nine, except it be the last trick, nothing is reckoned for it. The cards being play⚫ed out, he that has most tricks reckons ten for winning the cards: but if they have tricks alike, neither reckons any thing. If one of them wins all the tricks, instead of ten, which is his right for winning the cards, he reckons forty, and this is called capot.

The deal being finished, each person sets up his game; they then proceed to deal again as before; cutting afresh each time for the deal: if both parties are within a few points of being up, the carte blanche is the first that reckons, then the point, then the sequences, then the quatorzes, then the tierces, and then the tenth cards. He that can reckon thirty in hand by carte blanche, points, quintes, &c. without playing, before the other has reckoned any thing, reckons ninety for them, and this is called a repike; and if he reckons above thirty, he reckons so many above ninety. If he can make up thirty, part in hand, and part in play, before the other has told any thing, he reckons for them sixty; and this is called a pique, whence the name of the game. Mr. de Moivre, in his doctrine of chances, has resolved, among others, the following problems: 1. To find, at picquet, the probability which the dealer has for taking one ace or more in three cards, he having none in his hands. He concludes from his computation, that it is 29 to 28 that the dealer takes one ace, or more. 2. To find, at picquet, the probability which the eldest has of taking an ace or more in five cards, he having no ace in his hand. Answer; 232 to 91, or 5 to 3, nearly. 3. To find at picquet, the probability which the eldest has of taking both an ace and a king in five cards, he having none in his hand. Answer; the odds against the eldest hand taking an ace and a king are 331 to 315, or 21 to 20 nearly. 4. To find at picquet the probability of having twelve cards dealt to, without king, queen, or knave; which case is commonly called cartes blanches. An

swer;

the odds against cartes blanches are 323 to 578, 956, or 1791 to 1 nearly. 5. To find how many different sets, essentially different from one another, one may have at picquet before taking in. Answer, 28,967,278. This number falls short of the sum of all the distinct combinations, whereby twelve cards may be taken out of 32, this number being 225,792,840; but it ought to be considered, that in that number several sets of the same import, but differing in suit,

might be taken, which would not intro. duce an essentialdifference among the sets. PICRAMNIA, in botany, a genus of the Dioecia Pentandria class and order. Essential character: calyx three or five-parted: corolla three or five-petalled: berry two-celled. There are two species, viz. P. antidesma and P. pentandra, both natives of Jamaica.

PICRIS, in botany, ox-tongue, a genus of the Syngenesia Polygamia Æqualis class and order. Natural order of Compositæ Semiflosculosa. Cichoraceæ, Jussieu. Essential character: calyx calycled; receptacle naked; seed transversely grooved; down-feathered. There are six species.

PICRUM, in botany, a genus of the Tetrandria Monogynia class and order. Natural order of Rotacex. Gentianæ, Jussieu. Essential character: calyx four or five cleft: corolla one-petalled, four or five cleft; nectary of four or five scales; stigma bilamellate; capsule half two celled, two valved. There are two species, viz. P. spicatum and P. ramosum.

PICTS wall, in antiquity, a wall begun by the Emperor Adrian, on the northern bounds of England, to prevent the incursion of the Picts and Scots. It was first made only of turf, strengthened with palisadoes, till the Emperor Severus coming in person into Britain, built it with solid stone. This wall, part of which still remains, began at the entrance of Solway Firth in Cumberland, and running N. E. extended to the German ocean.

PICUS, the woodpecker, in natural history, a genus of birds of the order Pica. Generic character: bill straight, strong, angular, and wedge-formed at the tip; nostrils covered with bristly feathers, reflected downwards; tongue long, slender, cylindric, bony, jagged at the end, and missile ; tail of ten feathers, stiff and sharppointed. These birds live principally upon insects, to obtain which they climb trees, and are perpetually in search of those crevices in which their food is lodged. These insects they transfix with their missile and daggered tongue, which, when it has obtained its purpose, is by

