pheasant 
Qnmnvar, a pheasant (abbr. of L. Pliafianns arts, 
(Jr. 'himoi'of apvie, the Phasian bird), < 9aaua>6f, 
Phasian, of Phasis, < <J>o<nf, a river in Colchis, 
near the mouth of which these birds are said to 
have been numerous.] A bird of the genus J'lin- 
gianns, family Pli/ixianidie. (See the technical 
names.) (a) Phasiamis colchicvs, the bird originally 
called pheasant from its supposed origin, of which no- 
thing is certainly known, and now for many centuries nat- 
uralized in Great Britain and in other parts of Europe. 
The cock bird in full plumage is nearly three feet long, of 
which length the tail is more than half. The head and 
neck are deep steel-blue, glancing greenish in some lights ; 
and there is a bare red skin about the eyes. The general 
color is golden-brown, varying to chestnut or plain brown, 
on most parts intimately barred or laced with black. The 
Common Pheasant (Fhastanus colclifcus). 
hen is more yellowish-brown, and only about two thirds 
as long. This pheasant runs into some varieties in do- 
mestication, and also crosses freely with several related 
species. The several other forms of the restricted genus 
are definitely known as to their origin and habitat, all 
being natives of China and Tibet and more southerly re- 
gions of Asia, as well as of Japan and many other islands 
included in the Oriental fauna. Several of these are often 
seen in aviaries and in semi-domestication. They are 
such as Shaw's, P. sham; the Mongolian, P. mongolicm; 
the Yarkand, P. iwignis; the Formosan, P. /orwwwanws ; 
the ring-necked, P. torquatm; the Chinese ringless, P. 
decollatus; the Japanese green, P. versicolor; the green- 
backed golden, P. elegans; also pheasants known as 
Reeves's, Wallich's, Sommering's, Swinhoe's, Elliot's, etc. 
Pheasants have often been introduced in the United 
States, where, however, none have been thoroughly natu- 
ralized, unless the cases of P. versicolor and P. soemmer- 
ingi in Oregon should prove successful. (&) Hence, any 
bird of the subfamily Phasianmx or (with a few excep- 
tions) of the family Phananidse. (c) In the United States, 
the ruffed grouse, Bonata umbella : so called in the South- 
ern and Middle States wherever the bobwhite (Ortyx 
virginiana) is known as the partridge, and called par- 
tridge in the Northern States wherever the bobwhite is 
known as the quail. See cut under Banana, (d) Loosely, 
one of various birds which resemble or suggest a pheasant, 
especially in the length of the tail : usually with a quali- 
fying word : (1) The reed-pheasant^ or bearded titmouse, 
Panurui biarmicus. [Norfolk, Eng.] (2) The magpie. 
[Cornwall, Eng.] (3) One of several different American 
guans (Cramdse). (4) The Australian mallee-hird. See 
Leipoa. (5) A duck, Dafila acuta: more fully called 
pheasant-duck, sea-pheasant, or water-pheasant. [Local, 
U. S. and Eng.] (6) A merganser; any one of the three 
species found in the United States: more fully called 
pheasant-duck or water-pheasant. [Local, U. S.] Am- 
herstian or Lady Amherst's pheasant, Chrymlophus 
or Thaumalea amherstife, one of the golden pheasants, 
with a very long tail, and highly developed ruff around 
the head, gorgeously arrayed in golden-yellow, green, 
crimson, white, and other colors. It is sometimes seen 
in confinement, like T. picta. Argus-pheasant. See 
Argm, 8. Blood-pheasant, any member of the genus 
Ithaginis, as 1. cruentatw. See cut under Ithaginis. Bo- 
hemian pheasant, a variety of the common pheasant, 
Phasianus colchicus, produced in semi-domestication. 
Copper pheasant, Sommering's pheasant, P. mmmcr- 
inffi, from Japan. Cornish pheasant, the magpie. 
