S P I 
clofed in a (heath; it's antennse are fliorter than 
the probofcis-, it's head is uniform in fize, and 
united to the thorax; and it's feet, which are 
eight in number, are formed for running. There 
are many fpecies of this genus : fome live on other 
animals, others in the water, and fome on trees 
and plants. See Acarus. 
Thefe infedls, which are frequently very inju- 
rious to plants, particularly in hot-hoafes, may be 
e£Fe6lualIy defcroyed by a mixture of foft green 
foap, turpentine, and flowers of fulphur, diflblved 
in a proportionable quantity cf warm water, and 
Iprinkled over the plants. 
SPIDER-SHELL. An appellation whereby 
fome naturalifls exprefs a fpecies of the murex. 
SPIGOLA. A name by Vv'hich Paulus Joviiis 
denom,inates that fpecies of perch more generally 
called lupus marinus. It is a genuine perch ; and 
is diftinguifhed from the others by Artedi, under 
the name of the perch with thirteen rays in thie 
fecond dorfal fin, and fouiteen in the pinna ani. 
SPINACHIA. An appellation by which fome 
ichthyologifts exprefs the common ftickle-back; 
the Gafteroftais Spinachia of Linnjeus. 
SPINARELLA. A name by which Bello- 
nius, and fome other writers, exprefs the lefier 
ftickle-back ; which, in the Linnasan fyftem, con- 
flitutes a diftin6l' fpecies of the gafcerofteus. 
SPINOLETTA; the Alauda Spinoletta of 
Linnaeus. A fmall bird of the lark kind. The 
head, neck, fhoulders, and back, are of a greyifli 
colour, with an admixture of green ; the breafb and 
belly are white; and the throat is fpotted. The 
female differs from the male in having a yellow 
belly. The wing-feathers are of a duflcy brown 
hue, with whitifh or yellowifh edges; the tail is 
moderately long; and part of the feathers are 
fnow-white, the reft being brown or blackifh. 
The length of the Spinoletta's heel diftin- 
guilhes it from all other birds except thofe of the 
lai-k-kind; and it differs from all other fpecies of 
larks in the colour of it's beak and legs, which 
are black. It is common in Italy. 
SPINOSA. An Italian appellation for the 
porcupine. 
SPINOSI PISCES. A term by which ich- 
thyologifts denominate fuch fifties whofe dorfal 
fins run out into thorns and prickles; of which 
kind is the perch. 
SPINUS. A fpecies cf fparus, having a bifid 
tail, and the dorfal fin recumbent. It is a native 
of the Oriental feas. 
SPINUS; the Fringilla Spinus of Linnaeus. 
An appellation by which fom.e ornithologifts ex- 
prefs the fifkin, or aberdavine. This bird is com- 
mon both in England and Germany; the former 
of which it vifits at uncertain feafons. In Suftex it 
is called the barley-bird, becaufe of it's arriving 
in that county about barley-feed time. 
For a particular defcription of the Spinus, 
which is in fome eftimation on account of it's 
voice, fee Aberdavine. 
SPIPOLA. A fmall bird of the lark kind ; 
of which, according to Aldrovandus, there are 
three fpecies: Ray, however, fufpedls them to be 
only varieties of the fpinoletta, or tordino of the 
Venetians. 
Linnffius conftitutes two diftin6l fpecies of 
thefcj under the appellations of alauda trivialis, 
and alauda pratenfis: the laft of which is fynony- 
mous with our tit-lark. See Lark. 
SPIZA. An appellation by which fome of 
S P O 
the ancient naturalifts denominated the chaf- 
finch. 
SPONDYLUS. The name by which Da 
Ccfta diftinguiilies the fecond famiily of bivalve 
fticlls, with unequal valves ftiut clofe. The prin- 
cipal chara£ler is the hinge, which in the upper 
ftiell confifts of a triangular hollow and cartilage 
in the centre, on each fide of which is a large deep 
cavity; and a very thick, large, and prominent 
tooth or joint, lies on each fide of the cavity*, the 
fummit and beak of the under valve, which is 
alfo extremely thick and ftrong, extends from the 
hinge outwards into a broad triangular fiope or 
flat. Some of the Spondyli are thickly and cu- 
rioufiy fet with long thorns or fpikes, and hence 
are denominated thorny oyfters : thefe, when per- 
feft, are held in high eftimation. 
The fpecies belonging to this family are no% 
very numerous. Conchologifts in general refer 
them to the ovfter tribe. 
SPOON-BILL; the Platalea Leucorodia of 
Linnreus. This bird belongs to the order of 
grallse ; but it's bill is differently formed from that 
of any other bird whatever. It feeds among wa- 
ters: it's toes are divided; and it feems to poflefs 
the natural inftinfts of the crane. The whole bill is 
of a fine fhining black hue, except a bright orange- 
coloured fpot juft above the point of the upper 
mandible, which is a little bent downwards at it's 
extremity : at the angles of the bill, on each cheek, 
there is alfo a fpot of the fame colour; the upper 
furface of the bill is waved with dotted protube- 
rances; a deprefiied line, extending from the no- 
ftrils, is continued round it near it's edge; and it's 
fubftance appears like whale-bone, being thin, 
light, and elaftic. The tongue is ftiort, and heart- 
fhaped : when drawn back, it ferves as a valve to 
dole the entrance of the throat; but whon pulled 
forward, it has the appearance of a triangular but- 
ton. The. ears are large, and placed an inch be- 
hind the angles of the mouth. The p!um,age of 
the whole body, wings, and tail, is white; and on 
the back-part of the head there is a beautiful creft 
of white feathers depending backv/ard. The 
legs are black ; as are alfo the thighs, which are 
naked half their length. Such is the defcrip- 
tion of the European Spoon-Bill. 
The Am.erican Spoon-Bili is either of a beauti- 
ful rofe-colour, or a delightful crimfon. Beauty 
of plumage indeed feems to be imparted to all the 
birds of that continent ; and we here fee the moft 
fplendid tints beftowed on a bird whole general 
conformation is the very reverfe of elegance. 
This fpecies is difieminated over various parts 
of Europe, Afia, Africa, and America. It's very 
fingular bill appears admirably adapted to the na- 
ture of it's food; being chiefly the frog, a nim- 
ble and cunning animal, which will frequently 
evade the ftroke of a ftiarp beak darted down at 
it ; and will fometimes elude the heron, even 
when feized. The Spoon-Bill, therefore, open- 
ing it's beak wide, places it near the ground, in 
thofe fituations to which frogs ufually refort ; 
and, when any come in it's way, clofes it's beak on 
them. For this purpofe, the beak of the Spoon- 
Bill is not only fufticiently broad to hold it's prey 
in a large grafp at once, but is alfo toothed and 
notched all the way round; fo that an efcape is 
utterly imprafticable : and with this the Spoon- 
Bill cruflies the frog, and then (wallows it. 
The Spoon-Bill, or fhoveller, as it is fometimes 
called, lays from three to five eggs, white, and 
powdered 
