SIM 
the fides, whence it appears as if covered with leaf 
filver. 
SILURUS. In the Linnsan fyftem, a genus 
of the order of abdonninales. It's charafters are; 
that the body is naked ; that the mouth is furnifhed 
with leveral cirri, fomewhat filiform; that the 
bronchial membrane confifts of a number of rays, 
from four to fourteen ; and that the firft ray of the 
dorfal and peftoral fins is fpinofe, and dentated 
backwards. Linnseus enumerates twenty-one 
fpecies. 
However, the name Silurus is mod commonly 
appropriated to a fifh called in Englilh the ftieat- 
firfi, which is caught in the Viftula, and other 
large rivers. It grows to an immenfe fize, fome 
having beeti taken upwards of fixteen feet in 
length, and one hundred pounds in weight. It 
refembles the eel in it's colour; but the belly is 
variegated with black, white, and dufky fpots ; 
the body is deftitute of fcales, and covered with 
a mucous fubflance; the head is flat, fhort, and 
broad; the aperture of the mouth is extrcmeiv 
large; the body, down to the anus, is thick and 
cylindric; but the bottom of the belly is flat, and 
from the anus lo the tail it is broader and more 
flat. The eyes are large, and furnifhed with two 
antenna; ; four beards depend from the lower jaw; 
the gills are four on a fide; there is only one 
fmall dorfal fin; and the tail is even. It's flefh 
is held in the higheft eftimation. 
Gefner mentions two fpecies of this fifli; one 
flatted towards the tail; the other of a mixed 
green and yellow colour, having two beards on 
the upper jaw, and three on the under. 
The term Silurus, which is of Greek extrac- 
tion, is derived from Sein, to Move or Shake; 
and Oura, a Tail; indicating the remarkable qua- 
lity this fifh poffefl^es of almofl: continually mov- 
ing it's tail in the water. 
Silurus is alfo applied by fome ichthyologifts 
to the fturgeon ; called alfo the accipenfer, but 
more generally fturio. 
SIMIA; the Ape, or Monkey. In the Lin- 
naean fyilem, a diPcin^l genus of animals belong- 
ing to the order of primates, and clafs of mamma- 
lia. The diftinguifliing charafters are; that they 
have four cutting-teeth in each jaw, near each 
other; that the canine teeth are longer, fingle, and 
feparate; and that the grinders are obtufe. Lin- 
nseus enumerates thirty-three fpecies. 
Accordino; to Pennant's diftribution, this ge- 
nus belongs to the feftion of anthropomorphous 
digitated quadrupeds; of which he gives thefub- 
Icquent charaftcrs: they have four cutting and 
two canine teeth in each jaw ; each of the feet is 
formed like hands, generally with flat nails ; and, 
except in one inftance, they are furnifhed with 
four fingers and a thumb; and there are eye-brows 
both above and below. 
This race of animals, which is very numerous, 
is almoft confined to the torrid zone: they fill the 
woods of Africa, from Senegal to the Cape of 
Good Hope, and from thence to Ethiopia; and 
a (ingle fpecies is found beyond that line, in the 
province of Barbary. They are natives of all 
parts of India and it's iflands, Cochin China, 
China, and Japan ; one kind is met with in Ara- 
bia ; and they fwarm in the forefl:s of South Aine- 
rica, from the Ifthmus of Darien as far as Para- 
guay. 
Ray firfl: diftributed animals of this genus into 
three clalfesj namely, the Simis, or apes, without 
S I T 
tails; the papiones, or baboons, with fhort tails j 
and the cercopetheci, or monkies, with long tails. 
Succeeding naturalifts have in general adopted his 
diftincftions, which feem founded in nature, and 
confirmed by experience. See Ape, Baboon, and 
Monkey. 
SIMIA MARINA. An appellation ufed by 
Bellonius, and fome other ichthyologifcs, to ex- 
prefs the vulpes marina of authors in general; a 
kind of fhark remarkable for it's long tail, from 
whence it has likewife received the name of the 
fea-ibx. 
SIMON. A name fometimes applied to the 
dolphin; by which when addreffed, as fome au- 
thors gravely tell us, it will readily anfwer. 
SIMUS. An appellation by 'which fome na- 
turalifts exprcfs the nafus, a fifh' common in the 
large rivers of Germany, fomewhat refembling 
our chubb, and in other refpefts the common 
rudd. 
SIPTACE. A beautiful bird defcribed by 
the ancients; fuppofed by feme to be fynonymous 
with our gold-finch; v.hiie others, with a flronger 
fhew of probability, imagine it to be the par- 
rot. 
SIPUNCULUS. A genus of the Intcftina 
clafs of worms in the Linnsean fyftem. It's di- 
ilinguifhingcharaflcrsare; that the body is round 
and elongated; that the mouth is attenuated and 
cylindric; and that the lateral aperture of the 
bodv is rugged. There are two fpecies; one is 
found under ftones in the European, and the other 
in the Indian Ocean. 
SIREN. A.n app ellation given by Artedi to a 
fea-monfter frequently defcribed by naturalifts; 
but either not exifting at all, or lefs refembling 
man than iiihasbeen defined. 
Artedi fuppofes the Siren to conftitute a pecu- 
liar genus of tlie plagiuri, or cetaceous fifties. 
His charaders of it are thefe: it has no pinnated 
tail; the head, neck, and breafi-, down to the na- 
vel, reprefent thofe of the human fpecies ; and 
there are only two fins on the v/hole body, which 
are fituated on the breaft. See Mermaid. 
Siren is alfo a genus of the meantcs, in the 
clafs of amphibia. The diftinguifhing charac- 
ters are: the body is biped, naked, and furniflied 
with a tail ; and the feet are brachiated with claws. 
This animal, which was difcovered in Carolina 
by Dr. Garden, is found in fwampy and muddy 
fituations, by the fides of pools, under the trunks 
of old trees. Linnaeus eftablilhed a new order 
for this uncommon creature, called meantes, or 
gliders; the animals belonging to which are am- 
phibious, breathing by means of gills and luno-s^ 
and furnifncd with arms and claws« 
Siren is likewife an arpdlation given by Mouf- 
fet to a fpecies of bee; of which he diftinguift-,es 
two kinds, a larger and a fmaller: thefe differ 
greatly from the common bee, in that they lead a 
folitary life, and never unite in fwarms, build 
nefts, or frame combs. 
SIREX. A genus of the hymenoptera cla's of 
infefts, in the Linnjean fyftem. The characters 
are: the mouth has two ftrong jaws; it has two 
truncated palpi, or feelers ; filiform antenns; aa 
exerted, ftiff^, ferrated fting; a feftlle, mucrc- 
nated abdomen; and lanceolated wings. There 
are feven fpecies. 
SISKIN. A provincial appellation for the 
aberdavine. See Aberdavine. 
SITTA. A difcindTt genus of birds of the or- 
der 
