Phocaena 
'o-se'nii >, . [ N !..,! T.^MH i, a por- 
poise ; el'. I.II.IMII;, in., a porpoise. <">';. a soul : see 
liliura.] Agcnusof delpliinoid odontoeete ceta- 
eeuns, containing the true porpoises, such as /'. 
ii*, as distinguished from the dolphini 
proper. Then- an- about HI verti-brie, of which thr rnvi 
rals ;uv 7, moHtly ankylosed, anil thr dorsals Ki ; the teeth 
arc from 72 to Km, along nearly the whole length ol thejnw, 
with conHtrirtrd nrcks; thr lymphytil of the inaudible i 
very short, and thr roistnil is not lunger than the rr:uii;i! 
laouon of tlir skull. Thr dorwil tin in urnr the miilillr of 
Ihr b;irk (wanting in /'. infill*, which constitutes the stlli- 
Kcnns \ointi-ix), ti inn^iilar. of Irs* lu-iu'lit than luraillh 
at the base ; the tins have live- .li^ilH, oval or somewhat 
falcate. See cut under 
Phocaenina (tt-e$-nl'n|), n. pi. [NL., < I'lm 
ni'iiii + -inn-.'] A group of cetaceans, typified 
by the genus I'liix'triiii : the porpoises. 
ptiocaenine (fo-se'nin), -. [< < jr. yuKaiva, a por- 
poise, 4- -/;'.] Resembling a porpoise; of or 
pertaining to the l'lif:rniini. 
phocal (fo'kal), . [< iihwii + -al.] Phoca- 
cean; phoeiiic. [Kure. ] 
Phocea (fo-se'ij), . [NL., prop. Phocsea, < L. 
rinx'ifii. < (ir. 'i'w/.rm/, a maritime city of Ionia, 
a eolony of Athens, and the parent city of 
Massilia, now Marseilles.] The 2. r >th planetoid, 
discovered by (Jhacornac at Marseilles in 1853. 
Phocian (fo'sian), a. and n. [< L. Phocis, < 
(ir. <l>(jKi'(;, Phocis (see def.), + -mi.] I. a. Of 
or pertaining to Phocis, a state of ancient 
Greece, or its inhabitants. 
II. H. A native or an inhabitant of Phocis. 
Phocidae (t'6'si-de). . 71'. [NL., < Phoca + 
-iilif.] A family of aquatic carnivorous mam- 
mals of the order Ferie and suborder Pi>nii/n- 
ilin, having the limbs modified into fins or flip- 
pers; the seals. The family was formerly coextensive 
with the suborder, including the otaries and the walruses 
as well as the true seals, and divided into three subfami- 
lies: Arctocrplialina, the otaries; TricheMna, the walrus- 
es ; and rhoi'inu, the seals proper. The last alone now 
constitute the family Phnddtr, having the body truly pho- 
ciform, with the hinder limbs projecting backward, and 
not capable of being turned forward ; the outer ear obso- 
lete; the fore flippers smaller than the hind ones, and 
having the digits successively shortened and armed with 
claws, while the hind flippers are emarginated by the 
shortening of the third and fourth digits, and are usually 
but not always provided with claws. The incisors are 
variable in number, and the upper ones are unnotched. 
The skull has no alisphenoid canals, and the postorbital 
processes are obsolete. In this restricted sense the Ph- 
cidfr are represented by about 12 genera, and divided into 
the subfamilies Phftcijue, Cystophuriiur, and Stcntrrhyn- 
eliimr. See cuts under harp-seal, Payumys, Phoca, seal', 
and Kriynathus. 
phociform (fo'si-form), a. [< Gr. Quay, a seal, + 
li. forma, form.] Resemblinga seal in structure; 
having the form or characters of the Phocidse. 
Phocinae (fo-sl'ne), . pi. [NL., < Phoca + -inx.] 
The leading subfamily of Phocidie proper, typi- 
fied by the genus Phocu, having normally six 
upper and four lower incisors, and narrow na- 
sal and intermaxillary bones. The genera be- 
sides Phoca are Pngomys, Pagophilus, Erigna- 
thiix, Halifliovus, and Monachus. 
phocine (fo'sin), a. and . [< Gr. (puny, a seal, 
4- -IMC 1 .] I. a. 1. Seal-like; of or pertaining 
to the Pkocidee at large. 2. Belonging to the 
restricted subfamily Pkocinte: distinguished 
from otarinc. 
II. n. Any member of the Phociiiee; aphoca- 
cean. 
