P H E PH E 
top, and channelled on the fides ; and the eyes 
arc placed remarkably high in the forehead.^ The 
forehead is white; the crown of the head is co- 
vered with duflcy pluP-iagc, fpotced with white and 
pale reddifh brown ; but the reft of the head, and 
the whole under part of the neck and body,_ are 
white. The upper part of the neck is of a light 
grey hue; the back and rump are of a deep dove- 
colour, marked with dufky fpots ; the edges of the 
fcapulars are a dull yellow; the coverts are duflcy ; 
the primaries are likewife duflcy, with white 
fnafts; and the fmaller quill- feathers are tipt with 
•white. The feathers on the back are either 
wholly grey or black, edged v.'ith a pale red; and 
the tail is duflcy, edged with cinereous. The 
legs are of a leaden colour; and the toes have cu- 
rious fcrilloped membranes like the coot. 
This fpecics, which is fometlmes feen iji York- 
fliire, is defcribed by Edwards under the appella- 
tion of the grey coot-footed tringa. 
Phalarope, Red ; the Tringa Hyperborea of 
Linnseus, The bill of this bird is about one inch 
long, black, flender, and ftraight almoft to the 
point, which bends downwards; the crown of the 
head, the hind parr of the neck, and the coverts 
of the vv'ings, are of a deep lead-colour; the back 
and fcapulars are of the fame hue, except that 
they are ftriped with dirty yellow; and the quill- 
feathers are duflcy, with v/hite fhafts. A fl:ripe of 
white crofles the greater coverts; the chin and 
throat are white; the under part and fides of the 
reck are ferruginous; the breaft is dark cinereous ; 
and the belly is white. The coverts of the tail 
are barred v/ith black and white; the tail is fliort, 
and of a cinereous colour; and the legs and feet 
are black. 
This fpecies has fometimes been caught in 
Yorkfliire; and is common to the northern parts 
of Europe and America. 
PHALLUS MARINUS. An appellation 
given by fome authors to a fpecies of the canalis 
or tubulus marinus, found near Amboyna. It is 
an oblong fnell, with a large head, pierced full of 
fmali holes ; fo that at once it refembles the glans 
penis and the nofe of a watering-pot. 
PH AT AGIN. An animal refembling the 
pangolin, of which it is deemed a variety. It is 
about one foot long from the head to the tail; and 
the tail is about twice the length of the body. 
The back is protefled by a fheliy covering like 
the pangolin ; but the belly, breafl:, and throat, are 
covered with hair. It is a native of the warm la- 
titudes of the Indies and Africa. 
PHE SANT. A genus of birds of the gal- 
linse ord^r; the difting-uifliing charafteriftic of 
v/hich is, that the area, or fpace about the eyes, 
is naked. 
Pheafants were firft imported into Europe from 
the banks of the Phafis, a river of Colchis, in Afia 
Minor; and from this river they received their 
name. There are feveral fpecies. 
Pheasant, Common. Next to the peacock, 
the Pheafant is the mofi: beautiful of birds, as well 
for the vivid colour of it's plumes, as for their 
delightful mixtures and variety. The utmoft ef- 
forts of the pencil cannot reprefent any thing fo 
glofly and brilliant, or points fo delicately blend- 
ing into each other. It is reported that Crcefus, 
king of Lydia, when feated on his throne, adorned 
with all the pomp of eaftern fplendour, aflced So- 
lon if he had ever feen any thing fo fine ? The 
Greek philofopher, unawed by the objeds before 
Vol. II. 
him, or priding himfclf in his native fimplicity, 
replied, that after having feen the beautiful plu- 
mage of the Pheafant, he could be aftoniflied at 
no other finery. 
Indeed this is certainly a moft elegant bird. 
The irides are yellow ; and the eyes are furrounded 
with fcarlet, fprinkled with fmall black fpecks. 
On the fore-part of the head there are blackifli 
feathers, mixed with a fliining purple. The top 
of the head, and the upper part of the neck, are 
tinged with a darkifli fhining green. In fome 
varieties, the top of the head is of a fhining blue 
colour; and the head and neck appear either blue 
or green, according to the light in which the fpec- 
tator views them. The feathers on the breaft, the 
flioulders, the back, and the fides, are blackifli, 
exquifitely edged with a varying colour, under 
which appears a tranfverie golden ftreak. The 
tail is about eighteen inches long; the legs, feet, 
and toes, are horn-coloured ; the legs are furniftied 
with black fpurs, fliorter than thofe of a cock ; 
and two of the toes are connefted by a membrane. 
The hen is lefs beautiful than the cock : her fea- 
thers are nearly like thofe of the quail. She lays 
about eighteen or twenty eggs once a year; and 
brings up a nuinerous brood. 
The Pheafant is not only beautiful to the eye; 
it is alfo a peculiar delicacy for the table : but, as if 
difdainingtheprotedion of man, it takes flicker in 
the thickeft woods and remoteft forefts. The cock, 
the turkey, the pintada, and all others of the do- 
meftic kind, when once reclaimed, have ftill con- 
tinued in their domeftic ftate, and perfevered in 
the habits and appetites of willing fervitude: but 
the Pheafant, though removed from it's native 
warm and agreeable climates, retains it's attach- 
ment to genuine freedom; and now continues 
wild among us, ornamenting our parks and fo~ 
refts, v;here it feeds on acorns, berries, and grain, 
the fcanty produce of this cold climate. 
But though, in the woods, the hen Pheafant lays 
from eighteen to twenty eggs in a feafon, yet in a 
ftate of captivity flie feldom produces above ten. 
In the wild ftate, flie hatches and rears her brood 
with patience, vigilance, and courage; but when 
kept tame, flie becomes fo very remifs in her duty, 
that a common hen is generally made her fubfti- 
tute. It is therefore more advifeable to leave the 
Pheafant at large in the woods, than to endeavour 
to tame it when in a ftate of captivity: in the 
former ftate, it's fecundity is fufficient to ftock the 
foreft; it's elegant plumage adorns it; and unre- 
ftrained freedom communicates a finer flavour to 
it's flefli. 
Many perfons of ample fortune have attempted 
once more to take thefe birds from the woods, and 
to keep them in places fitted up for their reception.. 
Like the reft of the poultry kind, they have but 
little fagacity, and hence are eafily taken. At 
night they rooft on the higheft trees of the wood; 
and defcend by day among the brakes and buflies, 
in queft of food. In winter they may eafily be 
traced in the fnow, and are frequently taken in 
fprings. They are fliot with the moft facility of 
any birds; for, when they rife, they always make 
a whizzing noife, fuflicient to put the fportfman on 
his guard; and being a large mark, and flying 
very flow, the moft indifl^erent fowler can hardly 
mifs his aim. 
When Pheafants are taken very young into 
keeping, they become as familiar as chickens. 
The female, in a ftate of nature, forms her neft of 
2 Z dried 
