greenish white colour, spotted and blotched with brown, of a long shape, and pointed at the smaller end. This bird is a constant inhabitant of the fens, and is known to sportsmen by its singular notes, which are very loud and melodious, and are heard even when the bird is beyond the reach of sight. The description of this bird, which, it seems, is common in the fen countries, has been more particularly attended to, because it has not been described in any of the popular works on ornithology; at least not so accurately as to enable a naturalist to distinguish it by the proper name. Red Sandpiper, Aberdeen Sandpiper. (Tringa Icelandica, LINN.)-Latham describes this bird in the following manner :Length from eight to ten inches; bill brown, one inch and a half long, and a little bent downwards; head, hinder part of the neck, and beginning of the back, dusky. (marked with red; forepart of the neck and breast cinereous, and mixed with rust colour, and obscurely spotted with black; lesser wing coverts cinereous; quills dusky; secondaries tipped with white; the two middle tail feathers dusky; the other crinereous; legs long and black. Ash-coloured Sandpiper. (Tringa Cinerea, LINN.)-This bird weighs between four and five ounces, and measures ten inches in length, and about nineteen in breadth. The whole upper parts of the plumage are of a brownish ash-colour: the head is spotted, and the neck streaked with dusky lines: the feathers of the back, scapulars, and wing coverts, are elegantly marked or bordered on their ridges and tips, with two narrow lines of dull white, and dark brown. Some specimens have black spots on the breast, but most commonly the whole under parts are pure white; the tail is cinereous, edged with white, and its coverts are barred with black; legs dirty green: toes edged with a fine narrow scalloped membrane. The ash-coloured sandpiper, it is said, breeds in the northern parts of both Europe and America. Pennant says they appear in vast flocks on the shores of Flintshire in the winter season; and Latham, that they are seen in vast numbers on the Seal Islands, near Chateau Bay; and also that they breed and remain the whole summer at Hudson's Bay, where they are called by the natives gasqua picqua nishish. name Latham describes this bird, which it is said migrates from Sweden into England at the approach of winter. He makes it a va riety of the last species, and says it does not differ materially from it. "The spots on the back are ferruginous instead of white: the shaft of the first quill is white, as in the green sandpiper; and the secondaries have white tips the legs are brown." Brunnich mentions a further variety, wherein the first quill has a black shaft, and the spots on the back and wings are less; and observes, that they differ in age and sex. Grand Sandpiper. (Tringa Ochropus, LINN.; Le Becasseau, ou Cul-blanc, BUIF.) This bird measures about ten inches in length, to the end of the toes nearly twelve, and weighs about three ounces and a half: the bill is black, and an inch and a half long : a pale streak extends from it over each eye; between which and the corners of the mouth there is a dusky patch. The crown of the head and hinder part of the neck are of a dingy brownish ash-colour, in some specimens narrowly streaked with white; the throat white; fore part of the neck mottled or streaked with brown spots, on a white or pale ash-coloured ground. The whole upper parts of the plumage are of a glossy bronze, or olive brown. elegantly marked on the edge of each feather with small roundish white spots; the quills are without spots, and are of a darker brown s the secondaries and tertials are very long; the inside of the wings are dusky, edged with white grey; and the inside coverts next the body are curiously barred, from the shaft of each feather to their edges, with narrow white lines, formed nearly of the shape of sides of a triangle. The belly, vent, tail coverts, and tail, are white; the last broadly barred with black, the middle feathers having four bars, and those next to them decreasing in the number of bars towards the outside feathers, which are quite plain: the legs are green. This bird is not any where numerous, and is of a solitary disposition, seldom more than a pair being seen together, and that chiefly in the breeding season. It is a scarce bird in England, but is said to be more common in the northern parts of the globe as far as Iceland. It is reported that they never frequent the sea shores, but their places of abode are commonly on the margins of the lakes in the interior and mountainous parts of the country.