The length of this species is about twenty-one inches; weight sometimes
as much as thirty-five ounces; the bill is broad, and not so much
compressed as usual in this genus; colour bluish-lead; nail black;
irides light gold-colour; the head and upper part of the neck black,
glossed with green, and, from being well clothed with feathers, appears
large; the lower part of the neck and breast black; back and scapulars
pale grey, undulated with innumerable small transverse lines of black;
the wing coverts the same, but minutely small; lower part of the back,
rump, and vent, black; the primores are dusky, lightest on their inner
webs, and black at the ends; the secondary quills, except a few next the
body, are white tipped with black, forming a broad bar of white across
the wing; the under part of the body is white, sprinkled between the
thighs with dusky; the tail is composed of dusky-black feathers; legs
lead-colour. In some we have seen, the white in the wing is edged with
rust-colour: it is also subject to other varieties.
The scaup duck is not uncommon in most parts of this kingdom in winter,
and is frequently found in fresh waters. It is supposed to take its name
from feeding on broken shells called scaup. This, like most of the
genus, breeds in the more northern parts; is common in Russia, Sweden,
Norway, and Lapland; and is found at Hudson’s Bay, in the warmer
months.—_Montagu._
SCENT, _s._ The power of smelling; the smell; the object of smell;
chace followed by the smell.
Scent cannot be ascertained by the air only, it depends also on the
soil. Doubtless, the scent most favourable to the hound, is when the
effluvia constantly perspiring from the game as it runs, is kept by the
gravity of the air to the height of his breast; for then it is neither
above his reach, nor need he stoop for it: this is what is meant when
scent is said to be breast high. Experience tells us that difference of
soil alters the scent. When the leaves begin to fall, and before they
are rotted, scent lies ill in cover—a sufficient proof that it does not
depend on the air only. Scent also varies by difference of motion; the
faster the animal goes the less scent it leaves. When game has been
ridden after, and hurried on by imprudent sportsmen, hounds will with
difficulty pick out the scent; and one reason may be, that the particles
of scent are then more dissipated: but if the game should have been run
by a dog not belonging to the pack, very seldom will any scent remain.
Scent frequently alters in the same day; and without asserting what
scent exactly is, it may be said to depend chiefly on two things—the
condition of the ground, and the temperature of the air, which should be
moist without being wet. When both are in this state, the scent is then
perfect; and _vice versa_, when the ground is hard and the air dry,
there seldom will be any scent. It scarce ever lies with a north or an
east wind; a southerly wind without rain, and a westerly one that is not
rough, are the best. Storms in the air seldom fail to destroy scent. A
fine sunshiny day is not good for hunting; but a day warm without sun,
is generally a perfect one: there are not many such in a whole season.
In some fogs scent lies high, in others not at all, depending, probably,
on the quarter the wind is then in. It sometimes lies very high in a
mist, when not too wet; but if the wet continues to hang upon the boughs
and bushes, it will fall upon the scent and deaden it. When the dogs
roll, and also when cobwebs hang on the bushes, there is seldom much
scent. During a white frost, the scent lies high, as it also does when
the frost is quite gone; at the time of its going off (which is a
critical minute for hounds, in which their game is frequently lost),
scent never lies. In a hard rain, with the air mild, scent will
sometimes be very good. A wet night often produces the best chases, game
not then liking to run the cover or the roads. In heathy countries,
where the game brushes as it goes along, scent seldom fails; yet, from
the inclosures of poor land surrounding them, the scent is, at times,
very difficult for hounds; the sudden change from a good to a bad scent
confuses their noses; a scent therefore which is less good, but less
unequal, is more favourable to hounds. When the ground carries the scent
is bad for an obvious reason, which hare-hunters who pursue their game
over greasy fallows and dirty roads have great cause to complain of. A
remark has been generally made, that scent lies best in the richest
soils, and those countries which are favourable to horses are not so to
hounds; and it has likewise been observed in some particular spots in
almost every country, let the temperature of the air be as it may, that
hounds can never carry a scent across them.
The morning is the part of the day which usually affords the best scent,
and the animal itself, which you are at this time more than ever
desirous of killing, is then least able to escape; the want of rest,
added perhaps to a full belly, give hounds a decided superiority over an
early found fox.—_Daniel._
SCENT, _v._ To smell, to perceive by the nose; to perfume, or to
imbue with odour good or bad.
SCHOONER, _s._ A vessel with two masts.
[Illustration]
Schooners, within the last twenty years, have gradually come into
general use, and have, in a great degree, superseded the smaller sized
brigs and large sloops which were formerly employed as coasters. They
are found more manageable and weatherly, and in sailing qualities
infinitely superior to either.
The Americans are celebrated for the size of their schooners, and the
beauty of their mould. In the late war, numbers of these vessels were
fitted out as privateers; and from their extraordinary sailing
properties, their success was unexampled.
In the Royal Yacht Club there are a good number of vessels of this
class; but the cutter rig appears to be the favourite.
The common tonnage of schooners ranges from 80 to 150; but some of the
Baltimore privateers admeasured 300 tons.
SCIRRHUS, _s._ An indurated gland.
SCIRRHOUS, _a._ Having a gland indurated.
SCISSORS, _s._ A small pair of shears, or blades moveable on a
pivot, and intercepting the thing to be cut. Scissors with very
fine points are indispensable to fly-tiers.
SCOLLOP, _s._ A pectinated shell fish.