S K O 
der of pica3i ia the Linnsean fyftem. The cha- 
racters of this genus are: the bill is fubulated, 
tapering, ftra^ig'ht, extended, and entire, with the 
upper mandible fomewhat longer than the lower, 
and a compreffed apex ; the tongue is jagged 3 the 
noRrils are covered with feathers j and the feet are 
formed for walking, having three toes forv/ard, 
and -one backward. 
. LinnfEus enumerates three fpecies; of v/hich 
the picus cinerius, or grey wood-pecker, or Sitta 
Europea, in Englifli denominated the nut-hatch, 
is one. See Nut-Hatch. 
One of the other two fpecies is found in Ca- 
nada; and the other in Jamaica. 
SIYAH GFIUSH. An animal of the feline 
kind, found in Perfia, India, and Barbary. Buf- 
fon gives it the appellation of the Caracal; Pen- 
nant, of the Perfian cat ; and Charlton names it 
the Siyah Ghudi, or black ear. It has a long 
facCj artd a fmall head; very longj iflender, black 
ears; a v/hite nofe; and fmall eyes.'i The upper 
part of the body- is of a pale reddifli brov/n hue; 
the tail is fomewhat darker ; the beiiy and breafb 
are whitifh; the hind part of each limb is marked 
with black; and the tail is about half the length 
of the body. 
This animal is frequently domefticated, and 
ufed in the chace of leller quadrupeds; as alfo of 
the larger fort of birds, fuch as cranes, pelicans, 
and peacocks, which it furprifes v/ith vaft addrefs. 
Having feized it's prey, it holds it with it's 
teeth, lying for a fhort fi)ace entirely motionlefs. 
It is alfo faid to attend the lion, and to feed on 
the remains of what prey is relinquiOied by that 
fuperior tyrant of the foreft. When provoked, 
it is very fierce: and Dr. Charlton informs us, 
that he faw one attack a hound, v/hich it killed 
and tore to pieces almoft inftantaneouHy, notwlth- 
lianding the dog made all the refinance in his 
power. 
SKATE; the Raia Batis of Linnsus. Artedi 
diflinguiHics it by the appeiiation of the varie- 
gated ray-filh, having the middle of the back 
fmooth, and only one row of fpines in the tail. 
The Skate, in proportion to it's bulk, is the 
thinned of any of the genus; as v/ell as the largeil, 
forne weighing near two hundred pounds. The 
-hofe, though not long, is fliarp-pointed ; and 
above the eyes there is a fetof fliort 1 pines. The 
whole upper part is of a pale brown colour, in 
•feme fpecies ftreaked with black; the lower part 
is white, marked with many fmall black fpots ; 
artd the jaws are covered with fmall granulated, 
but fharp-pointed teeth. The tail is of a mode- 
rate length, with tv/o fi;is near it's extremity; 
along the top of it there is one row of fpines ; 
and on the edges a fev/ more are irregularly dif- 
perfed. In the males of this fpecies, the fins are 
full of fpines. 
Skates generate in March and April; when they 
fwim near the furface of the v^ater, feveral males 
generally purfuing one female. The females begin 
to caft their purfes (as filhermen term thofe bags 
in which the young are inclofed) in May, and 
continue producing till September. In Oftober 
they are very poor and thin; but begin to improve 
in Novemberj and grow gradually better till May, 
when they are in Che higheft perfedion. The 
malts -are fooner out of feafon than the females. 
SKIlMMER. An EngHlli appeiiation for a 
bird termed rynchops in L/atin. See Rynchops. 
- SKOUT. A provincial appellation for the 
Icmmia. 
SKRABBA. a name by which fome authors 
exprefs the fcorpius marinus, or fcorposna. See 
Father-Lasher. 
SKUA. A bird of the gull kind, more ufli- 
ally denominated catarafta. It inhabits Norway, ■ 
the Ferro lOes, Shetland, and the famous rock 
Foula; and is alfo found in the South Sea. It is 
the moll formidable of the gull tribe, preying in- 
difcriminately on fifn, fowls,- and even young 
lambs. It defends it's young v/ith all the intre- 
pidity of the eagle; and when any inhabitant 
of the Ferro iflands vifus it's nefl, it attacks him- 
with fuch courage, that he is obliged to hold a 
knife in an ereft pofture over his head, on v/hich 
the Skua ufually transfixes itfeif in it's fall on the 
invader. In Foula, it is a privileged bird, be- 
' caufe of it's defending the flocks from eagles j 
and a fine is impofed on every perfon who de- 
ffcroys any of thein. 
SKUNK ; the Chincke of Buffon. An animal 
of the weafel kind, having fhort round ears, black 
cheeks, and a white flripe extending from the 
nofe to the back. The upper part of the neck 
and the whole back are white, divided at the bot- 
tom by a black line, commencing at the tail, and, 
pafTmg a little way up the back. The belly and 
legs are black ; the tail is very full of long coarfe 
hair, generally black, fometimes tipt with white; 
and the nails on the feet are long, like thofe on the 
fore-feet of the badger. 
This animal inhabits Peru, and North Ame- 
rica, as far as Canada. It's fmell, like that of the 
genus in general, is highly offenfive; and it's 
manners are nearly fimilar. 
SLEEPERS. A term by which fome natu- 
raiifts exprefs fuch animals as fleep during the 
winter; of which kind are bears, marmottes, dor- 
m.ice, bats, and hedge-hogs. Thefe, and many 
others, neither feed in winter, nor have any fenfi- 
ble evacuations: they likewife breathe very little, 
if any; and mofl of the vifcera ceafe from their 
functions. 
SLOATH, OR SLOTK. An animal re- 
markable for the flownefs of it's motion : of vvfhich 
we meet with two varieties, diftinguilhed from 
each other by their clav/s; the one having only 
two claws on each foot, and being deftituie of a 
tail ; the other having a tail, and three claws on 
each foot. The former, in it's native country, 
obtains the name of Unan ; and the latter, of Ai. 
The fnout of the unan is longer than that of the 
ai, the ears are more apparent, and the fur is dif- 
ferent. In the number of ribs too they greatly 
differ ; the unan having forty-fix, and the ai but 
twenty-eight. But, notwithftanding thefe diffe- 
rences are fo very perceptible, they have been but 
little regarded in the defcription of two animals 
which bear lb ftrong a refemblance to each other 
in the general outlines of their figure, in their ap- 
petites, their nature, and their heiplefs formation. 
One general defcription v/ill therefore fufficCj. 
fincc the two varieties chiefly differ in the refpeils 
already fpecified. 
Sloath, Three-Toed, or Ai; the Bradypus 
Trida6tylus of LinnjEus. This animal is about 
the fize of a badger : it's fur is coarfe and irregu- 
lar, in fome degree refembling dried grafs ; it's 
tail is fo very fliorr, as to exhibit little more than 
a ftump ; and it's mouth extends from ear to ear. 
It has a blunt black nofe; very fmall external 
ears ; and fmall heavy black eyes. The legs are 
thick, and aukv/ardly placed. The colour of the 
face and throat is a dirty v/hitc j the body and 
4 limbs 