- Bewick-Lathum. Shore Sandpiper. (Tringa Littorea, LINN.; Le Chevalier Variee, BUFF.)-Under this SANGUINE, a. Red, having the colour of blood; abounding with blood more than any other humour. SAP, 8. The vital juice of plants, the juice that circulates in trees and herbs. SARCELLE, (Clangula Glacialis, FLEM.) s. A bird of the duck tribe. This species is about the size of a widgeon, | length twenty-two inches, including the long feathers of the tail; the bill is black; down the middle and across the tip, orange; irides red; the fore part and sides of the head are reddish grey; on each side of the neck, just below the head, is an oval black spot; the hind part of the head, the throat, and remaining part of the neck and breast, white; back and rump black; sides of the upper tail coverts white, the middle black; the lower belly and vent white; the scapulars white, long, and pointed; the wings chiefly black, with a mixture of chestnut; the four middle tail feathers are black, the others white; the two middle ones are narrow, and exceed the others three inches and a half; legs of a dull red; claws black. Such is the description of the male; but in some the black spots are more or less of a chocolate colour, and the spot on the neck occupies half of it. The length of the tail also varies. be an unerring guide. The sides of the head are white, behind cinereous; the rest of the head, the neck, breast, and back, dusky black; the lower part of the breast and scapulars chestnut; belly white; upper tail coverts and wings like the male; legs dusky reddish brown. The sex is also subject to some variation; most commonly, the middle tail-feathers are not much longer than the rest. It is seldom met with in England, but is frequent in the north of Scotland and the Orkneys in winter, where they assemble in large flocks; it is common in Sweden, Lapland, and Russia, and is said to breed in Greeland and at Hudson's Bay, where it makes a nest of grass near the sea, and lays ten or more bluish-white eggs. The down of this bird is said to be as valuable as that of the eider duck.—Montagn. The female has been described by some authors for a different species. The bill, however, which is the same in this sex, seems to SAVAGE, a. Wild, uncultivated; uncivilised, barbarous. SAVIN, S. A plant formerly used in veterinary and canine diseases. SCAB, 8. An incrustation formed over a sore by dried matter; the itch or mange of horses. SCABBED, a. Covered or diseased with scabs; paltry, sorry. SCAD, S. A kind of fish, probably the same as shad. SCALE, 8. A balance, a vessel suspended by a beam against another; the small shells or crusts which, lying one over another, make the coats of fishes; anything exfoliated; a thin lamina; regular gradation; anything marked at equal distances. SCALE, v. To climb as by ladders; to measure or compare; to take off a thin lamina; to pare off a surface; to clean fishes. SCALED, a. Squamous, having scales like fishes. SCAPULA, 8. The shoulder blade. SCAPULARS, 8. In ornithology, arc feathers which take their rise from the shoulders, and cover the sides of the back. SCAR, 8. A mark made by hurt or fire, a cicatrix, SCARIFICATION, 8. Iucision of the skin with a lancet, or such like instru ment. SCARLET, a. Of the colour of scarlet. SCATE, 8. A kind of wooden shoe on which people slide; a fish of the species of thornback. Scates are exceedingly abundant on the Irish coasts: they are a coarse fish, and little valued. SCATE, v. To slide on scates. SCATING, a. The art of sliding. SCAUP DUCK, or SPOONBILL DUCK (Nyroca marila, FLEM.) 8. The length of this species is about twenty- | one inches; weight sometimes as much as thirty-five ounces; the bill is broad, and not so much compressed as usual in this genus; colour bluish-lead; nail black; irides light goid-colour; the head and upper part of the neck black, glossed with green, and, from being well clothed with feathers, appears large; the lower part of the neck and breast black; back and scapulars pale grey, undulated with innumerable small transverse lines of black; the wing coverts the same, but minutely small; lower part of the back, rump, and vent, black; the primores are dusky, lightish on their inner webs, except a few next the body, are white tipped with black, forming a broad bar of white across the wing; the under part of the body is white, sprinkled between the thighs with dusky; the tail is composed of dusky-black feathers; legs lead-colour. In some we SCENT, 8. The power of smelling; the smell; the object of smell; chace followed by the smell. have seen, the white in the wing is edged with rust-colour: it is also subject to other varieties. The scaup duck is not uncommon in most parts of this kingdom in winter, and is frequently found in fresh waters. It is supposed to take its name from feeding on broken shells called scaup. This, like most of the genus, breeds in the more northern parts; is common in Russia, Sweden, Norway, and Lapland; and is found at Hudson's Bay in the warmer months.