Phocodon (fo'ko-don), n. [NL. (Agassiz), < 
Gr. JUKI/, a seal, + odoif, (o<Wr-) = E. tooth.] A 
genus of fossil cetaceans, giving name to the 
Phorodoiitiii. See Zeugtodoii. 
phocodont (fo'ko-dont), . One of the Phoco- 
ittiii/in . 
Phocodontia (fo-ko-don'shi-a), . pi. [NL., < 
Phocmioii (-odoiit-), + -ia.] One of the primary 
groups of the order Crttici'ti, entirely extinct, 
consisting of the genera Zeuglodon, .SY/IW/W/OM, 
and other large cetaceans of the Tertiary epoch, 
remarkable as furnishing connecting-links be- 
tween the Cetacea and the pinniped aquatic 
Ciiriiirorii. 
phocodontic (fo-ko-don'tik), a. [< phocodont 
+ -ic.] Pertaining to the Phocodontia, or hav- 
ing their characters. 
phocoid (fo'koid), a. and n. [< Gr. <^<JK?;, a seal, 
+ fMof. form.] I. a. Resembling a seal; be- 
longing to the Phorniilni. 
II. n. Any member of the Phocoidea. 
Phocoidea (fo-koi'de-ii). H. i>l. [NL.: see pho- 
coid.] A superfamiiy of pinnipeds, containing 
the fMrtriiWiraud I'liwiilfc, or the eared and ear- 
less seals, together contrasted with Trichrrhoi- 
th'd or Rosmnroidi-u, the walruses. Theyhaveno 
tusks, or highly developed canine teeth, and the incisors 
are persistent : the lower molars are nve on each side, the 
upper five or six. 
44-lit 
phocomelUS (fo-kom'e-lus), ii. : pi. ; 
(-li). [NL.. <(ir. OIM/I, a seal. + ,><. a limb. | 
In trnttiil., a monster with very short extremi- 
ties, the hands and feet being apparently at- 
tached directly to the trunk. 
Phoebades (ic'i.a-div.), . /i/. [L. I'lm hmii-g, pi. 
of Plitrlntx. < (ir. 'Ixit.iiii; a priestess of Apollo, < 
<|IK <i)r, Apollo, Plxelius: si'e I'liirtitix.] Priest- 
esses of the sun. 
Attired like Virginian I'rlests, by whom the Sun is there 
adored, and therefore nillril tlir i'/in-lindeJI. 
Chapman, .Mas<|Ue of the Middle Trniplr and Lincoln's 
linn. 
Phoebe 1 (fe'be), . [Also/'A6e; < L. Pliii-lx: < 
(ir. '\x>i t to/, the inoon-g(Khless. sister of Iiii l 1inj, 
Pha'biis: see 1'httbux.] 1 . The moon or moon- 
goddess. 
To-morrow night, when Phabe duth behold 
Her silver visage in the watery glass. 
Shalt., M. N. I)., L 1. 209. 
2. [/. c.] A Cuban fish, Halipcrca ;////-. /'. 
I'll! If. 
phoebe- (fe'be), n. [An imitative name, ac- 
com. in spelling to L. Pturbe: see Phoebe 1 . Cf. 
pewit.] The wat^r-pewee, or pewit flycatcher, 
Siii/iinii.i/iixritx. See cut under i>rtcit. 
Phoebean(fe-be'an), a. [< Phoebus + -an.] Of, 
pertaining to, or' produced by Phoebus Apollo. 
Whose ear 
Is able to distinguish strains that are 
Clear and Phaebean from the popular. 
Shirley, Love In a Maze, Prol. 
phcebe-bird (fe'be-berd), n. The phcebe. 
phoebium (fe'bi-um), n. [NL., < Gr. "t 
Phoebus, i. e. the sun: see Phoebus.] A name 
suggested by Proctor for the unknown sub- 
stance which produces the 1474 line of Kirch- 
hoffs scale in the spectrum of the solar corona : 
commonly called coroiiiiim. 
Phoebus (fe'bus), n. [= P. Phebus = Sp. It. 
l''el>o = Pg. Phebo, < L. Phoebus, < Gr. *ol/3of, 
Phoebus (see def.), < 0oi/tof, pure, bright, < 0dor, 
0<jf , light, < ifiaciv, shine : see phaxel.] A name 
of Apollo, often used in the same sense as Sol 
or Helios, the sun-god. 
