PHO 



PHO 



tftin none of it are incombustibles. All 

 combustibles are composed of an incom- 

 bustible body and phlogiston united ; and 

 during 1 the combustion the phlogiston 

 flies off', and the incombustible body is 

 left behind. Thus, when sulphur is burnt, 

 the substance that remains is sulphuric 

 acid, an incombustible body. Sulphur 

 therefore is said to be composed of sul- 

 phuric acid and phlogiston. This theory 

 has long since given place to that esta- ' 

 blished by Lavoisier. See COMBUSTION. 

 It must, however, be observed, that Pro- 

 fessor Davy, in his late discoveries, seems 

 inclined to admit. of an inflammable prin- 

 ciple, which pervades the whole of na- 

 ture. How far his future experiments 

 may lead to the establishment of the La- 

 voisierian theory, or that of Stahl, time 

 only can show. See POTASSIUM, 8cc. 



PHLOMI8, in botany, a genus of the 

 Didynamia Gymnospermia class and or- 

 der. Natural order of Verticillatae or 

 Labiatx, Essential character : calyx an- 

 gular; corolla upper lip incumbent, com- 

 pressed, villose. There are twenty-two 

 species. ' 



PHLOX, in botany, a genus of the 

 Pentandria Monogynia class and order. 

 Natural order of Rotacese. Polemonia, 

 Jussieu. Essential character: corolla 

 sulver-shaped ; filaments unequal ; stig- 

 ma trifid ; calyx prismatical ; capsule 

 three-celled, one-seeded. There are 

 twelve species, natives of North Ame- 

 rica. 



PHOCA, the seal, in natural history, a 

 genus of Mammalia of the order Ferae. 

 Generic character : fore teeth, in the up- 

 per jaw, six, sharp, parallel, and the ex- 

 terior ones larger ; in the lower jaw four, 

 distinct, parallel, equal, and rather blunt; 

 tusks one on each side in both jaws, 

 large and pointed, the upper remote 

 from the fore teeth, the lower from the 

 grinders ; grinders five on each side 

 above, and six below, tricuspidated. 

 There are nineteen species, of which we 

 shall notice the following: 



P. vitulina, or the common seal, or sea- 

 calf. These animals are found on the 

 coasts of the polar regions, both to the 

 north and south, often in extreme abun- 

 dance, and are generally about five feet 

 in length, closely covered with short hair. 

 They swim with great vigour and rapidi- 

 ty, and subsist on various kinds of fish, 

 which they are often observed to pursue 

 within a short distance from the shore. 

 They possess no inconsiderable sagacity, 

 and may, without much difficulty, if taken 

 young, be familiarized to their keepers, 

 VOL. V. 



arid instructed in various gesticulations. 

 They are supposed to attain great longe- 

 vity. The female is particularly attentive 

 to her young, and scarcely ever produces 

 more than two at a birth, which, after be- 

 ing suckled a fortnight on the shore, 

 where they are always born, are con- 

 ducted to the water, and taught by their 

 dam the means of defence and subsist- 

 ence ; und when they are fatigued by 

 their excursions, are relieved by being 

 taken on her back. They distinguish her 

 voice, and attend at her call. The flesh 

 of seals is sometimes eaten, but they arc 

 almost always destroyed for their oil and 

 skins. The latter are manufactured into 

 very valuable leather, and the former is 

 serviceable in a vast variety of manufac- 

 tures. A young seal will supply about 

 eight gallons of oil. The smell of these 

 animals, in any great number upon the 

 shore, is highly disagreeable. In the 

 month of October they are generally con- 

 sidered as most valuable, and as they 

 abound in extended caverns on the coast, 

 which are washed by the tide, the hun- 

 ters proceed to these retreats about^mid- 

 night, advancing with their boat as fur in- 

 to the recess as they are able, armed 

 with spears and bludgeons, and furnished 

 with torches, to enable them to explore 

 the cavern. They begin their operations 

 by making the most violent noises, which 

 soon rouse the seals from their slumbers, 

 and awaken them to a sense of extreme 

 danger, which they express by the most 

 hideous yellings of terror. In their ea- 

 gerness to escape they come clown from 

 all parts of the cavern, rushing in a pro- 

 miscuous and turbulent mass along the 

 avenue to the water. The men engaged 

 in this perilous adventure oppose no im- 

 pediment to this rushing crowd, but as 

 this begins to diminish, apply their wea- 

 pons with great activity and success, des- 

 troying vast numbers, and principally the 

 young ones. The blow of the hunter is 

 always levelled at the nose of the seal, 

 where a slight stroke is almost instantly 

 fatal. 



P. ursina, or the ursine seal, grows to 

 the length of eight feet, and to the weight 

 of a hundred pounds. These are found 

 in vast abundance in the islands between 

 America and Kamtschatka, from Jane till 

 September, when they return to the Asi- 

 atic or American shores. They are ex- 

 tremely strong, surviving wounds and la- 

 erations which almost instantly destroy 

 life in other animals, for days, and even 

 weeks. They may be observed, not mere- 

 ly by hundreds, but by tho.ussmds on tkc 



THB 



