perception 
Tht' mutnliriH nf tills committee have been gathering 
evidence on thin obsnirv lnit ini[Mirt;int iiursliim uf what 
may bo called silperscnsuous perceptual. 
Pi-i<r. .si*. I'n/ck. Research, I. IS. 
4. In linr, ]iartici|iatioii in receipts; commu- 
nity of interest in income: as, tho perception of 
profits External perception. Seetxtmtal. -Judg- 
ment of perception, sice judirment. - Little percep- 
tion |K. 'iii-Hle /K-rceptiiin, LtibnM], a perception which 
dors nut risv In tin- lev rl (if consciousness; an cilmiMire per- 
ci-ptlon. 
perceptional (ptowp'shgn-fl), ". [< pcrci-/iiion 
+ -/. ] Of <ir pertaining to perception: as, 
/ii-rri'litioiiiil insanity. 
Hypericsthetlc or anicsthctic and other perceptional mor- 
lii'l Miitc-s. Alien, and Keurol., VIII. 644. 
perceptive (per-sep'tiv), a. ami . [< Y.perci-p- 
lij'= Sp. \'. pi'i-ri'ptien, < ML. 'jterceptivus, < L. 
fn-rciiM-rr. \>\>. )>i rn-jitiiH, perceive: see perceive.'} 
. a. Of or pertaining to the act or power of 
perceiving; having tlie faculty of perceiving; 
consisting in perce]ition. 
The perceptire part of the soul. 
l>f H. More, Divine I ii.il, ,_ ,i , - 
An urchin, pulling to pieces his toys, building card- 
houses, whipping Ills top, gathering flowers and pebbles 
and shells, passes an Intellectual life that Is mainly per- 
ceptive. H. Spencer, Prin. of Psycho]., t Wi- 
ll, a. i'l. The perceptive faculties. [Colloq.] 
It [a system of training] at the same time strengthens 
and disciplines the faculties of the mind, cultivating the 
perception. Pap. Sci. Mo., XXXVI. 787 
perceptiveness (yer-sep'tiv-nes), w. 1. The 
faculty of perception. 2. Readiness to acquire 
knowledge from sensations. 
perceptivity (per-sep-tiv'i-ti), . [< perceptire 
+ -ity.] The character of being perceptive; 
the power of perception orthinking; perception. 
Perceptivity, or the power of perception. 
Locke, Human Understanding, II. xxl. 73. 
perceptual (per-sep'tu-al), a. [< L. as if *per- 
i-i-jiiiix ("-perceptu-), perceptive, + -al: see per- 
n-pi and -al. Of. conceptual.'] Of or pertaining 
to perception ; of the nature of perception. 
Secondly, the origin of concepts or universals was traced 
to acts of attending to perceptual data for the purpose of 
harmonizing them with thuiv*perceptual context. 
Atheiurum, No. 3248, p. 121. 
Percesoces (per-ses'o-sez), . pi. [NL., < Gr. 
irlpmi, a perch, + L. MOT, a kind of pike: see 
Esox.~\ A group of fishes so called because its 
species partake of the characters of and are in- 
termediate between the perciform and esoci- 
f orm fishes, (a) In Cope's classification, an order of phy- 
soclistoiiB fishes having the scapular arch suspended from 
the skull, ventral fins abdominal in position, and bran- 
chial arches well developed, their bones being generally 
present in full number excepting the fourth superior 
pharyngeal, and the third upper pharyngeal being much 
enlarged and complex. (M In Gill's system, a suborder of 
teleocephalous flsnes characterized by the abdominal or 
subabdominal position of the ventrals, and the develop- 
ment of spines In these tins and in the dorsal. It Includes 
the atherines, mullets, barracudas, and related fishes. 
percesocine (per-ses'o-sin), a. and n. [< Per- 
ccsoces + -iwe 1 .] I. a. Pertaining to the Per- 
cesoces, or having their characters. 