-Montagu. Scent cannot be ascertained by the air only, i: depends also on the soil. Doubtless, the scent most favourable to the hound, is when the effluvia constantly perspiring from the game as it runs. is kept by the gravity of the air to the height of his breast; for then it is neither above his reach, nor need he stoop for it: this is what is meant when scent is said to be breast high. Experience tells us that difference of soil alters the scent. When the leaves begin to fall, and before they are rotted, scent lies ill in cover-a sufficient proof that it does not depend on the air only. Scent also varies by difference of motion; the faster the animal goes the less scent it leaves. When game has been ridden after, and hurried on by imprudent sportsmen, hounds will with difficulty pick out the scent; and one reason may be, that the particles of scent are then more dissipated: but if the game should have been run by a dog, not belonging to the pack, very seldom will any scent remain. times lies very high in a mist, when not too wet; but if the wet continues to hang upon the boughs and bushes, it will fall upon the scent and deaden it. When the dogs roll, and also when cobwebs hang on the bushes, there is seldom much scent. During a white frost, the scent lies high, as it also does when the frost is quite gone; at the time of its going off (which is a critical minute for hounds, in which their game is frequently lost), scent never lies. In a hard rain, with the air mild, scent will sometimes be very good. A wet night often produces the best chases, game then not liking to run the cover or the roads. In heathy countries, where the game brushes as it goes along, scent seldom fails; yet from the enclosure of poor land surrounding them, the scent is, at times, very difficult for hounds; the sudden change from a good to a bad scent confuses their noses; a scent therefore which is less good, but less unequal, is more favourable to hounds. When the ground carries the scent is bad for an obvious reason, which harehunters who pursue their game over greasy fallows and dirty roads have great cause to complain of. A remark has been generally made, that scent lies best in the richest soils, and those countries which are favourable to horses are not so to hounds; and it has likewise been observed in some particular spots in almost every country, let the temperature of the air be as it may, that hounds can never carry a scent across them. Scent frequently alters in the same day; and without asserting what scent exactly is, it may be said to depend chiefly on two things-the condition of the ground, and the temperature of the air, which should be moist without being wet. When both are in this state, the scent is then perfect; and vice versa, when the ground is hard and the air dry, there seldom will be any scent. It scarce ever lies with a north or an east wind; a southerly wind without rain, and a westerly one that is not rough, are the best. Storms in the air seldom fail to destroy scent. A fine sunshiny day is not good for hunting; but a day warm without sun, is generally a perfect one: there are not many such in a whole season. In some fogs scent lies high, in others not at all, depending probably, on the quarter the wind is then in. It someSCENT, V. To smell, to perceive by the nose; to perfume, or to imbue with odour good or bad. The morning is the part of the day which usually affords the best scent, and the animal itself, which you are at this time more than ever desirous of killing, is then least able to escape; the want of rest, added perhaps to a full belly, give hounds a decided superiority over an early found fox.