SCIO 292 SCIPIO features of the component rays are lost. But a star is so far distant as to be vir- tually a point of light. In this case we have an excessively slender ray infinitely narrow compared even to the small pen- cil of light that comes to us from a planet. The vicissitudes of refraction which a star ray experiences in passing through the infinitely irregular varia- tions of density, temperature, and humid- ity in our atmosphere characterize its integral effect on our retina, and the re- sult is twinkling. It is possible indeed by separating the images of a star pro- duced in the two eyes to observe two dif- ferent scintillations at one and the same time. Scintillation may thus be said to depend on three factors: (1) The vast distance even of the nearest stars re- ducing the largest of them to mere points of light. (2) The ever-changing varia- bleness in condition of the atmosphere through which the light must come to us. (3) The smallness of aperture of our eye, which receives an almost ideal single ray of light. SCIO. See Chios. SCION, a bud, or buds on a branch. A stick of buds ready for grafting is called a scion. SCIOTO, a river of Ohio; general course, S.; length about 280 miles; flows into the Ohio river by a mouth 150 yards wide at Portsmouth. It is navigable for boats for about 136 miles. Its valley is one of the richest and best cultivated por- tions of the State. SCIPIO, 2EMILIANTJS AFEJCANUS (The Younger), Publius Cornelius, conqueror of Carthage; born about B. c. 185. He was the youngest son of iEmil- ius Paulus, and the adopted son of Pub- lius Scipio, son of Africanus the elder. In his youth he had the advantage of the instructions and friendship of Polybius, who, exiled from Greece, was permitted to live in the house of JEmilius Paulus. He was an industrious student of litera- ture. He began his military service in Spain in 151; gained great reputation soon after in Africa, in the third Punic War; and in 147, though not of fit age, was chosen consul. The next year, ac- companied by Polybius and C. Lselius, he went to Africa, and at once commenced the siege of Carthage, which was heroi- cally defended. It was entered by the Ro- mans in the spring of 146; desperate fighting took place from street to street, and a disastrous fire raged for days. Scipio, saddened by the horrors, forebod- ed a like fate for Rome. By order of the Senate the wall and houses were totally destroyed, and a curse pronounced against whoever should rebuild the city. Scipio had a magnificent triumph on his return. He led a simple and frugal life, and during his censorship, 142-141, tried to effect reforms in the manner of his countrymen, but without success. In 134 he was again consul, with Spain for his province ; and his great achievement there SCIPIO, THE YOUNGER was the siege and capture of Numantia, for which he had the surname Numanti- nus. His marriage with Sempronia, sis- ter of the Gracchi, was not a happy one. By his bold resistance to the proposed reforms he lost the favor of the popular party; and at last, in 129, he was found dead in his bed. Suspicion of murder fell chiefly on Carbo, a rash advocate of Agrarian reforms. SCIPIO, AFRICANUS (The Elder), Publius Cornelius, one of the greatest of the Romans, born b. c. 234. He is said to have saved his father's life at the battle of the Ticinus, and prevented the desertion of the young nobles after the defeat at Cannae. At the age of 24 he was chosen to command, as pro-consul, in Spain, where he laid siege to the city of Carthago Nova and took it the same year. His humane conduct on becoming master of the city excited general enthu- siasm. He was even offered the sover- eignty of Spain, but declined to be more than general of the Roman people. Dur-
