Scyllarus 
The typical genus of Hri/llaridte, of which tliere 
are several species, some of them edible. 
Scylliidae(si-li'i-de), ii.pl. [NL., < Scyllium + 
-if/a?.] A family of selachians, typified by the 
genus Keyllium; the roussettes. They are mostly 
uf warm seas, with about 30 species of 8 or a genera, hav- 
ing two spineless dorsal tins, the first of which is above or 
behind the ventrals, spiracles and anal fin present, tail 
not keeled, and no nictitating membrane. They are ovip- 
arous, and often of variegated coloration. Varying limits 
have been assigned to the family, (a) In Giinther's system 
of classification it was a family of sharks with no nictitating 
membrane, the first dorsal above or behind the ventrals, an 
anal fin, mouth inferior, and teeth small, several series be- 
ing generally functional at once. (6) Same as ScylliorM- 
meUf. 
scylliodont (sil'i-o-dont), . A shark of the 
family Xeylliodoiites. 
Scylliodontes (sil"i-o-don'tez), n. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. tncitiiov, a dogfish, + bSoiif (uSovr-) = E. tooth.'] 
The Triacinee ranked as a family of sharks. See 
Triacime. 
Scylliodontidae (sil'i-6-don'ti-de), n.pl. [NL., 
< Scylliodontes + -ids:.] Same as Scylliodontes. 
scyllioid (sil'i-oid), a. and n. [< Scyllium + 
-aid.] I. . Pertaining to the Scyllioidea, or 
having their characters. 
II. . A scyllioid shark. 
Scyllioidea (sil-i-oi'de-a), . pi. [NL., < Ncyl- 
li-um + -oidca.] A superfamily of Squall, in- 
cluding the selachians of the families Scylllidse 
(or Scylliorhinidse), Crossorhiiiidse, and Gingly- 
mostomidse. 
Scylliorhinidas (siHi-o-rin'i-de), it. pi. [NL., 
< Seylliorhinus + -idx.] A family of selachi- 
ans, typified by the genus Seylliorhinus. in Gill's 
earlier system it included all the sharks with the first 
dorsal fin above or behind the ventrals, the anal fin pres- 
ent, the caudal fin not bent upward, and the mouth infe- 
rior. In his later system it was restricted to such forms 
as have the nostrils closed behind by the intervention of 
the skin between them and the oral cavity. About 15 spe- 
cies are known from different seas, and 3 occur along the 
European coasts, but there are none on most of the Ameri- 
can coasts. Also Scyttiidee. 
scylliorhinoid (sil'i-o-ii'noid), . and a. [< 
Seylliorhinus + -oid.] I. n. A shark of the fam- 
ily Scylliorhimdx. 
II. a. Of, or having characteristics of, the 
ScylliorhinidiB. 
Scylliorhinus (sil"i-o-ri'nus), w. [NL., < Gr. 
oni'Atov, a dogfish, + pivti, a shark.] In ichtlt., 
a genus of sharks, giving name to the Seyllio- 
rhmidse, to which different limits have been 
given: synonymous with Scyllium, \. See cut 
under mermaids-purse. De Blainville, 1816. 
Scyllium (sil'i-um), . [NL. (Cuvier, 1829). < 
Gr. aavl-iov, a dogfish; cf. <7/cr3a, a dog, u/a' 1 ?.- 
tetv, rend, mangle: see Scylla.] A genus of 
sharks including the common dogfishes of Eng- 
land, and representing a special family, the 
Scylliidse : distinguished from Seylliorhinus by 
the separate nasal valves, s. eentricowm is the 
swell-shark, a small voracious species found on the Pacific 
coast from California to Chili. 
scymetart. scymitart, . Variants of simitar. 
scymmetnant (si-met'ri-an), a. [Irreg. < *scym- 
metcr, soymetar (see simitar), + -ian.] Simitar- 
like. [Rare.] 
Chase brutal feuds of Belgian skippers hence, . . . 
