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and Bontius. This beautiful bird is aboiit the 
fize of our common Starling. It is variegated 
With a deep blue, a lead colour, and a pale gt-ey; 
and it's head is adorned with a beautiful yellow 
fcreft. it learns to imitate the human voice j and 
even talks, with more dillinft articulation than the 
jjarrot. 
STEINBIZA. Anappeilationby which fome 
jchthyologifts exprefs that fmall fpecies of the co- 
bitis, more ufually denominated cobitis aculeata, 
and tsenia cornuta. Artedi calls it the cobitis 
With a forked fpine under each eye. 
STEINHUN. A name given by the German 
brnithologifts to a bird of the lagopus kind, more 
commonly known by the appellation of otomo. It 
differs very little from the lagopus in any thing 
but colour; and as that bird is known to vary it's 
plumage in the fummer months, it is probably the 
fame. 
STELLA CRINITA. A Linnjean appella- 
tion for a genus of ftar-fifh: the characters of 
■which are; that they have more than five rays; 
and from thefe proceed feveral other lateral pro- 
ceffes, which are covered with a fine down or 
hair. 
STELLA MARINA. A name by which 
fome exprefs the afterias, or ftar-fifh. 
STELLA ARBORESCENS. A curious fpe- 
cies of ftar-fifli. See Asterias Arborescens. 
STELLA SCOLOPENDROIDES, An ap- 
pellation by which Linkius and fome others ex- 
prefs a fpecies of ftar-fifh, with an undivided body, 
and five rays, refembling the bodies of the fcolo- 
pendrjE; as thofe of the more ufual kinds, called 
ftella lumbricalis, do the bodies of common earth- 
worms. 
STELLA VERMIFORMIS. A name fome- 
times ufed for the common ftar-fifh, with five rays 
parting from the body, each refembling a large 
common worm. 
STELLIO. A term whereby the creature 
otherwife called a fwift, or fpotted lizard, is fre- 
quently exprefied. The fpots, however, which 
diftinguilh this kind, are not ftellated, as might 
naturally be inferred from the name, but round; 
fome fmall, and irregularly fcattered over the 
body; and others larger, and difpofed in thirteen 
zones, or femicircles. The fpots on the back are 
much more diftiii6t than thofe on the belly. 
This animal is common in Syria, and fome other 
countries. It's bite is faid to infpifiTate the hu- 
mours, and ftupify the fenfes: to remedy which, 
Venice treacle and volatile falts are recommended. 
The flefh is faid to excite fz/eat, and refift poifon. 
Sec FiFT- 
STERCORARIUS PISCIS, the Dung-Fifli. 
An Oriental fiih, fo called from it's frequenting 
necefiary houfes erefted over the water, and other 
places where ordure is to be found. The nature 
of it's food has raifed unfavourable opinions of the 
falubrity of it's flefb; howeverj it 'is really well- 
tafted and wholefome. 
This fifh is broad and thin; about fix or feven 
inches in length, and as many in breadth. It's 
back is variegated with fpots of deep brown; and 
it's belly is blueifh. 
STERNA. A genus of the order of anferes 
in the Linnsan fyftem. It's charaders arc; that 
the bill is toothlefs, fubulated, ftraight, acute, and 
a little comprelTed on the fides; the noftrils are 
linear, and ficuated at the bafe of the bill : to which 
may be added, that the tongue is flender and 
^ T i 
fharp; the wings are very long; the tail is forkedi 
and there is a fmall back toe. Linnsiis enume- 
rates feven fpecies, fome of which are referred by 
other naturalifts to the genus of gull. 
STICKLEBACK. An Englifli appellation 
for the fmall fiih denominated by different au- 
thors fpinachia, fpinax, pungitius pifcis, pifcicu- 
lus afper, and pifciculus aculeatus; and by Artedi 
called by^the more expreffive name of Gafterofteus, 
denoting the great fingularity V/hich appears in 
the bony ftrufture of it's belly. Tliere are feve- 
ral fpecies. 
Stickleiback, Common, OR Three Spined; 
the Gafterofteus Aculeatus of Linnsus. This 
fifh is properly diftinguiftied by having three 
fpines on it's back, in which charadler it differs 
from the other fpecies of this genus. It is a very 
common fifti, abounding particularly in new dug 
ditches, where it's origin cannot eafily be traced. 
Hence the vulgar opinion, that it breeds there 
equivocally and of itfcif, without the affiftance of 
parents of it's own kind, and that from it all other 
fifties originate. 
This creature feldom grows to the length of two 
inches. The eyes are large ; the belly is promi- 
nent; the body near the tail is fquare; and the 
fides are covered with large bony plates, placed 
tranfverfely. On the back there are three ftiarp 
fpines, capable of elevation or depreffion at plea- 
fure; the dorfal fin is placed near the tail; the pec- 
toral fins are broad; the ventral fins confift each 
of one fpine or plate, of unequal lengths ; between 
both there is a flat bony plate, reaching almoft to 
the vent; and beneath the vent there is a fhort 
fpine, and then fucceeds the anal fin. The tail 
confifts of twelve rays, and is even at the end. 
The colour of the back and fides is an olive green ; 
the belly is white; but, in fome, the lower jaw 
and belly are of a bright crimifon. 
Thefe fifties are extremely plentiful in thfe fens 
of Lincolnftiire, and fome of the rivers rifing from 
them. Once in feven or eight years, amazing 
ftioals of them appear in the Welland, near Spal- 
ding, afcending the river in the fliape of a co- 
lumn. Thefe are fuppofed to be the multitudes 
which have been waftied out of the fens by the 
floods of feveral years, and collefted in fome fub-- 
terraneous retreat, till, overcharged with num- 
bers, they are compelled periodically to feek a 
change of place. The quantity of Sticklebacks 
is fo immenfe on thefe occafions, that they are 
ufed in manuring the land; and experiments have 
been made to get oil from them. 
Stickleback, Lesser, or Ten Spined j the 
Gafterofteus Pungitius of Linnseus. This fifti is 
much I'maller than the common kind, and of a 
more flender make. The back is armed with ten 
fhort ftiarp fpines, crofting each other; the fides 
are fmooth, not plated, like thofe of the common 
kind, which in other refpeds it refembles; the co- 
lour of the back is olive; and the belly is filvery. 
Stickleback, Fifteen Spined ; the Gaftero- 
fteus Spinachia of Linnjeus, Thi§ fpecies is about 
fix inches long; the nofe is long and flender; the 
mouth is tubular; and the teeth are fmall. The 
fore part of the body is covered on each fide with 
a row of bony plates, forming a ridge ; the body 
afterwards becomes very flender, and quadrangu- 
lar ; between the head and dorfal fins there are 
fifteen fmall fpines ; the dorfal is placed oppofite 
the anal fin ; the ventral fins are wanting ; the 
tail is even at the extrennity j the colour of the 
upper 
