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miles in dry straw. It seldom grows to a large size, though Mr. Pennant mentions one that weighed nine pounds; but this is very uncom

inon.

3. P. labrax, the basse, is a very voracious, strong, and active fish. Ovid calls them rabidi lupi, a name continued to them by after writers; and they are said to grow to the weight of 15 lbs. The irides are silvery; the mouth large; the teeth are situated in the jaws, and are very small; in the roof of the mouth is a triangular rough space, and just at the gullet are two others of a roundish form. The scales are of a middling size, are very thick set, and adhere closely. The body is formed somewhat like that of a salmon. The color of the back is dusky, tinged with blue. The belly is white. In young fish the space above the side line is marked with small black spots. It is esteemed a very delicate fish.

4. P. marina, the sea-perch, is about a foot long the head large and deformed; eyes great; teeth small and numerous. On the head and covers of the gills are strong spines. The color red, with a black spot on the covers of the gills, and some transverse dusky lines on the sides. It is a fish held in some esteem at the table.

5. P. Nilotica, the perch of the Nile, is taken about Cairo. The flesh has a sweet and exquisite flavor, and is not hard, but very white. It is one of the best fishes in the Nile; and, as it is of the largest size in Egypt, it adorns a table it brought upon it entire and well fried. See PILOT-FISH.

PERCASE, adv. Par and case. Perchance; perhaps. Not used.

A virtuous man will be virtuous in solitudine, and not only in theatro, though per ase it will be more strong by glory and fame, as an heat which is doubled by reflection.

Bacon.

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When you above perceive me like a crow,
That it is place which lessens and sets off.
Shakspeare.

The upper regions of the air perceive the collection of the matter of tempests before the air here below. Bucon

No sound is produced but with a perceptible blast of the air, and with some resistance of the air strucken. Id.

Great mountains have a perception of the disposition of the air to tempests sooner than the valleys below; and therefore they say in Wales, when certain hills have their night caps on, they mean mischief.

Id.

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Whatever the least real point of the essence of the perceptive part of the soul does perceive, every real PERCEANT, adj. Fr. perçant. Piercing; point of the perceptive must perceive at once. penetrating. Obsolete.

Wond'rous quick and perceant was his spright

As eagles' eyes that can behold the sun. Spenser.

PERCEIVE', v. a.

PERCEIVABLE, ɑd).

PERCEIVABLY, adv.

PERCEPTIBLE, adj.

Latin percipio.

To discover by some effect; to know; be affected PERCEPTIBIY, adv. by; observe: perPERCEPTIBILITY, n.s. ceivable and perPERCEPTION, n. s. ceptible mean, disPERCEPTIVE, adj. coverable; such as PERCIPIENT, adj & n. s. J may be observed; the adverbs corresponding: perceptibility, state of being an object of perception; power of perceiving for which, however, perception is the better word: perceptive, having the power of perceiving perception is perceiving: percipient is perceiving, one who has the power of perception.

Id. Divine Dialogues.

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J. Haddon, Printer, Finsbury.

END OF VOL. XVI.

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