In clumsy fist wielding scymmftrum knife. 
Gau, Wine. 
ScymnidsB (sim'ui-de), n.pl. [NL.. < Scymnus 
+ -idse.~] A family of selachians, typified by 
the genus Scymnus; the sleeper-sharks. They 
have two dorsal fins, neither with spines, and no anal fin ; 
all the fins are small ; the gill-slits are small, in advance 
of the pectoral fins ; and there is a long deep straight 
groove on each side of the arched mouth, and spiracles 
are present. The absence of dorsal spines chiefly distin- 
guishes this family from Spinaciidie. There are 6 gen- 
era and few more species, the best-known of which is the 
aberrant sleeper-shark, Somniofus microcephalus, of the 
arctic seas (by some referred to a distinct family), which 
often reaches a length of more than 15 feet, and generally 
approaches whaling-vessels, when whales are taken, to 
feed upon the blubber. 
scynmoid (sim'noid), a. and n. I. . Of, or hav- 
ing characteristics of, the Scymnidx. 
ll. . A member of the Scymnidee. 
Scymnus (sirn'nus), n. [NL. (Kugelmann,1794), 
< Gr. cwiywof , a cub, whelp ; cf . mfc/laf , a young 
dog, a whelp : see Scylla.] 1 . In en torn. , a large 
and wide-spread genus of ladybirds of the fam- 
ily Cocdtiellidee, comprising species of small 
size, inconspicuous coloration, and short an- 
tennse. More than 200 species are known, while many 
more remain undescribed. They are active, predaceous 
insects, and several are noted destroyers of well-known 
insect pests, such as the chinch-bug and the grape-phyl- 
loxera. 
2. Iniclith., a genus of sharks, typical of the 
family Scyiiniidx. Cuvier, 1817. 
Scypha (si'fa), n. Same as scyphus. 
scyphert, r. An obsolete form of cipher. 
5436 
scythe 
see seyphun.] In Int., the cup-like appendage 
from which the seta of Hcpatiras arises. 
scyphi, n. Plural 
Scyphidium (si-fid'i-um), n. [NL. (Dujardin, 
1841), < Gr. ani-Qos, a cup: see scyphus.] Age- scyphus (si't'us), w. ; pi. ncyplti (-11). [L. (in 
nus of peritrichous ciliate infusorians of the def. U NL.) scyphua, < Gr. <nc/'0of, a drinking- 
vorticelline group. 
These animalcules are solitary, 
elongate or pyriform, highly contractile, and adherent by 
means of a posterior sucker, with the integument often 
obliquely or transversely furrowed, and the mouth-parts 
as in a vorticella. There are several species, as S. limn- 
cina, all found in fresh water. Also Scyphidia. 
SCypMferOUS (sl-fif'e-rus), . [< NL. ncypltu*. 
q. v., + L. ferre = E. Sear 1 .] In " 
scyphi. 
bot., bearing 
Scypbistoma stage of 
Cytinsctt capillata, show- 
ing two ordinary hydrst 
nibu, between whicb are 
two others, a.b, undergoing 
fission (the strobila stage). 
SCyphtform (si'fi-form), . [< NL.sci/plius, q. v., 
+ L. forma, form.] 1. In bot., goblet-shaped, 
as the fructification of some lichens. Also 
scyphosc. 2. In sool., boat-shaped; scaphoid; 
navicular. 
scyphistoma (si-fiVto-ina), . ; pi. scyphistoma- 
ta (si-fis-to'ma-ta). [NL., prop. *acyphostoma, 
< Gr. OKixfiof, a cup, + arofia, 
mouth.] A generic name 
applied by Sars to certain 
polyps, under a misappre- 
hension ; hence, the ac- 
tinula or fixed embryo of 
some hydrozoaus, as a dis- 
cophoran, which multiplies 
agamogenetically by bud- 
ding, and gives rise to per- 
manent colonies of hydri- 
form polyps; an ephyra. 
