Weight about three pounds and a half; length two feet eight inches; the
bill is near seven inches long, and three quarters of an inch broad in
the narrowest part; two inches towards the points in the largest part of
the spoon; colour black, sometimes brown, with an orange-coloured spot
near the tip of the upper mandible; it is also crossed with several
indentations and dotted protuberances; the irides in some grey, others
reddish; the lore, and round the eyes and throat, the skin is bare and
black. The whole plumage is white; sometimes the quills are tipped with
black; the legs are black, six inches long; thighs bare about half way;
toes connected by a small web, extending as far as the second joint of
the outer, and first joint of the inner toe.
The spoonbill is rarely met with in England. Mr. Pennant mentions that a
flock of these birds migrated into the marshes near Yarmouth, in
Norfolk, in April, 1774. We have also been assured it is sometimes seen
on the coast of Devonshire in the winter.—_Montagu._
SPORT, _s._ Play, diversion; diversion of the field, as of fowling,
hunting, fishing.
SPORT, _v._ To play, to game; to trifle, to enjoy field amusements.
SPORTSMAN, _s._ One who pursues the recreation of the field.
SPOT, _s._ A blot, a mark made by discoloration; a taint; a
disgrace.
SPRAIN, _v._ To stretch the ligaments of a joint without dislocating
the bone.
SPRAIN, _s._ Extension of ligaments without dislocation of the
joint.
SPRAT, _s._ A small sea fish.
SPRING, _v._ To arise out of the ground; to grow, to thrive; to
bound, to leap; to fly with elastic power; to rise from a
covert; to issue from a fountain; to shoot; to start; to rouse
game; to discharge a mine.
SPRING, _s._ The season in which plants spring and vegetate; an
elastic body, which, when distorted, has the power of restoring
itself; elastic force; any active power; a leap, a violent
effort; a fountain. _Mainspring_, the principal spring in a
gun-lock.
If the _mainspring_ be too strong, in proportion to that of the hammer,
the cock is often broken for want of resistance, and if the hammer or
feather spring be too stiff, or should shut down with too much force, it
becomes difficult to throw it, even with a strong mainspring. Here, till
very lately, most of the gunmakers were in the dark; as nothing was more
admired in a lock, than the hammer shutting down with great velocity.
This, not only for the reason already mentioned, is a sad fault, but the
hammer by thus coming down escapes, in a certain degree, from the
influence of the spring, and, consequently, loses its pressure on the
pan; by which the priming is not so closely covered, and the hammer is
apt to re-act instead of obeying the mainspring. In a word let your
hammer shut down dull and fly back smart. The mainspring, to be well
regulated, should at first pull up hard, and then draw progressively
easier: because it requires an accession of force after it has recovered
the first sudden escape from the scear-spring, otherwise it will go slow
with a flint, and be liable either to cause a snap, or allow the cock to
be blown back with a detonater.—_Hawker._
SPRINGE, _s._ A gin, a noose which catches by a spring or jerk.
SPRINGER, _s._ One who springs or rouses game.