an

almost invisible motion withdrawn wholly into the mouth. This process is incessantly repeated throughout the day, with inconceivable precision and celerity. Doomed to this perpetual occupation, woodpeckers avoid society, even of their own species, and appear to possess none of the animation of cheerfulness or vigour of courage. They have no notes but such as are expressive of pain and sadness. There are fifty species. P. martius, or the

greatest black Woodpecker, abounds in Germany, and builds in ash and poplar trees, which they are said to excavate speedily, so as to expose them to be blown down by winds which would not otherwise have affected them; under the hole made by these birds may be of ten found several pecks of dust and pieces of wood. They are of the size of a jack-daw. P.viridis, or the green Woodpecker, is the largest species in Great Britain, and is thirteen inches long. These birds are more frequently seen on the ground than the other species, particularly where anthills abound, the population of which they almost extirpate by their incessant efforts. Occasionally this bird is not content with darting its tongue at them single, but by the combined exertion of its bill and feet lays open the whole nest, and commits the most wholesale ravage upon both the ants and their eggs.

P. major, or the witwall, is nine inches long, and strikes with far greater comparative force against the trees than any other of the European species. It creeps with facility over the branches in every direction, and, when any person attempts to observe it on one side of a branch, passes to the opposite with extreme celerity, repeating this change in correspondence with every renewed effort of the enemy. For the greater spotted wood-pecker, see Aves, Plate XII, fig. 3.

Ten species of this interesting genus have been enumerated as inhabitants of the United States, of which the

P. principalis, or Ivory-billed Woodpecker, is the largest of the whole tribe hitherto discovered, being twenty inches long, and thirty inches in extent. Black, bill ivory white, crest brilliant red, black before; a white line originates near the angles of the mouth on each side, passes down each side of the neck and over the back, terminating near the rump; secondary feathers of the wings white. This disposition of colours gives to the bird a white-backed appearance when at rest; neck long; tail long, cuneiform, the feathers of which it is composed are remarkably concave beneath. The female is destitute of the brilliant red of the crest, but in this part is wholly black. They feed principally on the larva of different species of coleoptera, such as Passalus Cornutus, &c. This species is very seldom seen north of Carolina, but his range extends, in a southern direction, far beyond the boundaries of the United States. -The skins of several different kinds of birds are worn by some of our tribes of

Indians, either to decorate their persons, as symbols of office, or as amulets or charms. By way of ornament the skin of this bird, particularly of the head, with its bill and the neck, are worn and highly valued by some of our southern Indians.

P. pileatus, Pileated Woodpecker, Black Wood-cock, or Log-cock, as he is called in different parts of the country, stands next to the preceding species in point of size. Length eighteen inches; width twenty-eight: colour blackishbrown; crest entirely of a brilliant red; a red dash at the angles of the mouth; bill black; chin and feathers of the nostrils white; this colour passes in a stripe down the side of the neck and spreads under the wings; upper half of the wings white, concealed when at rest by the black coverts; tail rather long, tapering; feathers convex above and strong. The female is distinguished from the male by having the front of the head of a light brown colour, and the dash behind the angle of the mouth is dusky.

This noble bird appears to be a general inhabitant of North America, at least as far north as Canada; his residence being in the interior of large forests, he is rarely seen near our large towns on the sea-board, around which the forests have been felled or much thinned; makes a loud cackling noise before rain, and then seems to fly about with unusual impatience and restlessness.

P. auratus, Golden winged Woodpecker, Flicker, High-hole, Hittock, &c. is a very common and beautiful species, found in almost all parts of the United States, and ranges very far to the north; he is partially migratory, but may be found in our markets every month in the year. Colour of the back and wings above dark umber, marked regularly and transversely with streaks of black; cheeks, chin and neck, cinnamon colour; head above, and superior part of the neck, iron grey, hind head marked with a sanguineous lunate spot, the angles pointing towards the eyes, an abbreviated stripe on each side of the throat arising near the base of the lower jaw, and a large deep black lunule on the breast, belly and vent white, a little yellowish, and marked with very numerous rounded spots of black; shafts of the feathers golden yellow; rump and tail coverts white, the latter curiously serrated with black; tail beneath yellow, tip and all above black. The female is destitute of the abbreviat ed stripes of the throat: length twelve