See Scyphomedusae, and cut 
under strobila. Also scy- 
phistome, scyphostome. 
scyphistome (si'fis-tom), 
. Same as scyphistoma. 
scyphistomous (si-fis'to- 
mus), a. [< scyphistoma + 
-ows.] 1 . Of or pertaining 
to a scyphistoma or ephyra. 
2. Provided with or characterized by scy- 
phistomata or ephyite, as a stage in the devel- 
opment of an acaleph ; forming or formed from 
scyphistomata ; scyphomedusan ; ephyromedu- 
san. 
scyphobranch (si'fo-brangk), a. and i. I. a. 
Of or pertaining to the Scyphobranchii. 
II. . One of the Scyphobranchii. 
Scyphobranchii (sl-fo-brang'ki-I), n.pl. [NL.. 
< Gr. ovii'^of, a cup, + fipayxia, gills.] A group of 
percomorphic fishes which have the post-tem- 
poral bone furcate, the epipharyngeals saucer- 
shaped, and the basis cranii simple. The group 
includes the blennies, gobies, and related fishes. 
E. D. Cope. 
Scyphomedusae (si"fo-me-du'se), n.pl. [NL., 
< Gr. ovd^oc, a cup, + NL. Medusa, q. v.] A 
prime division of hydrozoans, or a subclass of 
Hydrozoa. It contains those medusiforms which have 
four or eight intermedial groups of gastric filaments, or 
phacelhe, and interradial endodermal genitalia, and whose 
young or hydriforms are short polyps with a broad hypo- 
stome or scyphistome giving rise to the medusiforms by 
strobilation or transflssion. or, as in Lucernarida, devel- 
oping genitalia directly. They are also called Phanero- 
carpse (Eschscholtz, 1829), Discophora (Kolliker, 1853X Lu- 
cernarida (Huxley, 1856), Medmx (Cams, 1867), Steganoph 
thalmia (Forbes), Acalephee (Claus, 1878), and Ephyrome- 
dusx. By Haeckel the term was restricted to the LUCCI-- 
narida. 
scyphomedusan (si''fo-me-du'san), . and ii. 
[(. Scyphomedusse + -a.] 1. a. Of or pertaining 
to the Scyphomedusie, or having their charac- 
ters; ephyromedusan. 
II. n. A member of the Scyphomedusse ; an 
ephyromedusan. 
scyphomedusoid (sl"fo-me-du'soid), a. and . 
[< Scyphomedusse + -oid.~\ Same as scyphniiii'- 
dusan. 
scyphophore (si'fo-for), a. and . I. a. Scy- 
phophorous. 
II. M. A nsh of the order Scyphophori. 
Scyphophori (si-fof'o-ri), . pi. [NL. (Cope, 
1870), C Gr. aKv(/>o( , a cup, + Qepuv = E. bear 1 .] 
Inichth., an order of physostomous fishes with 
a precoracoid arch, no coronoid or symplectic 
bone, the pterotic annular and including a cav- 
ity closed by a special bone, parietals distinct, 
and vertebrae simple. The name refers to the pte- 
rotic cavity. The group contains the families Mormyridse 
and Gymnarchidse. 
SCyphophorous (si-fof'o-rus), a. Of or per- 
taining to the Scyphophori. 
scyphose (si'fos), . [< L. scyphus, a cup, + 
-one.] In lot., same as scyphiform. 1. 
scyphostome (si'fo-stom), . [< NL. *scypho- 
stoma : see seyphisioma.] Same as scyphistoma. 
scyphulus (s'if'u-lus), .; pi. MgpfitcH (-li). 
[NIj.,< LL. scyplivliiH, dim. of L. scyphus, a cup: 
cup.] 1. In (!r. <inti(j., large drinking-cup 
shaped like the kylix, and. like it, with two 
handles not extending above the rim, but with- 
out a foot. 2. In bot. : (a) A cup-shaped ap- 
pendage to a flower, etc., as the crown of the 
narcissus. (6) In lichens, a cup-like dilata- 
tion of the podetium or stalk-like elongation of 
the thallus, bearing shields upon its margin. 
