PH A 
lized varieties are translucent ; it is very 
tender, and easily frangible ; it is soluble in 
nitric acid, without effervescence ; it con- 
sists of 
Arsenic acid 46.3 
Lime 23. 
Oxide of cobalt 0.5 
Silex and alumina 6. 
Water 22.5 
98.3 
Loss 1.5 
100.0 
This mineral is found in veins of granite 
in Germany and France. 
PHARNACEUM, in botany, a genus of 
the Pentandria Trigynia class and order. 
Natural order of Caryophyllei. Essential 
character : calyx five-leaved; corolla none ; 
capside three celled, many-seeded. There 
are fourteen species, clhetly natives of the 
Cape of Good Hope. 
PHARUS, in botany, a genus of the Mo- 
noecia Hexandria class and order. Natu- 
ral order of Gramina, Grannne*, or Grasses. 
Essential chaiacter : calyx glume two-valv- 
ed, one-ffovvered : male, corolla glume two- 
valved : female, corolla glume one-valved, 
long, involving ; seed one. There are 
three species, natives of the East Indies. 
PHASCUM, in botany, a genus of the 
Crypiogamia Musci class and order. Gene- 
ric cliaracter : capsule ovate, veiled, sub-ses- 
sile, or on a short bristle, closed on every side, 
soinetimes with the rudiment of a lid, ne- 
ver opening : males, sub-discoid, terminat- 
ing, or gemmaceous axillary. 
PHASEOLUS, in botany, Jddneij bean, 
a genus of the Diadelphia Decandria class 
and order. Natural order of Papilionaceaej 
or Leguminosi®. Essential character; keel 
with the stamens and styles spirally twist- 
ed. There are twenty-one species. The 
varieties of the kidney bean are very nu- 
merous : the P. coccineus, scarlet kidney 
bean, is by some considered as a distinct 
species ; its twining stalks, if properly sup- 
ported, will rise to the height of twelve or 
fourteen feet ; the leayes are smaller than 
those of the common garden bean ; the 
flowers grow in large spikes of a deep scar- 
let colour ; the pods are large and rough ; 
they are more esteemed for the table, by 
many people, than the others. 
PHASES, in astronomy, the several ap- 
pearances or quantities of illumination of 
the Moon, Venus, Mercury, and the other 
PH A 
planets; or the several manners wherein 
they appear illuminated by the Snn. With 
regard to the Rloon, these phases are very 
obser vable with the naked eye ; by which 
she sometimes increases, and sometimes 
wanes ; is now bent into horns, and again 
appears as half a circle. By means of a 
good telescope, the like phases may be ob- 
sei'ved in Venus aird Mars. Copernicus, 
before it was possible to ascertain the fact, 
by means of glasses, foretold that it would, 
at some period or other, be ascertained, 
that Venus underwent all the changes to 
which the Moon was subject. Galileo was 
the first person who, by actual observa- 
tion, confirmed the truth of Coperuietts’s 
theory. 
PHASIANUS, the pheasant, in natural 
history, a genus of birds of the order Gal- 
linre. Generic character : bill short, strong, 
and convex ; head covered in some degree 
with cai nneulated flesh ; legs generally with 
spurs. There are ten species. 
P. gallus, or the wild pheasant, inhabits 
the forests of India, and has been seen, in- 
deed, by navigators in almost all the Indian 
and South Sea islands. Tlris is the unques- 
tionable origin of all the domestic varieties 
throughout Europe, of which we shall no- 
tice the following. 
P. gallus, or the dunghill cock, The most 
interesting animal under this variety, is the 
game cock, which is found in greater per- 
fection of vigour and courage in England, 
than in any other country ; and the irasci- 
bility and jealousy of which has, in almost aU 
ages, occasioned it to be employed in the 
sanguinary diversion of Coek-figliting. This 
practice is carried to a great extent, even 
among the mild inhabitants of China and 
India, whose manners, or principles, might 
be conceived in the highest state of repug- 
nance to it. The polished civilization of 
the Athenians did not prevent their engag- 
ing in it with considerable ardour, and the 
Romans encouraged it with all that fond- 
ness which might be expected from a na- 
tion established by rapine, and as it were 
educated in blood. From them it was in- 
troduced into England, where ithasocca-sion- 
ally been patronized by monarchs, and is still 
indulged in both by lords and plebeians 
with considerable frequency, though, proba- 
bly, not to such a degree as in some former 
periods. The appearance of this animal, 
when under the agitation of strong feeling, 
is highly interesting, indicating boldness, 
freedom, and energy, of a very superior 
character ; and the beauty of his plumage, 
