SCO 
SCOLOPENDRA, in natural history, 
centipede, a genus of insects of the order 
Aptera. Antennae setaceous ; two feelers 
filiform, united between the jaws ; lip 
toothed and cleft ; body long, depressed, 
consisting of numerous transverse segments : 
legs numerous, as many on each side as 
there are segments of the body. There are 
thirteen species, found in almost all parts Of 
the world ; they live in decayed wood, or 
nnder stones, and some of them in fresh 
and salt water : they prey on other insects. 
The larger species are found only in the 
hotter regions of the globe j they are in- 
sects of a terrific appearance, and possess 
the power of inflicting severe pain and in- 
flammation by their bite. 
S. morsitans is a native of Asia, Africa, 
and South America. It is eight or ten 
inches long, of a yellowish brown ; the head 
is armed on each side with a very large 
curved fang, of a strong or horny nature ; 
these fangs are furnished on the inside, near 
the tip, with an oblong slit, through whicli, 
during the act of wounding, an acrimonous 
or poisonous fluid, is discharged : the eyes 
are numerous on each side the head, and 
are placed in a small oval groupe ; it has 
twenty legs on each side the body. 
S. electrica has seventy legs on eachside ; 
its body is linear ; it inhabits many parts of 
Europe, in decayed wood, and shines in the 
dark ; the body is very flat and tawny, with 
a black line down the back. The motions 
of this insect are tortuous and undulatory, 
seldom continuing long in the same direc- 
tion. It is possessed of a high degree of 
phosphoric splendor, which, however, seems 
to be only exerted when the animal is 
pressed or suddenly disturbed, when it dif- 
fuses a beautiful light, so powerful as not 
to be obliterated by that of two candles on 
the same table. It is very tenacious of 
life, and will endure long in the closest 
confinement without food. 
S. forficata is a very common insect found 
frequently under stones and flower pots j it 
has a very swift motion, and is furnished 
■with fifteen legs on each side ; it is of a 
dhesnnt colour, and is about an inch and a 
half long. 
SCOLOPIA, in botany, a genus of the 
Icosandria Monogynia class and order. 
Essential character: calyx inferior, three 
or four-parted; corolla three or four-pe- 
talled ; berry crowned with the style, one- 
celled, six seeded ; seeds arilled. There is 
only one species, viz. S. pusilla, a native of 
Ceylon, where it is called khatu kurundn, 
or thorny cinnamon. 
SCO 
SCOLOSANTHUS, in botany, a genus 
of the Tetrandria Monogynia class and or- 
der. Natural order of Luridae. Rubia- 
cesB, Jussieu. Essential character; calyx 
four-cleft ; corolla tubular, with a revolute 
border ; drupe one-seeded. There is but 
one species, viz. S. versicolor; this small 
shrub was discovered in the island of Santa 
Cruz, by Ryan. 
SCOLYMUS, in botany, golden thistle, 
a genus of the Syngeriesia Polygamia iEqua- 
lis class and order. Natinal order of Com- 
posit® Semifiosculos®. Cichorace®, Jus- 
sieu. Essential character ; calyx imbricate, 
spiny ; pappus none ; receptacle chaffy. 
There are three species, natives of the 
South of Europe. 
SCOMBER, the mackarel, in natural 
history, a genus of fishes of the order Tho- 
racici. Generic character : head compressed, 
smooth; gill membrane with seven rays; 
body smooth, oblong ; lateral line carinate 
behind ; small fins, generally, both above 
and below, near the tail. There are twenty- 
one species, of which we shall notice the 
following : 
S. scomber, or the 7;omr.ion mackarel. 
This is one of the most beautiful qf fishes, 
and inhabits both the European and Ame- 
rican seas. It is said by many to reside in 
winter near the North Pole, and as the 
spring advances, to move in immense shoals 
in a southerly direction, traversing a vast 
space in a short period, and proceeding 
nearly in a similar line of movement with 
that attributed to the herring, from the 
same extremities of the north. Some of 
the most eminent naturalists, however, have 
entertained doubts of these extensive voy- 
ages in both cases, and it is imagined by 
such that tliese fishes take up their resi- 
dence during the rigour of winter, in the 
muddy or gravelly bottoms near the coasts 
where they abound so numerously in the 
spring. Shaw relates, that M. Pleville de 
Peley saw the bottoms near the coasts of 
-Hudson’s Bay, for a long space together, 
bristled with the tails of mackarel, all their 
qther parts being imbedded in the gravel 
or mud. The mackarel is a fish highly ad- 
mired, both for its beauty and excellence, 
and has in every age attracted particular 
notice and partiality from both these cir- 
cumstances. The Romans prepared from 
it a condiment or essence for the table, 
which was in the highest estimation. The' 
general length of this fish is fifteen inches, 
but specimens far larger have been occasi- 
onally met with. 
S. thynnus, or the tunny, is sometimei| 