[Cornwall, Eng. ] Derblan pheasant. See DcrUan and 
Oreoplwris. Eared pheasant, a pheasant of the genus 
Crossoptilon, having a tuft of feathers projecting like an 
ear on each side of the head and neck. They are large 
birds, not long-tailed, but with a peculiarity of the middle 
tail-feathers ; the males are spurred ; the plumage is not 
so brilliant as that of most pheasants, and the coloration 
is chiefly massed in large areas of light and dark. There 
are two Chinese species, C. mantdmriaan and C auri- 
turn; and two Tibetan, C. thibelanwn and C. drouyni 
All inhabit high mountain-ranges. English pheasant, 
the common pheasant, Plinriamts cnlchicw, an Asiatic bird! 
naturalized in Great Britain prior to 1069. Fire-backed 
pheasant, a tlreback ; a Macartney pheasant; a member 
of that section of the genus Euplocamus in which the plu- 
mage is intensely lustrous, part of the back being of a flery 
il ,r e are 8everal species, as E. ianitw, inhabiting 
c Malay peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and Formosa. 
Inat of Slam is ft prielatus, formerly Phasiamis diardi, 
sometimes forming a separate section of the genus, called 
DtardigaUwi. The Formosan flreback, E. mnnhaei, has 
the aery color of the back replaced by black and blue it 
represents a section called Hierophasix. Golden pheas- 
ant, a magnificent pheasant of the genus Chrjimlrmhm 
or Thaumalea, as C. piclm or T. picta, and C. or T. am- 
4440 
hersliir. The former has long been known, and is often 
reared in confinement. It is long-tailed and ruffed ; the 
plumage is scarlet, orange, golden, green, etc. These pheas- 
ants are natives of parts of China and Tibet. See cut un. 
der Thaumalea. Green pheasant, Phanamu nerximlnr, 
of Japan, much of whose plumage is of an emerald-green. 
Guiana pheasant, onnl/tin inniinni.- Horned pheas- 
ant, a pheasant of the genus Cerwrnix; a satyr or trago- 
pan : so called from the fleshy processes on the head, which 
resemble horns. See cut under tratpipan. Impey pheas- 
ant. See Jmpei/an pheamnt. Kaleege or kalij pheas- 
ant, a member of the genus EvxAoocanut, and of that sec- 
tion of the genus called GaUoptiasis. See kaleege. Ma- 
cartney pheasant, a fireback ; a pheasant of the fire- 
backed section of Euplucamus, as E. iynitus, formerly in- 
cluded in a genus Macartneya. Native pheasant of 
Australia, Leipoa ocellata: same as matte? Irinl.tea.- 
COCk- pheasant, any pheasant of the genus Ptiyplectron. 
See cuts under colcamte and Polyplcctron. Pucras 
pheasant. See Pucrasia. Ring-necked pheasant, 
Phasianus torquatw, of China, with a white collar and buff 
flanks, but in general resembling the common pheasant. 
Silver pheasant, a pheasant of that section of the ge- 
nus E-u^ticaimts called Nifcthcmeru*, in which the upper 
parts and tail are silvery-white, more or less varied with 
black, but strongly contrasted with the jet-black of the 
under parts. The best-known is E. nycthemerus of China, 
whose specific name translates a native designation of the 
dark and light colors, as if contrasting night and day. 
Snow-pheasant, an eared pheasant ; any species of the 
genus CroMoptilon : so called from their habitat. Wal- 
lich's pheasant, Phasianus (Catreus) wallichi. the cheer. 
