PILCOMAYO 249 PIMELODUS Mediterranean. It is a thicker and smaller fish than the herring; the upper part of the body is bluish-green, belly and sides silvery-white. PILCOMAYO, a river in South Amer- ica, which rises in Bolivia, on the E. declivities of the Andes, and falls into the Paraguay, near Asuncion, after forming the boundary between Paraguay and the Argentine Republic. Its entire length is between 1,500 and 1,600 miles. PILE, a beam or timber driven into treacherous ground to form a foundation for a structure, or to form part of a wall, as of a cofferdam or quay. In heraldry, one of the lesser ordinaries, triangular in form and issuing from the chief with the point downward. When borne plain it should contain one-third of the chief in breadth, and if charged two-thirds. PILGRIMAGE, a journey undertaken by a pilgrim; specifically, a journey to Bome distant place, sacred and venerable for some reason, undertaken for devo- tional purposes. Pilgrimages are an es- sential part of the Hindu and Moham- medan systems, and the visits to Jeru- salem three times a year of the Jewish race were of the nature of pilgrimages. The Empress Helena led the way in Christian pilgrimages by visiting Jeru- salem in A. D. 326. PILGRIM FATHERS, the name given to 102 Puritans, who sailed in the "May- flower," from Plymouth, on Sept. 6, 1620, to seek in America the religious liberty denied them in England. Land- ing on Plymouth Rock, they, on Dec. 25, 1620, founded a colony, which became the germ of the New England States. PILLAR OF HERCULES, THE, Calpe (now Gibraltar rock), and Abyla, op- posite to it in Africa, which Greek story says were torn asunder and separated by Hercules about 1220 B. c. The Mediter- ranean was previously, like the Caspian, without connection with the ocean, hence the name Mediterraneum Mare (Inland Sea). PILLORY, formerly a common in- strument of punishment for persons con- victed of forestalling, use of unjust weights, perjury, forgery, libel, etc. It consisted of a frame of wood, erected on a pillar or stand, and furnished with movable boards, resembling those of the stocks, and holes through which the offender's head and hands were put. In this position he was exposed for a cer- tain time to public view and insult. The use of the pillory was abolished in France in 1832, in England in 1837, and in the United States in 1839. PILLSBURY, JOHN ELLIOTT, an American naval officer. He was born at Lowell, Mass., in 1846, and graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1867. He served a year in the Hydrographic office and ten years in coast survey serv- ice. In 1884-91 he commanded the ooast survey steamer "Blake" investigating Gulf Stream currents and established the axis of stream in Straits of Florida, and off Cape Hatteras. Commanded dynamite cruiser off Santiago in Span iflh-American war, later in Boston Navy Yard. Chief of Staff, North Atlantic Fleet in 1905. Released from active duty in 1909. Acted as naval adviser in 1918-1919. Died in 1919. PILOT FISH, Naucrates ductor, a small pelagic fish, about a foot long, of bluish color, marked with from five to seven broad, dark, vertical bars. It owes its scientific and popular English name to its habit of keeping company with ships and large fish, generally sharks. It obtains a great part of its food from the parasitic crustaceans with which sharks and other large fish are infested. Pilot fish often accompany ships into harbor. PILOT KNOB, a remarkable hill in Missouri, about 86 miles S. W. of St. Louis. It is nearly 500 feet high, and is composed almost entirely of magnetic iron ore. PILSEN, a town of Bohemia; in a fertile and beautiful valley, 52 miles S. W. of Prague. There are numerous ac- tive industries, producing building ma- terials, machinery, metal work, porcelain, spirits, liquors, leather, etc. In the neighborhood are mines of iron, alum, vitriol, coal, and sulphuric acid. But the town is most widely known from giving its name to a popular^ beer. The town was stormed by Zizka in the Hus- site war and by Count Mansfeld in the Thirty Years' War (1618); it was Wallenstein's headquarters in 1633- 1634. Pop. about 87,500. PIMAN, a linguistic stock of North American Indians who occupy a vast area extending over Southern Arizona and Northwestern Mexico. They num- ber about 90,000. PIMELODUS, a genus of Siluridx having the adipose fin well developed; dorsal and anal short; the former with pungent spine and six rays; barbels six; palate edentulous; ventrals six-rayed, in- serted behind the dorsal. Forty species are known from South America, the majority of small size and plain colora- tion. Two species are from West Africa,