II. H. A fish of the order or suborder Perce- 
soces. 
perch 1 (perch), n. [Formerly sAsopearch; < ME. 
jH'rche, < OF. (and F. ) perclie = Sp. Pg. It. perca 
(ML. perclta, pare/in, after OF. ), < L. perca, < Gr. 
xtpuri, a perch ; prob. so called from its color- 
ing: cf. irepKv6f, spotted, blackish, = Sld.pricni, 
spotted, dappled: see spark.'] 1. A very com- 
mon fresh-water fish of Europe, Perca fluria- 
tilis, or one of many other species of the same 
family. The common perch has two dorsal fins, the first 
with from thirteen to fifteen spines, the second with a 
spine and fourteen rays ; the anal has two spines and 
seven rays ; the color is generally dark olivaceous, with 
six or eight darker bars. The common yellow perch of the 
4387 
South WiiluH. ) (il) Out- nf v.-iriini* rfiitnuvhiiid fishes, spe- 
cified by a qnallfyini: ''!. Si-i' phnMi following. |l'.s. ] 
Bachelor perch, till- grass-haw. /Wi"j-.v* sparoides. 
ISniithern I". S.| Black perch. (") .'//"/< americana, 
as found in fresh water ]iondson Long Island, (6) Out- of 
Hi-- il;irk sjirrii s of Itepomi* or of Piniuitix. (c) The black 
si a-tiass, Centrnprixtix atrariti*. (rf) One of the dark vi- 
viparous perches, as llilreiiui jnckmni. (e) The fresh-wa- 
ter drum, or aheepshead, Apttniinolu* trrunniens. [Iowa.] 
CO The trlpletail, l.n/nilen mriiunneniu. Blue-banded 
perch, H kind nf viviparous perch. Ititrenui lateralix. |(';il 
iltirnia.] Chinkapin-perch, MM grass-bass, Pomoxys 
sjtarnitlei. [Southern U. 8.] Common perch. In tin- 
I'nlted States, the yellow perch. t'>r<'n n,m riania or rtn 
vence)ut. English perch, :i misnnniiT of the common yel- 
low perch of .North Ainerl<-a. Fresh-water perch, an 
embiotocld, Huftfrocarpta trruilri. [California. ]- Goggler, 
'"'goggle-eyed perch, tin- nnn> i,:,ss. Golden perch, 
theraponoid fish, PlrctnqititexitrCtenoliiteitambiguiu. (New 
><mth Wales. 1 Qray perch, the fresh-water drum, Aplo- 
dituitus grunnien*. - Green perch, the large-mduthetl 
black-bass. Grunting perch, the grunter or buffali* 
perch. Little perch, an emhiobifid, Cymatoyajtt'i- u<i 
</re<ialu*. [California. ] Macleay perch, the flh Lvtja- 
nwt mafleayanu*. [ New South Wales. ] Magpie-perch, 
a cirritid fish, Chiludactiiln* yibb<nni*. Norway red 
perch, the Norway haddock. Pearl perch, a apaniid 
nsli. (jlauciHHrina ttapulare. [New South Wales. j Red- 
bellied perch, the long-eaied sunflsh, Leptnni* auritux. 
Red-flnned perch, the redfln. Red perch, (a) The 
garibaldi, lltijnnipaptt ruhicittulus. [California.] (ft) The 
rose-fish, Sevrute* ncipanu. Sacramento perch, ii ipe- 
Sacramento Perch {Archoplitel ittterr*filiit). 
American Yellow Perch (Perca americarta}. 
United States is scarcely different from the foregoing, but 
Is technically distinguished as P . amerimiM or flateicem. 
See also cuts under yiA and teleost. 
2. A fish of one of various other genera or fami- 
lies, (a) Any surf-fish or member of the Embiotocida: 
more fully called viviparous perch. See surf-fish and aifona. 
11'acinc coast, I", s. | (6) The cunner. chogset, or nipper, 
Ctenolabru* adtpersug, more fully called bluf -perch. [New 
Kng. ] (c) An Australian fish, Lates cdonorum. [New 
cie of Ceiitrarchidff, ArehoplUtJt intemiptui. Salt- Wa- 
ter perch, the cunner, Ctenolabrwt adgpemts. Serpen- 
tlform perches, the family Ptrcopttida. See cut under 
Pereis. Silver perch, (o) A scuenoid fish, BairdMla 
punctata or chryntra. [New Jersey.) See rileerfiith. (6) 
One of several embiotocoid or viviparous perches. (Cali- 
fornia.) (c) A serranoid fish, Macyuaria awtrnlariea. [New 
South Wales.] (d) The black or wide-mouthed sunflsh. 