Water -pheasant, an aquatic fowl with a long tail, or 
otherwise suggesting a pheasant, as the pintail duck or a 
merganser ; specifically, Hydrophasianus chiruryus. See 
cut under Uydrophagianuz. 
pheasant-cuckoo(fe7/ant-kuk"6), . Anyspur- 
heeled or lark-heeled cuckoo; a coucal : so 
called from the length of the tail. See Cen- 
tropus. 
pheasant-duck (fez'ant-duk), n. Same as 
lilit-nxant (>1) (5) (6). 
pheasant-finch (fez'ant-finch), n. An African 
astrild, Astrilda nnriulata: so called from its 
general figure and coloration. 
pheasantry (fez'ant-ri), . ; pi. pleasantries 
(-riz). [< pheasant + -ry, after F. faisande- 
>ie.] A place where pheasants are bred, reared, 
and kept. 
pheasant's-eye (fez'ants-I), H. 1. See Adonis, 
2. 2. Same as phed'sanl's-eye pink (which see, 
under 
phenicin 
adj. of TTtanneir, form: seeptoWc.] The art of 
(Milling and manipulating cork, as in making 
architectural models, etc. 
phelonion (ff-16'ni-on), n.; ]>\.plteloma(-&). [< 
LGr. ific/Mvm'i; ijit'/uviov, also tfieUvj/f, incorrect 
forms for tyaivi'i'hiov, <paiv6'/?/<;, < L. psenula, penula , 
a cloak, in ML. a chasuble: see psenuln.] An 
ecclesiastical vestment corresponding to the 
Roman Catholic chasuble, worn by patriarchs 
and priests of the Greek Church. 
phenacetin (fe-iias'e-tin), . [< phen(ol) + 
ni-i '/.] Aii iieetyl derivative of amidophenol, 
occurring in small tasteless colorless crystals 
but slightly soluble in water, antalgesic and 
antipyretic. 
phenacite (fen'a-sit), . [So called in allusion 
to its having been mistaken for quartz ; < Gr. 
pt'i'af ((fievaK-), an impostor, + -<fc2.] A rare 
mineral occurring in transparent rhombohedral 
crystals, colorless to wine-yellow, and having a 
vitreous luster. It is a silicate of beryllium (glucinum). 
It is found in the Urals, also in Switzerland, and on Mount 
Antoro in Colorado. As a precious stone, the colorless 
transparent variety is extremely brilliant by artificial light. 
phenakismt (fen'a-kizm), n. [< Gr. <pfvaKia/t6(, 
cheating, quackery, < <j>evaidC,eiv, cheat, < ^h'af 
(0cva/c-), a cheat, quack, inipostor.] The act 
of conveying false ideas or impressions ; deceit. 
Bacon. 
phenakistoscope(fen-a-kis'to-skop), n. [< Gr. 
ipevaxiaTiKOf, deceitful (< ^nxuu'fetv, cheat, de- 
ceive, trick, < wjf , a cheat : see phenakism), + 
oKoirclv, see.] An optical instrument which pro- 
duces the representation of actual motion, as 
in leaping; walking, flying, etc. it consists of a 
disk on which a figure is repeated in successive positions. 
pheasant-shell (fez'ant-shel), n. A shell of the 
genus Pliasianclla. See cut under Phasianclla. 
pheasant-tailed (fez'ant-tald), a. Having a 
long tail like that of a pheasant: as, the pheas- 
ant-tailed jacana, ffydroplia.tianus chimrgns, a 
bird of the family Parrirlse or Jacanidse, found 
in eastern and southeastern Asia. See cut un- 
der Hydropliasianns. 
pheasant-wood (fez'ant-wud), . Same as 
partridge-wood. 
phebe, n. See pha>bel. 
pheert, pheeret. Bad spellings of feerl and 
. 
pheeset, pheezet, n. Bad spellings of feezei. 
Phegopteris (fe-gop'te-ris), n. [NL. (Presl, 
1836), < Or. <pry6f, an oak"(= L./Of/ws, beech, = E. 
beech), + irrtpif, a fern.] A genus of ferns, the 
beech-ferns. The stipe is continuous with the root- 
stock, as in the Aepideie, and the sori are naked, small, and 
borne on the back of the veins, below the apex ; the frond is 
variable. There are about 90 species, of which number 5 
are found in North America. By some pteridologists this 
genus is regarded as a section of the genus Polypodmm. 