Hark hark ! the lark at heaven's gate sings 
And Phoebus 'gins arise. Shak. , Cymbeline, II. 3. 22. 
Phoeniceae (fe-nis'e-e), n. pi. [NL. 1 1 Sent ha MI 
and Hooker, 1883),'< Phoenix (Phonic-) + -eae.] 
A tribe of palms, consisting of the genus Phoe- 
nix, and distinguished by the piunately divided 
leaves, with acuminate segments induplicate in 
the bud, dioecious flowers, and a long, solitary, 
coriaceous and compressed spathe. 
phoeniceoUS (fe-nish'ius), a. [< Gr. 6otviiteof, 
purple-red, < ^o'mf (tpotvm-), purple-red.] Same 
as phenicious. 
Phoenicercus (fe-ni-ser'kus), n. [NL. (Swain- 
son, 1831 , as Phoenicircux; emended Pheenicercvx, 
Strickland, 1841), prop. Pheenicocercus (Cabanis, 
1847), and erroneously I'htenicocercus (Bona- 
parte, 1850) ; < Gr. <poiv(f fama-), purple-red, + 
nepKos, tail.] A genus of South American non- 
oscine passerine birds, of the family Cotingidx 
and subfamily Rupicolinx, closely related to the 
cock-of-the-rock (see Kupicola) : so called from 
the color of the tail. There are two species, P. ear- 
ntfex and P. niffricoUiJi, the former of Cayenne and Co- 
lombia, the latter found in the vicinity of I'ar-.i. Both are 
chiefly of a scarlet or bloody-red color ; In P. nvjricoliis the 
neck, back, wings, and tip of the tail are black. Also 
called Carnifex. 
Phoenician, a. and n. See Phenician. 
phoenicin, n. See phenicin. 
Phoenicophilinae (fe-ni-kof-i-li'ne), n. pi. [NL., 
< Pha*nicophili<s T -ia?.] A subfamily of Ta- 
iifittridx, represented by the genera Phomifo- 
l>hilttn and Cdlyptojiliilits, peculiar to San Do- 
mingo. 
Phoenicophilus (fe-ni-kof'i-lus), n. [NL. (H. 
E. Strickland, 1851), < Gr. folvi^ (rOimn-), the 
Pfuen i<afh tins falnta runt. 
Pholadidae 
date-palm, + fa'/ 1 . loving. ] Tin- typical genus 
nf I'liiriumiiliiliiiir, Imvinga comparatively slen- 
der bill, modern!'- tar-i, and square tail. 1'. 
iniliiKii-iiiH is the leading species. 
pncenicoptert, . See ;</ "<./. /<r. 
Phcenicopterids (fe'ni-kop-t. i 'i -de , . //. 
| Nl..,< /'// iiifii/ili-riix + -iil;i .] A family of birds 
of tin- suborder Or/ /<//**;/ and order 1. mm I 
lirtmtri-x, consisting of the flamingos only. Hi 
systematic position is intermediate l-l '. 'n t In- storks ami 
herons on On- one h:ni<l an<l tin- ducks and geese on thr 
(ithiT. The group is culled (lilt, n (.,/..., ],j N il yj,i li, anil 
Anijiliiinirr]>hlr\ty Huxley. Sri Jlniniii;i". 
phoenicopteroid (fe-ni-kop'te-roid), a. Of or 
resembling the Pluriiir<>)>tcroidcx. 
Phosnicopteroideaeffe-ni-kop-te-roi'de-e), n./ii. 
[NL., < PlttuUeoptt i a* + -iiiilni'.} The flamin- 
gos regarded us a superfamily: synonymous 
with liolh .iiit/iliimorjilue and Oiloiit-m 
pboenicopteroUS (fe-ni-kop'te-rus), n. [< <!r. 
o-./r/MiTrrfyjor, in lit. sense 'red-winged, see 
I'ltiniico/itiriis.] Having red wings, as a fla- 
mingo; relat ing to the genus /'/i /<-<i/oV/ //>. 
Phoenicopterus (fe-ni-kop'te-rus), n. [NL., 
< L. /ilin nir<i/iti -nix. the flamingo, < Gr. 0oir/'i- 
vTtpof, a bird, supposed to be the flamingo, lit. 