Chernobrytttii gulianu. [ L'. s. ] Speckled perch. Same 
as silver perch (d). Spineless perch, a pirate-perch. 
Striped perch, an emoiotocid, Ditrfina lateralvt.Thlck 
llpped perch, an embiot<x;id, Jthacnchilus tnxotes. (Call 
fonila.] Tiny perches, the elassomes. Viviparous 
perch. See def. -2 (a). Warmouth perch. See war- 
mouth. White perch, (a) In the United States, a fish 
of the family Labracidff, aorotif americana. See Morone. 
(b) The fresh-water drum, sheepshead, or black perch, 
Aplodiiwtug yrunniens. [Iowa.] (c) One of several differ 
ent embiotbcids or viviparous perches, as llyperpro&moit 
argcnteus, Damalifhthys vacca. etc. [ Pacific coast. ] Yel- 
low perch, in the United States, the most common name 
of Perca ainericatia or Jlaeegcenfi. closely allied to the true 
perch (P. flitriatilis) of Europe : the racoon-perch, yellow- 
nn, redfin, Hug-perch, etc. (See also blue perch, bujfalo- 
perch. loo-perch, pike-perch, pirate-perch, pond-perch, ra- 
coon-perch, ring-perch, river-perch, rudder-perch, sand- 
perch, sea-perch, strawberrj/-perch, sun-perch, trout-perch.) 
perch' 2 (perch), n. [Formerly also pcarch (dial. 
perk) ; < ME. perclie, pcrke, < OF. pcrche,perque, 
a pole, perch (roost), perch (measure), F. perclie, 
a pole, perch (measure), = Pr. per/a = Sp. Pg. 
perclia = It. pcrtica, < L. perticii, a pole, a long 
staff, a measuring-rod (usually called decempe- 
da, 'ten-foot pole'), also a portion of land mea- 
sured with such a rod.] 1. Arodorpole; espe- 
cially, a rod or pole serving as a roost for birds ; 
anything on which birds alight and rest. 
From reason back to faith, and straight from thence 
She rudely flutters to the perch of sense. 
Quarks, Emblems, v. in. 
Hence 2. An elevated seat or position. 
Not making his high place the lawless perch 
Of wing'd ambitions, nor the vantage-ground 
For pleasure. Tennyson, Idylls of the King, Ded. 
3. A rod or pole used as a definite measure of 
length ; a measure of length equal to iH yards. 
Perches of 7 and 8 yards have also been in local 
use. See pole 1 . 
If you do move me one perch from this, 
My pack and all shall gitng with thee. 
Bold Pedlar and Robin llood (Child's Ballads, V. 249). 
4. A square measure equal to SOJ square yards : 
160 perches make an acre. 5. A unit of cubic 
measure used by stone-masons. It is usually 
IftJ feet by 1$ feet by 1 foot; but it varies 
greatly. 6. A pole or staff set up as a beacon 
on a shallow place or a rock, or used to mark a 
channel. 7. In vehicles: (a) A pole connect- 
ing the fore and hind gears of a spring-car- 
riage ; the reach or bar. See cut under barouche, 
(b) An elevated seat for the driver. 8t. [< 
pi'rrli", c.] The act of perching or alighting 
upon a place ; hence, grasp ; hold. 
perch-iron 
lie, augmenting liys liiKistc, deterniyncd to get the tnwn 
of Wernoyle in perche & gyrde It round about with a 
strong seage. ll"ll Ili-n. VL, an. :'t: 
perch 2 (perch), r. [< OF. (also F.) //-//< r, 
perch; from the noun: see perch'*, n.T I. in- 
tniiia. 1. To alight up settle on a perch or ele- 
vateil siip]inrt, as a bird; use a perch ; roost. 
Wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch. 
Shak., Elch. III., L S. 71. 
All that wear Feathers first or hut 
Must one Day //</, on Charon's Mast. 
Prvtr, 'i'urtle and .Sparrow. 
2. To alight or sit in some elevated posit inn. 
as if on a perch. 
II. trinix. 1. To place, set, or fix on a perch 
or other elevated support . 