Pheidiac, a. Same as I'hidian. 
Pheidian, a. See Phidian. 
Phelipaea (fel-i-pe'a), n. [NL. (Tonrnefort, 
1700), named after Louis and Hir. Plwlipeaux, 
French naval officers and patrons of science.] 
A genus of parasitic plants of the gamopetalous 
order Orobanchacese, characterized by the broad 
and spreading corolla-lobes, equal parallel an- 
ther-cells, and five unequal acute calyx-teeth. 
Two species are Oriental herbs, with a rather smooth, un- 
branched, leafless stem, bearing a few scales at the base, 
above becoming a long smooth peduncle bearing a single 
large scarlet flower. P. lutea, of the Old World, has been 
used for dyeing black. Eight North American species, 
formerly included in this genus, are now separated, con- 
stituting the American genus AphyUoii. See broom-rape. 
phelloderm (fel'o-derm), n. [NL., < Gr. <t>eM6f, 
cork, + rftp/Mz, skin.] A definite layer of green 
parenchymatous cells beneath the cork, formed 
from the inner layers of the phellogen. Phello- 
derm may be demonstrated in the stems of Kibes, 
Lonicera, Spiraea, Deutzia, etc. 
phellogen (fel'o-jen), . [NL., < Gr. ^AAoc, 
cork, + -yewfc, producing: see -gen.'} Cork- 
meristem, or cork-cambium; the inner layers 
of cork-tissue, which possess cellular activity 
and give rise to cork. 
phellogenetic (feFo-je-net'ik), a. [< j)}ielhM/i-n. 
after genetic.'] In but., pertaining or relating 
to phellogen: as, phettogmvtte im-ristem. 
phelloplastics (f el-o-pla's'tiks), n. [= F. phello- 
plastique, < Gr. {k&&, cork, + Tr/tacn-of, verbal 
Phenakistoscope. 
The disk a has drawn uDon it the figures arranged in successive 
positions. It is rotated by spinning with the fi liters applied to a small 
boss or nut in the rear mot shown in the cut), b. b are the slits through 
which the reflected images are viewed. 
When the disk is caused to revolve and is observed through 
a slit as reflected in a mirror, a single figure appeal's to 
the eye, owing to the principle of the persistence of im- 
pressions on the retina, to assume in turn the various 
positions of the separate figures, its motion appealing to 
be continuous. 
phenetol (fen'et-ol), H. [< i>Jic(ol) + -et- + -/.] 
Ethyl phenyl ether, C 2 H 5 .OCgH 5 , a volatile 
aromatic-smelling liquid Phenetol red. Same 
as coccinin. 
phengite (fen'jit), . [See fengite.'] A variety 
of muscovite, or common potash mica. See 
mnfifovite. 
phenic (fe'nik), a. [< F. plienique; Asplieii(ol) 
+ -ic.~\ Obtained from coal-tar: as, phenic or 
carbolic acid. See carbolic. Also phenylic. 
Phenician, Phrenician (fe-nish'an), a. and . 
[= F. Plienicien, < L. Plicenicius, Phenician, < 
Phoenice, < Gr. ^oivmr/, Phenicia, < Qolvit; (> L, 
Phoenix), a Phenician.] I. a. Of or pertaining 
to Phenicia. 
II. n. 1. A native or an inhabitant of Phe- 
nicia, an ancient country on the coast of Syria, 
of which Tyre and Sidon were the chief cities. 
The Phenicians were probably of Semitic race, 
and were celebrated for their commerce, colo- 
nies, and inventions. 2. The language of the 
ancient Phenicians. It was a Semitic dialect, 
akin to Hebrew. 
phenicin, phenicine (tVn'i-sin), n. [Also />//.- 
n id n ; < F. /iln'iiidiie, < Gr. (dohvf, purple-red: 
see plienix.~\ A brown coloring matter pro- 
