Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 08.djvu/318

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SCANDIUM 272 SCARLATTI era Europe, where hordes of Northmen, or Vikings, made repeated raids in their galleys. The Old Norse or Scandinavian literature, so far as extant, is of consid- erable value. Among the most important remains are the Edda and the Sagas. See Northmen. SCANDIUM, in chemistry, an element discovered by Nilson in 1879; symbol, Sc; at. wt. 44.91. It occurs, together with the other rare earths, in gadolinite and euxenite, but the metal itself has not yet been isolated. It forms one ox- ide, scandia or scandium oxide, SC2O3, a white infusible powder, resembling mag- nesia, sp. gr. 3.8, insoluble in water and acids. SCAPE, in architecture, the shaft of a column; also, the apophyge of a shaft; also, a botanical term for a flower stalk springing straight from the root, as in the primrose, snow-drop, etc SCAPE GOAT, a term applied to one who is made to bear the blame due to another. The idea is drawn from the Jewish ritual, in which a scape goat was a goat designed to 'scape, i.e., escape, as opposed to one killed and offered in sac- rifice. Once a year, on the great day of atonement, after Aaron had offered a bullock in sacrifice for the sins of him- self and his house (Lev. xvi. 1-8), he was to take two goats "for a sin offer- ing." Lots were to be cast, one for the Lord, and one for Azazel. The goat on which Jehovah's lot fell was to be of- fered for a sin offering. Under the later Judaism the goat was thrown over a precipice about 12 miles from Jerusalem. The scape goat is gen- erally considered the clearest type of the substitution of Christ for sinners, and His eternal removal of their transgres- sion (Isaiah liii. 11-12; I. John ii. 2; Heb. ix. 28; I. Peter ii. 24). SCAPULA, in anatomy, one of the two bones, the other being the clavicle, which together form the pectoral arch or shoul' der girdle. The scapula constitutes its posterior part. It is placed upon the upper and back part of the thorax, is articulated with the outer end of the clavicle, and has suspended from it the humerus. In zoology, the row of plates in the cup of crinoids, giving origin to the arms. SCAPULAR, or SCAPULARY, a dress originally worn over their other dress by the monks when at manual labor, but now forming part of the habit of the older religious orders; also a miniature copy of a monk's scapular made of two pieces of cloth, connected by strings, worn by Ro- man Catholics from motives of devotion. There are four other scapulars in use: that of the Trinity, of white linen v.-ith a red cross; the Servite scapular of the Seven Dolors, of black stuff; that of the Immaculate Conception, of light blue woolen, and the Red scapular, in com- memoration of the Passion. In ornithol- ogy in the plural, a series of feathers springing from the base of the humerus, and continued in a longitudinal stripe so as to cover the last series of the quill feathers, with which they are often con- founded. In surgery, a bandage for the shoulder blade. SCARAB.ffiUS, in entomology, a genus of Copridse, and the typical one of Scara- bseidse. The semicircular clypeus is di- vided by sharp notches into a series of triangular teeth; the forelegs are re- tracted. About 70 species are known, all from the Old World. S. acer, formerly Ateuchus sacer, is the sacred beetle of the Egyptians, often represented on Egyptian monuments, though Latreille thought it was S. egifptiorum, a golden green species. Both deposit their eggs in pellets of dung, which they roll with their hind legs into a hole dug for its recep- tion. SCARBOROUGH, a port and watering place in England, much resorted to for health and pleasure. It is in Yorkshire, on the east coast, 37 miles N. E. of York, and overlooks a crescent sweep of sands ornamented by a headland crowned by a castle. Two bridges spanning the Rams- dale valley connect the modern with the older part of the town. A promenade pier, spa and garden, aquarium, and fa- cilities for bathing and boating are among the attractions. The industries include fisheries, the making of jet, and, in the suburbs, market gardening. The town was bombarded by German cruis- ers in December, 1914, and by a German submarine in September, 1917. Pop. about 40,000. SCARLATINA. See Scarlet Fever. SCARLATTI, ALESSANDRO, an Ital- ian composer, born in 1659, who was the founder of the Neapolitan school of mu- sic, in which most of the composers of the 18th century were trained. _ Scar- latti originated the overture. He is said to have written 200 masses, 115 operas, and 3,000 cantatas. His writings, though they produced a revolution in the style of operatic music, are almost all com- pletely forgotten. He died in Naples, Oct. 24, 1725. His son Domenico (1683- 1757) was considered the greatest harp- sichord player (pianist) of his time.