I'erch yourself as a bird on the top of some high steeple. 
/>r. //. Jfan. 
She looked up fondly at Pen perched on the book-ladder. 
Thackeray, Pendennls. 
2. To operate upon ("roughers,"or woolen cloth 
;t- in ken from the looms) as follows: The cloth Is 
stretched In a frame, and the percher carefully examines 
the whole texture for Imperfections, which may consist of 
burs and knots, which he carefully removes, or of holes, 
which he nicely darns. This process Is also called burl 
iinj, and Is preparatory to the process of fulling. 
percha (per'chS), w. An abbreviation of gutta- 
percliti. 
perchance (per-chans'), adv. [Early mod. E. 
also perchaunce ; < ME. perchance, prop, as two 
words per cTuincc: see per and chance, and cf. 
percale, the more common ME. word for this 
sense, and perhaps, a modern equivalent.] 1. 
By chance ; perhaps ; peradventure. 
To sleep ! perchance to dream. Shak., Hamlet, 111. 1. 65. 
Creed and rite perchance may differ, yet our faith and hope 
be one. Whittier, Mary Garvhi. 
2t. By chance ; accidentally. 
It is perchance that you yourself were saved. 
Shak., T. N., I. 2. 5. 
perchant (per'chant), it. [< OF.perchant, ppr. 
of percher. perch: see perch 1 *, r.] In sporting, 
a bird tied by the feet on a perch to serve as a 
decoy for other birds. Wright. 
perch-backed (perch'bakt), a. Shaped like a 
! perch's back : specifically applied in anthropol- 
:- ogy to certain flint implements. 
The lunate and perch-backed Implements, having one 
side considerably more curved than the other. 
J. Evans, Anc. Stone Implements, xxiv. (Encyc. Diet.) 
perchemynt, An obsolete form of parchment. 
percher 1 (per'cher), w. [< perch'*, r., + -er 1 .] 
That which perches; specifically, a perching 
bird as distinguished from birds that rest on 
the ground ; a bird of the old order Insesxoreg. 
percher' 2 (per'cher), . [< perch'* + -er 1 .] A 
workman who performs the operation of perch- 
ing or burling. 
percher s t (per'cher), . [< ME. percher. per- 
chour, < OF. "percltier (T) (cf. equiv. ML. per- 
ticaliit), a wax candle, so called as being fixed 
on a small transverse bar, < perche, a pole, bar: 
see perch 2 , n. Cf. OF. percliier, a vender of 
poles.] A wax candle; especially, a large wax 
candle usually placed on an altar. 
For by the percher [var. morter] which that I se hrenne 
I knowe wel that day Is not fer henne. 
Chaucer, Troilus, iv. 1245 (MS. GO. 4. 27). 
If my memorie should reueale what it doth reteine, . . . 
I am sure those that be present would inarm 11 : for now 
bill-net h the vearcher without tallow, and at random all 
goeth to the bottome. 
Guevara, Letters (tr. by Hellowes, 1577), p. 193. 
Percheron (per-she-ron'), a. and n. [< F. Per- 
cheron, < Perche (see def.).] I. a. Noting a 
horse of a breed brought to perfection in 
Perche, a region of northern France, south of 
Normandy. 
H. n. A horse of the Percheron breed. These 
horses are of large size and stout build, yet of relatively 
light and free action. They are much used in France for 
the artillery and for heavy coaches, and have been very 
largely exported, particularly to the western United States, 
where they are now bred extensively. The usual color is 
dapple-gray. This horse is sometimes called the A'orman, 
or Xorman Percheron, and is at least the equal of the British 
Clydesdale horse in economic Importance. 
perching 1 (per'ching), H. [Verbal n. of perch*, 
r.] The operations performed on woolen cloth, 
as taken from the loom, preparatory to fulling. 
See perclft, v. t., 2. 
perching 2 (per'ching), a. Habitually using a 
perch; specifically, in ornith., insessorial. 
A type of perching birds In which the peculiar singing 
muscles of the larynx have not been developed. 
Fortniffhtly Rev., X. S., XIJI. 355. 
perch-iron (perch'I'ern), n. A general term 
including the iron parts of a carnage-perch. 
