PHYTOLACCACE.E. 



PICIDJi 



shaped root, alternate undivided broad leaves, and leafless erect 

 no-me* of flowers, succeeded by deep purple fruits. They have a 

 5-portd calyx ; DO corolla ; from 5 to 30 (1801601 inserted into a fleshy 

 disc ; and Uie pistil consists of several unilooular distinct carpel* 

 united at the baa* or along tho whole inner angle. The fruit in on 

 umbonate depreawd berry, with aolitary seeds whose embryo ia turned 

 roond mealy albumen. 



P. tttcandra, a species found wild in Virginia, where it ia called 

 Paean, whence the rulgu- name of Poke applied to this species, has a 

 root which act* as a powerful emetic, but it* exhibition is attended 

 with narcotic effects ; its berries are also reported to possess the same 

 quality ; they stain an intense purple colour, and are said to be 

 employed in Portugal aa a means of improving the appearance of 

 inferior red wines, Notwithstanding the acridity of its leaves, this 

 plant, when very young, is said to be eaten in the United States as 

 ; and Dr. Royle relates that he found P. acinota, a Himalayan 

 nnloyed in the same manner in the north of India, to be 

 Very palatable when boiled. 



PH YTOLACCA'CE.t:, a natural order of Plants belonging to the 

 class Ezogena. According to most writers they are regarded aa 

 apetalous plants, and allies of the Chenopodiaceous and Polygonaceous 

 orders, from which their distinct ovaries chiefly distinguish them; 

 but Kudlicher, in his arrangement of plants, probably influenced by 

 the form of their embryo and by the plurality of the carpels, considers 

 them as related on the one hand to the Caryophyllaceoua and on the 

 other to the Malvsceous orders. Notwithstanding the apparent dif- 

 ference between these two stations it is probable that both are correct, 

 and that Pkylolaccacea are really plants connecting Chenojiodiacea 

 and CcaryopkyUacta. If so, they furnish a new proof of the badness 

 of the fundamental divisions proposed for Exogens by both De Can- 

 dolle and Jussieu. With the exception of Phytolacca, no plants of this 

 order appear to be of much importance to man ; their properties seem 

 to be generally acrid. 



PHYTOSAU'RUS, Jaeger's name for a genus of Fossil Saurians. 

 Two species ore recorded, P. cubicwlon and V. cylindricodon, both 

 from the Dolomitic Sandstone (Keuper Formation). 



PHYTO'TOMA. [MUSOPIIAOID*.] 



PHYTOZOA'RIA (Ehrenberg), a name for the animals Included in 

 the families /tai/<ra,/n/iuoria, and Rotaioria. [KonPKBA; INFUSORIA.] 



PIA MATER. [Biuur.] 



PIAHAU, or PIAUHAU, the name assigned to certain Cotingas 

 (Amptlit, Linn.), whose bill is more strong and more pointed than the 

 ordinary C'otiugas. [MusciCAPID.E.] 



PIAUZITK, a kind of mineral resin or wax insoluble in alcohol 



PICA. [COBVtDJl] 



I'lf'ATHARTKS. [COBTIDJS.] 



I'lCID.K, a family of Scansurial Birds. Tho order Picccot Liniucus 

 is thus characterued : Bill (cuneus sarriens) cultrated, with a convex 

 back. Feet walking, abort, rather strong. Body ' tenaciusculum,' 

 impure. Food quisquiliio.' Nest in trees; the male feeding the 

 incubating female. Monogamy. Order analogous to the Pnmata. 



This order seems to be the most arbitrary in the ornithological 

 system of Linnasus, for under it birds of very discordant habits are 

 collected. The Woodpeckers, the Crows, the Trogons, the Orioles, the 

 Cuckoos, the Kingfishers, the Humming-Birds, are there associated 

 with others in the following succession : 



Genera : Prittacia, with its three sections ; Ramphtutoi, JBuceroi, 

 lltpkaffo, Crotopltaga, Cortut, Coraciat, Oriolut, Uracula, Paraditea, 

 Troyon, Bucco, Cucultu, Y*x, Piou, Sitta, Todut, Alcedo, Meropt, 

 Iptpa, CcrtAia, and Trockil**. 



Briaton had previously arranged tho Wryneck, the Woodpeckers, 

 and the Jacamar in the first section (bill straight) of his thirteenth order 

 of bird* those, namely, with four toes, two before and two behind. 



Latham's Pita consist of even a more heterogeneous group than that 

 assembled under the Pica of Linmcus. 