-Daniel. SCHOONER, 8. A vessel with two masts. Schooners within the last twenty years, have gradually come into general use, and have, in a great degree, superceded the smaller sized brigs and large sloops which were formerly 'employed as coasters. They are found more manageable and weatherly, and in sailing qualities infinitely superior to either. The American are celebrated for their size GG of their schooners and the beauty of their mould. In the late war numbers of these vessels were fitted out as privateers; and from their extraordinary sailing properties, their success was unexampled. In the Royal Yacht Club there are a good SCIRRHUS, S. An indurated gland. number of vessels of this class; but the catter rig appears to be the favourite. The common tonnage of schooners ranges from 80 to 150; but some of the Baltimore privateers admeasured 300 tons. SCIRRHOUS, a. Having a gland indurated. SCISSORS, 8. A small pair of shears, or blades moveable on a pivot, and intercepting the thing to be cut. Scissors with very fine points are indispensable to fly-tiers, SCOLLOP, s. A pectinated shell fish. SCOLOPAX, (ILLIGER,) 8. The snipe, a genus thus characterised : Bill long, straight, compressed, slender, soft, bulged at the point; the two mandibles furrowed about the half of their length: the point of the upper mandible longer than the under, the bulged part for ming a hook: ridge elevated at its base and salient; nostril, at the sides of the base, slit lengthwise, near the edges of the mandible, covered by a membrane; legs of mean length, slender, the naked space above the knee very small; three toes before entirely divided, the middle and the outer ones rarely united; one toe behind; wings of mean length, the first of quill equal length, or a little shorter than the second, which is the longest in the wing. This division of the numerous scolopax genus of Linnæus amounts, according to Latham, about twenty species, besides varieties, of which only the woodcock, common snipe, and judccok and their varieties are accounted British birds. Pennant has placed the woodcock after the curlews, as the heads of the godwits and snipes; and others are of opinion that the knot, from the similarity of the figure to that of the woodcock, ought to be classed in this tribe. In the subdivisions, ornithologists may vary their classification without end: As in a chain doubly suspended, the rings of which gradually diminish towards the middle, the leading features of some particular bird may point it out as a head to a tribe; others, from similarity of shape, plumage, and babits, will form, by almost imperceptible variations, the connecting links; and those which may be said to compose the curvature of the bottom by gradations equally minute, will rise to the last ring of the other end, which, as the bead of another tribe, will be marked with chartoters very different from the first-Montrau. SCOTER, BLACK DUCK, or BLACK DIVER, (Anas Nigra, LINN; La Macreuse, BUFF.) s. A kind of bird. The scoter is less than the velvet duck, | weighing generally about two pounds nine ounces, and measuring twenty-two inches in length, and thirty-four in breadth. are only sparingly scattered on the coasts of England. The scoters seldom quit the sea, upon which they are very nimbie, and are indefatigable expert divers; but they fly heavily upon the surface of the water, aud to no great distance, and are said to walk awkwardly erect on the land.-Bewick. In severe winters the scoters leave the northern extremities of the world in immense flocks, dispersing themselves southward along the shores of more temperate climates. They SCRAY, 8. A bird called the sea-swallow. SCREECH, v. To cry out as in terror or anguish; to cry as a night-owl. SCREECHOWL, s. An owl that hoots in the night. SCREEN, 8. Anything that affords shelter or concealment; a riddle to sift sand. An artificial erection to cover the shooter's approach when stealing upon wildfowl. SCREW, 8. One of the mechanical powers; a kind of twisted pin or nail which enters by turning; bolts which secure a gun-lock. SCREW, v. To turn by a screw; to fasten with a screw; to deform by contortions. SCREWDRIVER, 8. An implement to turn screws. SCRUPLE, 8. Doubt; perplexity; twenty grains, the third part of a drachm. SCULK, v. To lurk in hiding places, to lie close. SCULL, 8. The bone which incases and defends the brain; the arched bone of the head; a small boat; one who singly rows a boat; a shoal of fish. SCULLER, 8. A boat in which there is but one rower; one that rows a boat singly. SCURF, 8. A kind of dry miliary scab; soil or stain adherent; anything sticking on the surface. SCUT, 8. The tail of those animals whose tails are very short, as the hare, rabbit, &c. SEA, 8. The ocean, the water opposed to the land; a collection of water. |