Scabiosa
the scabious; a genus of Dipsaceæ, involucel, membranous or minute; receptacle hemispherical, hairy, with scaly floral bracts; fruit with eight depressions; known species about 90, from the Eastern Hemisphere. S. succisa yields a green dye, and seems astringent enough to be used in tanning.
SCABIOUS (Scabiosa), an extensive genus of annual and perennial herbs, belonging to the natural order Dipsaceæ.
They are annual or perennial herbs, with entire or divided leaves and heads of blue, pink, white or yellowish flowers. S. succisa, devil's bit, is a common plant.
It was formerly supposed to be of great efficacy in all scaly eruptions, hence the name.
SCAD or HORSE MACKEREL (Caranx trachurus, or Trachurus vulgaris), a genus of fishes included in the family or mackerels, and found around the coasts of Great Britain. It appears in large shoals, and the flesh, though coarse, is esteemed and eaten salted during the winter months.
SCÆVOLA, GAIUS MUCIUS, an illustrious Roman, who distinguished himself when Porsenna besieged Rome, 507 B. C. Mucius entered the camp of Porto assassinate him and by mistake stabbed one of his attendants. Being seized and brought before Porsenna, he said that he was one of 300 who had engaged, by oath, to slay him; and added, "This hand, which has missed its purpose, ought to suffer." On saying this, it into the coals which were burning on the altar, and suffered it to be consumed. Porsenna, struck with his intrepidity , made peace with the Romans.
The name of Scævola, or "Left-handed," was given as a mark of distinction to Mucius and his family.
SCAFELL (ska-fěl'), a double-peaked mountain, the loftiest summit in Eng- , the loftiest summit in England, on the Westmoreland border of Cumberland:
Cumberland: 141/2 miles S. S. W. of Kes-