The fourth order of Birds, in the Method of Lacc'pMe, consists of 

 those which have the bill straight and compressed, and under it two 

 genera only, Oalkula (Jacamar) and Pietu, are arranged. The Count's 

 third and fifth orders are formed respectively of the genera Jiucco 

 and Yu*r. 



The first family (Cuntirottra, or Si^moramphtt) of M. Dumcril's 

 thin 1 order (Orimpeurs, or Climbers) comprises the genera Pt'cw, ran.-; 



The Pici form M, Meyer's third order, and are divided into two 

 section*: 



1. With stiff feathers. Genera Pica, Certh ia. 



2. With soft feathers. Genera JViw, Sitta, Ticltwlroma. 

 llliger's Scamtort* consist of the Ptitiacini; the Serrati ; the 



A mplukoli ; the Sofiltiliigat ; and tho Syndactyli. The Sagitlilinyuet 

 embrace the genera Ymuc and Pica. 



The great genus Pint is placed by Cuvier in his third order, 

 Orimpeurt, between OoUnO* and Ymue. 



The ZjiywIafifU are the first tribe of the Sylticol*, the second order 

 it birds according to the method of M. Vieillot : the second family of 

 that order, the Mocroylouet, consist of the genera Picut and Yvuc. 



The Zygoaactflt are the fifth order in M. Temminck's arrangement : 

 and the genera Pica, OaUntla, and Ywue constitute th second family 

 of that order. 



The Cuckoos and the Woodpeckers form the Zyyoductylct of M. De 

 Blainville. 



Mr. Vigors separates the Parrots [PMTTACID.B] and Woodpeckers 

 from the other families of Sctauora [SCANBOBES], associating them 

 together in consequence of their affinity in the essential characteristics 

 of the tribe ; and, in his view, they compose its normal groups, as 

 Climbers par excellence, differing however as to the mode in which 

 they climb : the Parrots using the foot chiefly in grasping the object 

 which assists them in their ascent, and in conjunction with the bill ; 

 while the Picidas rely upon the strength and straightness of the hind 

 toes in supporting them in a perpendicular position on the sides of 

 trees, in which posture they are also assisted by the strong shafts of 

 the tail-feathers. 



The Proglosses of M. Latreille are arranged between the Cueuliilet, 

 and the Grandirottra (Toucan and Aracari) ; tho Proglosses consists 

 of the genera Yunx, Picoidei, and Picut. 



In the method proposed by M. De Blainville in 1815 and 1821, and 

 developed by M. Lherminier in 1827, the Woodpeckers (Picut) stand 

 between the Toucans and tho Hoopoes, in the first sub-class (Normal 

 Birds). 



In the Projet of M. Lesson the Picdes comprise the genera >"nj-, 

 Ptcoidet, Picut, and Picumniu, and are placed between the Cuculoes 

 and the Kamphastidees, forming the fourth family of the first tribe 

 (Zyyodactyla) of Jtueaoret, or Orimpeurs. 



Mr. Swainson is of opinion that the structure of the Pieidce con- 

 stitutes them the most perfect of all the climbing birds, for nature 

 has rendered their whole organisation subservient to this particular 

 power. The feet, ho observes, although very short, are unusually 

 strong ; the nails are broad and crooked, aud the toes placed in pairs, 

 that is, two forward and two backward. 



Foot of Woodpecker. 



As an additional nud powerful support in their rapid and perpen- 

 dicular ascent up the trunks of trees, their tail-feathers, he remarks, 

 terminate in points, and are uncommonly hard, so that being pressed 

 against the bark, they assist the bird in its progress or in keeping its 

 position. The bill, destined for the laborious operation of penetrating 

 the wood or stripping off tho bark of forest-trees, is beautifully 

 adapted for the purpose, being wedge-shaped, furnished with regular- 

 sided angles, and in one species (Picue principalit) nearly of the colour 

 and consistency of ivory, whence it has been termed the Ivory-Billed 

 Woodpecker. Mr. Swainson then calls attention to the worm-like 

 tongue barbed at the point, and capable of being protruded to a great 

 length. 



Bill of Woodpecker. 



In the College of Surgeons in London, are several preparations 

 illustrative of the structure of the muscles of the base of the tongue 

 in these birds. The end attained by the arrangement of these muscle* 

 is the rapid and extensive protrusion of the tongue in the transfixion 

 of the insects which constitute the food of the Woodpecker, and 

 which are dislodged from their hiding-places under tho bark of trees 



Dead of Woodpecker,' shoeing the mechanism of ttc tonjue. (Yarrcll.) 



