IS THE LARGE-MAGELLANIC-CLOUD MICROLENSING DUE TO AN INTERVENING DWARF GALAXY

The recent suggestion that the microlensing events observed toward the Large Magellanic Cloud are due to an intervening Sgr-like dwarf galax y is examined. A search for foreground RR Lyrae in the MACHO photometr y database yields 20 stars whose distance distribution follow the expe cted halo density profile. Cepheid and red giant branch clump stars in the MACHO database are consistent with membership in the LMC. There i s also no evidence in the literature for a distinct kinematic populati on, for intervening gas, or for the turnoff of such a hypothetical gal axy. We conclude that if the lenses are in a foreground galaxy, it mus t be a particularly dark galaxy.