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in many varieties in temperate climates; also, the tree which bears this fruit. See Pear family, below. Pear blight.

A name given to several species of Sagina, low and inconspicuous herbs of the Chickweed family.

Any species of bivalve mollusks of the genus Pecten, and numerous allied genera (family Pectinidæ); a scallop. See Scallop.

on name of the several species of the genus Parietaria, low, harmless weeds of the Nettle family; -- also called wall pellitory, and lichwort.

The household gods of the ancient Romans. They presided over the home and the family hearth. See Lar.

The egg-shaped fleshy fruit of a West Indian plant (Bromelia Pinguin) of the Pineapple family; also, the plant itself, which has rigid, pointed, and spiny-toothed leaves, and is used for hedges. [Written also pinguin.] Arctic penguin (Zoöl.), the great auk. See Auk.

See Denarius. Penny cress (Bot.), an annual herb of the Mustard family, having round, flat pods like silver pennies (Thlaspi arvense). Dr. Prior. -- Penny dog (Zoöl.), a kind of shark found on the South coast of Britain: the tope. -- Penny father, a penurious person; a niggard. [Obs.] Robinson (More's Utopia). -- Pe…

One's ancestors or family; kindred; relations; as, my people were English.

Any fresh-water fish of the genus Perca and of several other allied genera of the family Percidæ, as the common American or yellow perch (Perca flavescens, or Americana), and the European perch (P. fluviatilis).

Belonging to, or resembling, the perches, or family Percidæ. -- n.

Of or pertaining to the family Perdicidæ, or partridges.

To endanger. [Obs.] Periclitating, pardi! the whole family. Sterne.

e-shaped body in the sedges, and the bristles or scales in some other genera of the Sedge family, or Cyperaceæ.

Any insect of the genus Perla, or family Perlidæ. See Stone fly, under Stone.

Any one of numerous species of longwinged sea birds belonging to the family Procellaridæ. The small petrels, or Mother Carey's chickens, belong to Oceanites, Oceanodroma, Procellaria, and several allied genera. Diving petrel, any bird of the genus Pelecanoides. They chiefly inhabit the southern hemisphere. -- Fulmar p…

Any one of several species of small European singing birds of the subfamily Sylviinæ, as the willow warbler, the chiff-chaff, and the golden warbler (Sylvia hortensis).

Any moth of the family Phalænidæ, of which the cankerworms are examples; a geometrid.

Any marsupial belonging to Phalangista, Cuscus, Petaurus, and other genera of the family Phalangistidæ. They are arboreal, and the species of Petaurus are furnished with lateral parachutes. See Flying phalanger, under Flying.

Any orthopterous insect of the family Phasmidæ, as a leaf insect or a stick insect.

species of large gallinaceous birds of the genus Phasianus, and many other genera of the family Phasianidæ, found chiefly in Asia.