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LEFT PORPHYRIO 313 PORT PORPHYRIO, a genus of Rallidae, sub-family Gallinx, with 18 species, ehiefly Oriental and Australian, but oc- curring in South America, in Africa, and in the S. of Europe. In habits they re- semble the water hen, but are larger and more stately birds ; bill and legs red, gen- eral plumage metallic blue. PORPHYRITE, or PORPHYRYTE, a name used by some petrologists for the porphyritic orthoclase rocks which are free from quartz. PORPHYRIUS, a Neo-Platonic phil- osopher; born in Batanea, Syria, a. d. 233; was a disciple first of Longinus, then of Plotinus, whose works he edited, and whom he succeeded as master of a fchool of philosophy at Rome. He wrote a "History of Philosophy," to which probably belongs the extant "Life of Pythagoras." Some fragments of his work against the Christian religion — condemned to the flames by the Emperor Theodosius II. in 453 — are preserved in the writings of his adversaries. We have his tractate "On Abstinence from Animal Food"; also his "Homeric Ques- tions," in 32 chapters. "Introduction to Philosophy," in which the question of realism and nominalism is first mooted; "On Deriving a Philosophy from Ora- eles"; and "On the Cave of the Nymphs." He died in Rome 304 a. d. PORPHYROGENITISM, the princi- ple of succession in royal families, and especially among the Eastern Roman em- perors, by virtue of which a younger son, if born "in the purple" that is, after the succession of his parents to the throne, was preferred to an older son born previous to such succession. PORPHYRY, a term originally ap- plied to a rock having a purple colored base, with inclosed individual crystals of a feldspar. Any rock in which crystals of feldspar are individually developed, irrespective of the mineralogical com- position of the whole, is said to be poryhyritic. PORPOISE, the Phocsena communis, and any species of the genus ; loosely ap- plied by sailors to any of the smaller cetaceans. The common porpoise, when full grown, attains a length of about five feet. The head is rounded in front, and the snout is not produced into a beak. The external surface is shining and hair- less, dark gray or black on the upper parts, under pure white. It is gregari- ous in habit, and is often seen in small herds, frequenting the coasts ratherthan the open seas. It often ascends rivers. It is found on the coasts of Scandinavia, and ranges as far N. as Baffin Bay and as far W. as the coast of the United States. It feeds on fish, and was for- merly esteemed as an article of food. Its only commercial value now is derived from the oil obtained from its blubber, and its skin, which is used for leather and shoe laces. PORRIDGE, a kind of dish made by boiling vegetables in water with or with- out meat; broth, pottage, soup; or a food made by slowly stirring oatmeal or simi- lar substance in water or milk while boiling, till it forms a thickened mass. PORSENNA, or PORSENA, a cele- brated leader and king of Etruria, who declared war against the Romans because they refused to restore Tarquin to his throne. At first successful, he would have entered the gates of Rome had not Horatius Codes stood at the head of a bridge and resisted the fury of the whole Etrurian army, while his companions behind were cutting off the communica- tion with the opposite shore. This act of bravery astonished Porsenna. He made a peace with the Romans, and never after supported the claims of Tarquin. PORSON, RICHARD, an English critic; born in East Ruston, England, Dec. 25, 1759. In 1777 he entered Trin- ity College, Cambridge, where he highly distinguished himself in classics, and in 1782 took the degree of B. A. and was chosen to a fellowship. This he resigned in 1792, since it could no longer be held by a layman, and Porson declined to take holy orders. Soon after he was unani- mously elected Greek professor. He edited and annotated several Greek works, especially four of the dramas of Euripides, and enjoyed the reputation of being one of the best Greek scholars and critics of the age. In 1806 he was ap- pointed librarian to the London Institu- tion. He was familiar with English literature, and wrote for some of the chief periodicals of the day. He died in London, Sept. 25, 1808. PORT, a harbor, natural or artificial; a haven; a sheltered inlet, cove, bay, or recess, into which vessels can enter, and in which they can lie in safety from storms. In law, a place appointed for the passage of travelers and merchandise into or out of the kingdom; a place fre- quented by vessels for the purpose of loading or discharging cargo. PORT, a species of red wine, produced chiefly in the mountainous districts of Portugal, and shipped from Oporto. After the juice has been pressed from the grape, and fermentation fairly started, a certain quantity of spirit is added to impede the process, so as to re-