P L A 
liar fpecles of fparrow common in thofe iflands. 
It is fmaller than the European fparrow ; and it's 
ufual food con fids of the feeds of the canary-grafs, 
which grows wild in great abundance. 
PISCIS SANCTI PETRI. An appellation 
given by Jovius, and fome other ichthyologifts, 
to the faber, or John Doree. It is properly a 
fpecies of the zeus. 
PISMIRE. A name by which fome natura- 
lifts exprefs the ant. See Ant. 
PIT-FISH. This filh, which is caught in the 
Oriental feas, is about the fize of the fmelt. The 
body is roundifh, deftitute of fcales, and varie- 
gated with green and yellow fpots. It polTeffes 
the fingular faculty of protruding or drawing back 
it's eyes at pleafure. It delights in deep and 
muddy fiiuations; and is extremely nimble^ being 
capable of fpringing to a confiderable diftance. 
It's fiefh is very agreeable to the tafte. 
PITHECALOPEX, the Ape-Fox. An ap- 
pellation by which Aldrovandus and fome other 
naturalifts exprefs that fingular animal generally 
known by the name of the opofllim. It is fo 
called from a llippofed refemblance in it's nature 
to that of the ape and the fox. 
PLACENTA. A name by which fome au- 
thors exprefs one of the clafTes of echini marini. 
It's diftinguifliing charafters are; that the body is 
of a depreifed or flatted form, wrought into a va- 
riety of fhapes; that the top is adorned with a cin- 
qucfoil flower; that the mouth is fituate in the 
middle of the bafe; and the aperture for the anus 
iifually near the edge. There are three genera 
belonging to this clafs ; the mellitta, the laga- 
num, and the rotula. 
PLAGIURI. A term by which one of the 
great families or clafles of fifh is expreffed : the 
charafters of v/hich are; that their tails are placed 
horizontally; that they refpire by means of lungs, 
and have ufually a double fiftule in the head; that 
they are viviparous, being furniflied with the fame 
organs of generation as terreftrial animals ; and 
that the females fupport their young with milk. 
The term is derived from the Greek Plagios, 
Tranfverfe; and Oura, a Tail. Under this clafs 
are comprehended the following genera: the phy- 
feter, delphinus, balaena, monodon, catodon, and 
thrichechus. 
PLAISE ; the Pleuroneftes Platefla of Lin- 
naeus. This fifh, which is alfo called the pla- 
tefla, the paflTer Isevis, and quadratulus, according 
to the Artedian fyftem, is a fpecies of the pleuro- 
ne6les; and is diftinguifhed by that author under 
the appellation of the pleuroneftes with fmooth 
fides, and with a fpine near the anus, and the 
eyes and fix tubercles placed on the right fide of 
the head. 
Thefe fi flies are very common on moil of the 
Britifh coafl:s; and fome have been taken that 
weighed fifteen pounds. However, they feldom 
attain to that fize, one of eight or nine pounds 
being reckoned a large fifh. The beft and largefl: 
are caught off^Rye^ in SufTex. They fpawn about 
the beginning of February. 
The body of this fifli is extremely flat; behind 
the left eye there is a row of fix tubercles, reach- 
ing to the commencement of the lateral line ; the 
tipper part of the body and fins is of a clear brown 
colour, marked v/ith large bright orange-coloured 
fpoi's ; and che belly is white. 
PLATEA. An appellation by which many 
ornithoiogills exprefs the fpoon-bill. 
P L O 
PLATESSA. A name by which Aufonius, 
and fome other ichthyologiuo, have exprefled the 
paflfer fifli, or com.mon plaife, 
PLATONIA. A term whereby the modern 
Greeks exprefs the prox of Ariftotle ; more com- 
monly known by the appellation of the cervus 
platyceros, or broad-horned fl:ag, 
PLATYCEROS OVIS. An appellation 
given by Gefner, and fome others, to a fpecies of 
flieep commonly called Ovis Lacicauda, or broad- 
tailed. 
PLATYRYNCHOS. A nam.e by which 
fome ichthyologifi:s exprefs the nafus, or nefe, a 
frefli-watcr fifh caught in the Danube and other 
large German rivers, bearing a ftrong refemblance 
to the common chub. 
PLESTYA. An appellation whereby fome 
ichthyologifts exprefs the carcaflli tertium genus 
of authors ; a fifh of the leather-mouthed kind, 
in no refpeft effentially differing from the com- 
mon carcafiius. 
PLEUROCYSTUS. A term by which fome 
authors exprefs one of the general arrangements 
of the echini marini: the diftinguifhing charafter 
of which is; that the anus is neither in the fum- 
mit nor the bafe, but in fome part of the fuperfi- 
cies of one of the fides. 
The term is derived from the Greek Pleuron, 
the Side; and Kuflos, the Anus. 
PLEURONECTES. A genus of fiflies of 
the malacopterygious kind: the charafters of 
which are; that the branchiofbege membrane on 
each fide contains fix cylindric bones; and in the 
middle between thefe, but lower down, two others 
are joined together at their extremities, which are 
fcarcely confpicuous : that both the eyes are placed 
in one fide of the head ; in fome, they are in the 
right fide; in others, in the left: that the eyes are 
covered with a fkin; and that one fide of the fifh 
is always white, the other being fpotted or ob- 
feu re. 
Some of thefe fifhes have a very fhort fpine at 
the anus ; and the eyes are generally on the right 
fide. Artedi enumerates feven fpecies of this 
fort. The other fpecies of the Pleuronedse have 
their eyes on the left fide of the head ; and no 
fpines, except at the anus. Of the lafl mentioned, 
Artedi enumerates three fpecies. 
In the Linnasan fyflem,this is a genus of thetho- 
racici, comprehendingfeventeen fpecies, including 
the holibut, plaife, flounder, dab, fole, pearl tur- 
bot, &c. 
The term is of Greek origin, and is derived 
from the words Pleuron, the Side; and Nedles, a 
Swimmer; exprefllve of the peculiar and diflinc- 
tive charader of thefe fiflies, which is, that they 
all fwim on one fide. 
PLOTUS. A genus of anferes, in the Lin- 
nasan fyfi:em: the charafters of which are; that the 
beak is ftraight, fliarp, and denticulated; that the 
face is covered; and that the feet are palmated, 
with the toes joined. There is only one fpecies 
of this genus, the anhinga of Marcgrave. 
PLOVER, BASTARD. See Lapwing. 
Plover, Lesser; the Charadrius Mounellus 
ofLinn^^us. See Dotterel. 
Plover, Golden; the Charadrius Pluvialis of 
LinnjEus. This elegant bird frequents our moors 
and heaths in fmall flocks, during the winter fea- 
fon. It's length is about eleven inches; and the 
expanfion of it's wings twenty-four. The bill is 
fhort and black; the feathers on the head, back, 
and 