[Barely used.] 
Also scypha. 
Scytal (si'tal). n. A snake of the genus Hoytale. 
scytale (sit'a-le), n. [NL. (Boie), < L. scytale, 
scytala, scutula, < Gr. fj/arra/j/, a staff, rod, pole, 
a cudgel, a band of parchment wound round a 
staff (def. 1), also a kind of serpent.] 1. InGr. 
antiq., a band of parchment used by the Spar- 
tans for the transmission of secret despatches. 
It was rolled spirally upon a rod, and then written upon; to 
read the communication, it was necessary that it should 
be wound about a rod of the same diameter as the first. 
2. [cap.] The typical genus of Scytalides, or of 
SeytaUnie, colubriform snakes having the an- 
terior teeth short, the rostral plate not pro- 
tuberant, one row of subcaudal scutes, one 
preocular plate, and the body cylindrical. E. 
D. Cope. 3. The technical specific name of a 
coral-snake, not related to the foregoing. See 
Tortrix. 4. Erroneously,, a venomous serpent 
of the family Crotalidee. 
Scytalidae (si-tal'i-de), n.pl. [NL., < Scytale + 
-idee.] In Giinther's system, a family of colu- 
briform snakes, typified by the genus Scytale. 
Scytalina (sit-a-ll'na), n. [NL. (Jordan and 
Gilbert, 1880), dim. of L. scytale, < Gr. anvrahi, a 
kind of serpent: see scytale.] A remarkable 
genus of eel-like fishes of the family Congroga- 
didte, having canines, and the dorsal fin begin- 
ning near the middle of the body. The form is 
very long and slender, and the head is shaped like that of 
a snake. S. cerdale, inches long, is found burrowing 
among rocks at low-water mark in the straits of Juan de 
Fuca. 
Scytalinse (sit-a-li'ne), . pi. [NL., < Scytale 
+ -i'xa?.] In Cope's classification of Ophidia 
(1886), a subfamily of Colubridee, named from 
the genus Scytale, with 18 genera, of no defina- 
ble common characters. These serpents most 
resemble the Coronellinss. 
SCytaline (sit'a-lin), a. Resembling or per- 
taining to the Scytalinse. 
Scytalopus (si-taro-pus)j . [NL. (J. Gould, 
1836), C Gr. akirrd^.t/, a kind of serpent, lit. a 
staff, a cudgel (see scytale), + Trofp (rrorf-) = E. 
foot."] A genus of South American formicari- 
r 
Scytalofus magellanicus. 
old passerine birds, of the family I'teroptochidx. 
There are several species, as S. mctffettanicus, curiously 
similar to wrens in general appearance and habits, though 
belonging to a different suborder of birds. Also called 
Sylviaxig. 
scythe (SITH), n. [Early mod. E. sithe, ayihi', 
the proper spelling being sithe (the c being ig- 
norantly inserted after the analogy of scent, 
scituate, and other false spellings, prob. in this 
case to simulate a derivation from F. scier, saw, 
orig. cut, scier being itself a false spelling for 
sier), < ME. sithe, si/the, < AS. sithe, contr. of 
sigthe, a scythe, = Fries, sid, sied = MLG. se- 
ffede, sichte, LG. leged, sicht, sead, seed, seid = 
Icel. sigdhr, sigdh, a sickle ; with formative -the 
(in sense equiv. to OS. segisnu = D. zeis, zt /. 
= OHG. segansa, segisna, MHG. segense, sense, 
G. sense, a scythe, with formative -ansa, etc.), 
< Teut. <(/ sag, cut (whence ult. E. saw 1 , q. v. ), 
= L. secure, cut (whence ult. E. sickle) : see se- 
cant, xcetioii, xirkle, sate 1 .] 1. An instrument 
used in mowing or reaping, consisting of a long 
