the ancient city of Melos, and near its theater, was found the price- less antique, the Venus de Milo, now one of the chief treasures of the Louvre. Pop. about 5,000. MELPOMENE (mel-pom'e-ne) , one of the nine muses who presided over trag- edy. She is represented as hSving the form and face of a woman still young, with a commanding mien, and richly dressed. On her feet are the cothurnus; in one hand she holds a poniard and in the other a tragic mask. MELROSE, a city of Middlesex co., Mass., 7 miles N. of Boston, on the Bos- ton and Maine railroad, made up by vil- , lages of Melrose Highlands, Fells, and Wyoming. Has manufactures of boots, shoes, and rubber goods and is governed by mayor and board of aldermen. Pop. (1910) 15,715; (1920) 18,204. MELROSE, a village of Scotland, county of Roxburgh; on the Tweed, 31 miles S. E. of Edinburgh. Melrose Ab- bey, originally founded by David I., in 1136, was destroyed by Edward II. of England in 1322. In 1336 it was rebuilt by Robert Bruce, and completed in the reign of James IV., about 1488-1513. It was again destroyed by the English in 1545. MELTING POINT, that point of the thermometer at which a substance be- comes fused. MELTON-MOWBRAY, a town of Leicestershire, England, in the center of a great hunting district; on the Eye river near its junction with the Wreak, 104 miles N. N. W. of London; it has a fine cruciform church, mainly Early English; and is famous for its manufactures of pork pies and Stilton cheese. Near the town in February, 1644, a severe engage- ment took place between parties of royal- ist and parliamentary troops, resulting in the defeat of the latter; and among its natives have been Archbishop de Melton, who lies buried in the church, and "Ora- tor" Henley. MELVILLE, one of the Parry Islands, a sound, and a peninsula in the polar regions of North America. The island is crossed by lat. 75° N. and long. 110° W., and is separated on the W. by Fitzwil- liam Strait from Prince Patrick Island; greatest length, 200 miles; greatest breadth, 130 miles. In 1819 Parry, who gave the island its name, passed the winter here with his crews. The sound, about 250 miles long by 200 broad, ex- tends S. E. of the island, and communi- cates with the Arctic Ocean on the W. by Banks Strait, and with Baffin Bay on the E. by Barrow Strait and Lancaster Sound. The peninsula projects from the continent at its N. E. comer, and has on the N. the Fury and Hecla Strait, and on the E. Fox Channel. It is 250 miles in length by about 100 in average breadth. MELVILLE, ANDREW, a Scotch re- former; bom in Baldovie, Forfarshire, Scotland, Aug. 1, 1545. After complet- ing his education at St. Andrew's Uni- versity, he was appointed, in 1574, prin- cipal of Glasgow College, and took a leading part in the establishment of Pres-
