P o u 
presented to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, fays, 
that his Grace divided it among his friends ; and 
that it tafted beft when ferved up with Porpus 
fauce, which was compofed of vinegar, crumbs 
of fine bread, and fugar. 
PORPHYRIO. An appellation by which 
crnithologifts exprefs a bird very imperfeftly de- 
fer ibed. According to fome accounts, it is of 
the gallinula or moor-hen kind; and is reprefented 
as being of a fine deep blue colour, except that 
the extremity of the tail is in the middle of a grey- 
ifn white, and that the legs and feet are of a fine 
fnining purple. Some fabulous circumftances 
have been related concerning it, fo that it is ex- 
tremely difficult to feparate truth from error. In 
the Linnsen fyftem, this bird is a fpecies of fulica 
or coot. 
PORPHYRIO AMERICANUS. A name 
by which fome authors have exprefled the qua- 
chilto, a very beautiful fpecies of American 
moor-hen. 
PORPHYRY SHELL. A fpecies of fea- 
Hiell of the purpura kind, with a fliort clavicle 
and beak. 
FORTIUS PISCIS. An appellation given 
by ichtiiyologifts to the m.ugil ater, or black 
mullet; a very fcarce fpecies, pretty much refem- 
bling the common mullet in fliape. The body 
is extremely black, having feveral lines of a 
deeper black than the reft running longitudinally 
from the gills to the tail ; the mouth is very wide; 
and the back is armed with feyen or eight prickles, 
united to each other by means of a fin. 
PORTUGUESE MAN OF VvAR. A 
nautical term for the Holathuria Phyfalis of Lin- 
nsEus; a very curious and beautiful animal, which 
feems to confift of a fmall bladder about feven 
inches long, very much refembling the air-bladder 
of filhes ; from the bottom of which defcend a num- 
ber of bright blue and red ftrings, fome of which 
are three feet long; and, on being touched, they 
fting very violently, after the manner of a nettle. 
On the top of the bladder there is a membrane, 
anfwering the purpofe of a fail, and turned in fuch 
a direftion as moft eafily to catch the wind: this 
membrane is curicufly marked with pink-coloured 
veins, and exhibits a very pleafing appearance. 
POSSUM. See Opossum. 
POTTO. An appellation given to an animal 
of the vv-eafel kind ; called alfo the yellow mau- 
cauco. 
POULTRY. Under this term, when taken 
in an exrenfive fenfe, are comprehended all thofe 
birds which have v/hite flefii, and bulky bodies in 
proportion to their heads and legs. They are 
furnilhed with ftrong fnort bills, for picking up 
grain, their chief, and often their fole fupport; 
their wings are fhort and concave, which render 
them incapable of long flights; they lay a great 
number of eggs ; they generally form their nefts 
on the ground ; and the toes of all of them are 
united by a membrane, as far as the firft articu- 
lation. 
Under this clafs therefore may be ranked the 
common cock, the peacock, the turkey, the pin- 
tada or Guinea-hen, the pheafant, the buftard, 
the grous, the partridge, and the quail. All thefe 
bear a ftrong fimilitude to each other, being equally 
granivorous, flefhy, and delicate to the tafte. 
Thefe are among birds what beafts of pafture are 
among quadrupeds ; peaceable tenants of the field ; 
and averfe to the receffes of the foreft, which 
abound with animals too numerous for them ei- 
ther to oppofe or avoid. 
As Nature has formed the rapacious clafs of 
birds for hoftility, fo ftie feems equally to have 
adapted thefe for peace, reft, and fociety. Their 
wings are ftiort, and therefore but ill-formed for 
diftant excurfions; their bills are alfo fliort, and 
incapable of annoying their enemies; their legs 
indeed are very ftrong; but their toes are made 
for fcratching up their food, and not for holding 
or tearing it. Thefe are fufficient indications of 
their hannlefs nature; while their bodies, which 
are fat and flefliy, render themi unwieldy travel- 
lers, and incapable of ftraying far from each other. 
Accordingly v/e find the Poultry tribe chiefly in 
fociety: they live together; and though they have 
their difputes on fome occafions, yet, when kept 
in the fame diftrift, or fed in the fame yard, they 
learn the arts of fubordination ; and, in propor- 
tion as each knows his own ftrength, he feldom, 
after having experienced a fingle defeat, hazards 
a fecond. 
Thus, all of this kind feem to lead indolent, vo- 
luptuous lives ; and as they are internally furnifticd 
with very ftrong ftomaclis, fo their voracioufnefs 
knows no bounds. Tliough kept in clofe capti- 
vity, and feparated froni all their former compa- 
nions, th.ey ftill retain the defire of food, and foon 
become fat in their prifons. Indeed, the Poultry 
kind may be regarded as fenfual epicures, governed 
folely by their appetites; the indulgence of which 
feems to influence their other habits, and to de- 
ftroy, among them, that connubial fidelity for 
which moft- other kinds are remarkable. The ea- 
gle and the falcon, how fierce foever to other ani- 
mals, are yet gentle and true to each other; and 
their conne6lions, when once formed, fubfift to 
their death: the male and female, in every exi- 
gence, mutually afllft each other, particularly in 
the duties of incubation, and providing for their 
young; and, even after they have drove out their 
offspring to fnift for themfelves, and fight their 
own battles, they ftill retain their former afix-ftion, 
and feldom feparate to any confiderable diftance. 
But the cafe is very different with refped to the 
luxurious clafs now under confideration : their 
courtfhip is but fiiort, and their congrefs fortui- 
tous. The male pays no manner of attention to 
his progeny; but, contented with the pleafure of 
originally generating, devolves all the care of 
providing for pofterity on the female. Wild and 
unreftrained in his appetites, he ranges from one 
female to another, laying claim to every one 
v.'hom he has fufficient ftrength to keep from his 
fellows. Though timorous when oppofed to 
birds of prey, he is incredibly bold among thofe 
of his own fpecies; and as his defires extend to 
all, every creature becomes his enemy that dares 
to be his rival. The female likewife, being defti- 
tute both of fidelity and attachment, yields to the 
moft powerful fuitor. She ftands a quiet fpe(5ta- 
tor of the combat, and is ready to reward the con- 
queror with every compliance. She takes on 
herfelf all the labour of hatching and rearing her 
young, removing as far as pofllble from the pre- 
fence of the cock. As foon as her off'spring have 
quitted the fliell, ftie leads them to fuch fituations 
where they are likely to meet with the greateft 
quantities of grain; and takes particular care, by 
pecking, to point out to them the proper forr. 
Though at other times voracious, flie is then ex- 
tremely abftemious; and being folely intent on 
providing 