inches, extent twenty inches. They build their nest in the hollow of an old tree, which they have been instrumental in forming. The female lays six white nearly transparent eggs in April. Their food is not confined to the larvæ of insects, but they delight in several kinds of fruits, as cherries, gum-berries, grapes, and, perhaps, sometimes a little Indian corn when in its milky or unripe state; but the food on which his principal reliance seems to be placed is the wood-louse (Oniscus. Lin.) and the pupa and young of ants, &c.

P. erythrocephalus, or Red-headed Woodpecker, is one of the most common of our birds, and is well known by his appearance to almost every individual in the United States, or even in North America, from the conspicuous colours with which he is decorated, as well as by his constant recurrence, wherever there are old trees to attract his attention, for the larvæ of insects they contain, and also from his peculiar note and the loud noise made by the strokes of his beak against the wood, succeeding each other with almost incredible rapidity of succession. Length nine inches and a half, extent seventeen inches. Head and neck deep scarlet; back, primaries, wing coverts and tail black, with steel blue reflections; rump, secondary feathers, lower parts of the back, breast, abdomen and vent white. The young bird does not receive his full and perfect plumage until the succeeding spring, his head and neck are blackish grey. They form their nest in some old tree, of which the wood is not so hard as to oppose any great obstacle to their labours; though it must be confessed that they sometimes dig out wood of a considerable degree of firmness. The female deposits six white eggs, and the young appear about the middle of June. His food is Indian corn, fruit, &c. but principally the larvæ of insects; these he discovers by some means, unknown to us, under the bark of decaying trees, and arrives at them by perforating it with his bill; it is probable, that in his search for this favourite food he is guided by his acute hearing, directed to catch the sound of the gnawing hidden worm. 'Pennsylvania they migrate to the southward in October, and return in May.

In

P. Villosus. Hairy Woodpecker of Catesby, is a very common bird in Pennsylvania, and is one of the several species familiarly known to almost every body under the name of Sap-Sucker, derived probably from a notion, that their con.

stant labour in perforating trees is for the purpose of supplying themselves with the sap of the tree as food; but it is well known to every naturalist, that their object is exclusively the acquisition of the larvæ of insects, by destroying which they render essential service to man.This bird is in length about nine inches, and in extent fifteen; head white, crown and broad line, which includes the eyes, and descends on the hind neck to the back, black; hind head with a large scarlet spot; a line of black spots, from near the base of the lower jaw, terminates in a broad black stripe on the shoulder; back black, divided by a broad lateral stripe of white, of which the feathers are loose, resembling hairs, not being webbed; wings, black spotted with white; the four middle tail feathers black, the others whitish; all beneath pure white ; nostrils concealed by very numerous hairs. The female is destitute of the scarlet spot on the hind head.

This bird remains with us all winter ; the female deposits her five white eggs in May, and the young are hatched in June.

P. Pubescens. Downy Woodpecker, smallest wood-pecker of Catesby. This is the smallest of all our woodpeckers, and is the species to which the term Sap-Sucker is most usually applied, being exceeding common in orchards, &c. where the apple and other fruit-trees seem to be his favourite hunting places; in his pursuit of the larvæ of insects, he forms those circular and regular bands of small round holes which are so often seen on apple-trees. This species bears a very striking resemblance to the preceding at first view, appearing to differ from it only by its more diminutive stature, but it is, nevertheless, an entirely distinct species. Length six and three quarter inches, extent twelve inches; the same description will serve for this as for the preceding, excepting that the rump, tail, coverts, and four middle feathers of the tail above, are black; the three white feathers of the tail on each side are spotted with black. The female is destitute of the scarlet spot on the hind part of the head.

