popular Birtumorti of *&mm<itrlr Mature. 517 



of opinion that the description given by 

 Pliny of the Phoenix is meant for tliis bird. 



OOLDEN PHEASANT. (.FHAS1ANU8 PICTUS.) 



Another fine species found in China is the 

 SiLViii; PHEASANT (Phaxiaitus nycthemerus). 

 This is of a silvery white colour, with very 

 delicate black lines on each feather and 



black abdomen. But the most splendid of 

 all is the so-called Auous PHEASANT (. A ryus 

 (jitjanteus). This species, which is as large as 

 a turkey, is an inhabitant of the mountains 

 of Sumatra, and of some other of the Indian 

 islands. The male has a very long tail ; 

 the feathers of the wings are large and long ; 

 and both are thickly covered with ocellate 

 spots. [See ARGUS.] 



PHEASANT CUCKOO. (Centropus.) A 

 genus of Scansorial birds belonging to the 

 Cuckoo family. 



PHILETAEKUS. A genus of Grosbeaks, 

 remarkable for building their nests in society. 

 [See GUOSBEAK.] 



PHOC^ENA. A sub-genus of Dolphins, 

 distinguished by the absence of the beak-like 

 prolongation of the jaws. [See PORPOISE.] 



PHOCID^E. The name of the family of 

 carnivorous and amphibious Mammalia, of 

 which the Seal (P/toca) is the type. 



PHCENICqPTERUS. The generic name 

 of the Flamingo [which see]. The term is 

 also applied to other birds which have red 

 wings, as the Jiombycilla phcenicoptera. 



PHOLADOMYA. A genus of Conchi- 

 ferous Mollusca, one species only of which 

 (P. Candida) is known to be in existence at 

 the present time, and that is from the island 

 of Tortola, where it is frequently found 

 after hurricanes ; but there are several fossil 

 species occurring in rocks of the oolitic series. 

 The shell is thin, equivalve, veutricose, elon- 

 gated, and gaping, transparent, white or 



yellowish, hinge having a long narrow hollow 

 or pit ; ligament external ; bosses worn by 

 being placed near each other ; muscular 

 impressions two in each valve, rather in- 

 distinct. Professor Owen has given a de- 

 scription of the animal of this curious genus. 



PHOLAS : PIIOLADES. A genus and 

 family of Conchiferous Mollusca, protected 

 by a testaceous bivalve shell; and it is worthy 

 of notice that the Pholas is the only testa- 

 ceous mollu&ca which has the property of 

 evolving a phosphorescent light. This qua- 

 lity in the Pholas was lirst observed by Pliny, 

 and has since been confirmed by Reaumur. 

 Pliny says that the whole substance of the 

 animal is charged with a fluid that has the 



property of emitting a phosphorescent light ; 

 and that it will illuminate any substance 

 which it touches. Dr. Priestley pays, " This 

 fish illuminates the mouth of the person who 

 eats it : and it is remarkable, that, contrary 

 to the nature of other fish, which give light 

 when they tend to putrescence, this is more 

 luminous the fresher it is : when dried, its 

 light will revive 011 being moistened either 

 with salt water or fresh ; brandy, however, 

 immediately extinguishes it." 



The geographical distribution of the Pho- 

 ladcs is very wide, and their habit of boring 

 hard substances, such as indurated mud or 

 clay, wood, and stone, renders them, as well 

 as other terebratiug testaceans, an object of 

 anxious interest to those who construct sub- 

 marine works. The species are numerous, 

 and some are very abundant on our own 

 coasts. " Of these," says Mr. G. B. Sowerby, 

 "Pholas crispata, Dactylus, catulula, and 

 parva, are the most common ; several others 

 are described by Turton, in his 'British 

 Bivalves,' of which we are quite convinced 

 the P. lamcllata is only the young of P. pa- 

 pyracta: we are not acquainted with his 

 P. tultcrculata. Much confusion appears to 

 prevail in regard to several very distinct 

 species." We refer our readers to the newly 

 published work of Messrs. Forbes and Hanley 

 on the British Mollusca and their shells, in 

 which these points and many others are 

 dwelt on and settled. 



The Pholas has a delicate, milky white, 

 rather transparent shell, covered sometimes 

 with a thin epidermis, oval, elongated, in- 