' red-winged,' < ^oiwf (^o/vu-), purple-rod, red, + 
imp&v, feather, wing.] 1 . The typical and lead- 
ing genus of Pha-niconttridie, usually held to be 
conterminous with the family, and sometimes 
divided into four sections Plieenicojiterus prop- 
er, PhiriiiciiHiiitix, J'lui'n imrodimi, and Phdim-n 
l>iirrux. r. antiyuarum is widely distributed In Africa 
snd some parti of Asia and Europe ; P. ignipaUiatiu la 
South American ; /'. minor is African ; P. ruder inhabit! 
the southern I'nited States, the West Indies, and other 
partu of tropical America; P. andiniu is found in the 
Andes of Peru, Bolivia, and Chill. See cut under flamingo. 
2. The constellation Grus. 
phcenicurous (fe-ni-ku'rus), a. [< L. phaenicii- 
rnx, < Gr. tfiotviitovpos, a bird, the redstart, lit. 
' having a red tail,' < Qolvi$ (^OIVIK-), purple-red, 
red, + oiyxi, a tail.] Having a red tail. 
phoenix 1 , n. See phenix. 
Phoenix'-^ (fe'niks). n. [NL. (Linmeus, 1737), 
< Gr. 0oiwf, the date-palm; of. *o<wf, Pheni- 
cian: see J'henieian.'] A genus of palms, con- 
stituting the tribe Phanicetr, characterized by 
the three distinct carpels (only one of which 
matures), containing a single erect cylindrical 
seed with a deep longitudinal groove, and hav- 
ing the embryo near the base or on the bark. 
The 12 species are the cultivated and the wild date-palms, 
all natives of the Old World, within or near the tropics 
of Asia and Africa. The habit of different species varies 
greatly, the trunks being cither short or tall, robust or slen- 
der, erect or declined. The trunk is destitute of spines, 
but Is commonly covered with the persistent leaf bases. 
The palms grow in close clusters, forming groves. The 
pinnate leaves are large and terminal, forming a spread- 
nil; canopy, each consisting of very numerous narrow, 
rigid, and compressed leaflets, the lower ones shorter and 
transformed Into spines. The abundant yellow and rather 
small flowers have three sepals and three petals. The stam- 
inate trees bear oblong or ovoid flowers on numerous erect 
and much-branched spadices between the upper leaves. 
The pistillate trees bear spherical flowers on similar but 
often nodding spadices, followed by numerous cylindrical 
orange, brown, or black berries, those of P. daetyl\frra 
being the dates of commerce. (For this fruit, see date- 
palm and dote' 1 * ; and for the sugar made from it, sec 
jaggery and yoor.) This species is the chief palm of his- 
tory and of ceremony, having been used as the emblem 
of triumph from the Egyptian worship of Isls onward. It 
is the palm of ancient Palestine, and has been for cen- 
turies cultivated for miles along the Italian and French 
Riviera, to supply palm-branches for festivals. White 
palm-branches are procured by binding the top of the 
unfolding leaf-bud, thereby blanching the inner leaves. 
It does not fruit in Italy nor under glass, and requires for 
successful growth an average annual temperature of 80* F. 
In Africa native huts are made from its leaves, Its wood 
is used for building, its fiber for cloth and ropes, its leaf- 
stalks for brooms, crates, etc., Its young leaves are eaten, 
and an intoxicating drink is made from its sap. It reaches 
a height of SO and rarely 120 feet, and bears fruit, though 
in diminishing abundance, for as long as -joo years. The 
necessity of artificially fertilizing It first drew attention to 
the existence of sex in plants. /'. nyltfxtrix, the wild date- 
palm of India and Africa, is smaller, reaches a height of 
40 feet, bears yellow or reddish berries, and is an impor- 
tant sourceof sugar and toddy, both prepared from Its sap, 
which it is said can be made to flow from the upper part 
of its trunk for twenty years. /'. jntnlln, a dwarf from 
southern China, and P. rrclinata. a decumbent palm from 
the Cape of Good Hope, also bear sweet edible berries, and 
are valued, as is /'. paludom, a stout Indian tree, for deco- 
rative uses. 
pholad (fo'lad), ii. A member of the family 
I'l/i'liididee, 
Pholadacea (fd-la-da'se-S), . pi. [NL., < //- 
Ins (Pholad-) + Hdcea.J A family of bivalves: 
same as Pholndiila-. Di- Illiiinril'lc, 1825. 
Pholadidae (fo-lad'i-de), . pi [NL.. < Vboliix 
( Pliiilml-) + -iilfe.] A family of lithodomous or 
lithophagous lamellibranch mollusks. typified 
by the genus Pholas; the piddocks and their 
allies. The animals have the lobes of the mantle mostly 