P. Varius, or the yellow-bellied Woodpecker of Catesby, is a companion of the two preceding species, to which also it bears some resemblance, and has in consequence received the same vulgar name of Sap-Sucker, from those who do not take the trouble to observe the differences between the objects before them. Length eight and a half, extent fifteen

inches; crown of the head and throat deep scarlet bordered with black, sides, of the head and neck white, with a black stripe from the eye running down the neck; head slightly crested; back dusky yellowish, sprinkled and waved black; wings black, with a large oblong white spot drawn from the shoulder, the primaries and three inner secondaries variegated with white; rump white with a black border; belly yellow, on each side rather darker and marked with numerous sagittate spots; tail black, the two outer feathers edged with white, inner ones edged on the inside with white. The female is destitute of the scarlet mark on the throat, this part is white; lays about four white eggs the latter end of May. They are found in all parts of the United States, and do not migrate,

P. Carolinus, Red-bellied Woodpecker of Wilson, Jamaica Woodpecker of Edwards. This is another of those of this genus, whose back, wings, &c. are barred or spotted with black and white, and have more or less of red about the head; they generally bear to each other a pretty strong resemblance. The present species is a general inhabitant of the United States, and although less frequent near houses or without the covert of a wood, yet he is well known every where as one of the Sap-Suckers. Length ten inches, extent seventeen. Head above, hind neck down to the back to the shouldres, golden red polished; sides of the head and neck pale buff, which on the belly becomes of a yellowish ash colour stained with sanguineous. The back is black, banded with curving lines of white, the wings also black, with white bands of spots; rump white, with a few black spots; the vent and thigh feathers whitish, with cordate and sagittate spots; the feathers of the front of the head are of a dull yellowish red. In the female the black colour is less intense, and about an inch in length of the crown of the head is cinereous. They sometimes, for the purpose of nidification, scoop a cavity out of the solid wood, but more commonly choose some hollow limb, which it requires less labour to adapt to their purposes. The female lays five white eggs in April, and the young appear the beginning of June.

P. querulus, or red-cockaded Woodpecker, was discovered by Mr. Wilson in the state of North Carolina, and was first described by him; it is an inhabitant of the southern states, and has not yet been found as far north as Pennsylvania; it is closely allied to the preceding species,

and to the P. villosus; it is however smaller: length seven and a half inches, extent thirteen; head above black, region of the eyes, cheeks and sides of the neck, white; hairs over the nostrils whitish, a black line from the base of the lower mandible passes to the shoulder of the wing, where it disappears in spots on the side of the breast; each side of the head, above the eye, a vermilion line; back black, with about twelve transverse white bands, wings black, with white spots; rump black, varied with white; tail with the four inner feathers black, the others spotted with white; vent white, with black spots. In the female, the red mark is wanting; in other respects she resembles the male; feeds upon coleopterous insects.

P.torquatus, Lewis's Woodpecker, is a bird of remarkable aspect; it was discovered by Lewis and Clark, during their memorable and eventful journey across the continent to the Pacific ocean; and was described by Mr. Wilson, from several skins brought to Philadelphia by those travellers. It was in length eleven and a half inches; back, wings and tail glossed with green; head black, with the front region of the eyes, cheeks and chin, dark red; a broad collar of white round the neck, passes over the breast, with hair-like feathers; belly deep vermilion, and with the same strong hair-like feathers intermixed with silvery ones, vent black. Of its history we know nothing, neither can we say any thing about the difference of the colouring in the sexes.

PIECE, in commerce, signifies sometimes a whole, and sometimes a part of the whole. In the first sense, we say a piece of cloth or velvet, &c. meaning a certain quantity of yards regulated by custom; being yet entire, and not.cut. In the other signification, we say a piece of tapestry; meaning a distinct member, wrought apart, which, with several others, make one hanging.

PIECE, in matters of money, signifies sometimes the same thing with species; and sometimes, by adding the value of the pieces, is is used to express such as have no other particular name.

PIECE, in heraldry, denotes an ordinary or charge. See ORDINARY and CHARGE. The honourable pieces of the shield are the chief, fesse, bend, pale, bar, cross, saltier, chevron, and in general all those which may take up one-third of the field, when alone, and in what manner socver it be.