nature of skin or leather; hard; callous.-The pretation. He died on the 16th of June 180%, eriges in procefs of time tuck in, and, growing aged 86, in the house of the bishop his fon, near Skinned and hard, give it the name of callous. Sharp. Aberdeen; and his pofthumous works were pub (1.) SKINNER, Stephen, an English antiqua. lished, with a memoir of his life, in 3 vols. 8vo, rian, born in 1622. He travelled, and ftudied in in 1309. They confift of, 1. Letters addreffed teveral foreign univerfities during the civil wars; to Candidates for Holy Orders in the Epifcopal and in 1654 returned and fettled at Lincoln, Church of Scotland: 2. A Differtation on the where he practifed phyfie with fuccefs until 1667, Shechinah, or Divine Prefence with the Church when he died of a malignant fever. His works or People of God: 3. An Efay towards a literal were collected in folio in 1671, by Mr Henshaw, or true radical Expofition of the Song of Songs, under the title of Etymologicon Lingue Anglicana, which is Solomon's: and, 4. Of Specimens of his &c. Latin, English, and Scotch Poetry, ferious and ludicrous. The opinions of Mr Skinner will be variously eftimated by various men: they were fo in his own time, and among the members of his own communion. But all men will readily acknowledge that he was an ornament to that communion, and that his talents, his acquirements, and his virtues, might, in different circumstances, have raised him to the highest diftinction. He was the object of great and juft veneration among the people of his own charge, by far the greater part of whom he had baptized in infancy. It is remarkable, that, for upwards of 50 years, he preached extempore; employing little more than an hour, previous to the time of public worship, to felect his fubject, and arrange his matter and mode of treating it.

ช

(2.) SKINNER, the Reverend John, the son of a country schoolmafter in Aberdeenshire, of the fame name, born the 3d October 1721, was educated at Marifchal College, Aberdeen, and intended by his father (a man of very confiderable talents, and of great respectability) for the miniftry of the established church. Mr Skinner difplayed, in very early life, uncommon talents; and his father was flattering himself that he would rife to dif tinction in his native church; when he chofe to attach himself to the Epifcopal communion, was ordained in the year 1742, and in November that year became minister of the Epifcopal congregation in Longfide, near Peterhead, of which he continued paftor for the uncommon period of 65 years. The bishops and clergy of the Scottish Epifcopal communion were, for the greater part of that time, nonjurors, and fubjected, by the penal laws of 1746 and 1748, to very great inconveniences. To thefe Mr Skinner was equally subjected with his brethren, though there is no reafon to fuppofe that, by becoming an Epifcopalian, he became a Jacobite; indeed, the contrary is well known: yet he bore his afflictions with great equanimity, and difcharged the duty of his office with great courage and affiduity; for which, in the year 1753, he fuffered fix months imprisonment. Mr Skinner's talents as a man of genius, and acquirements as a man of learning, confidering his narrow circumstances, confined fociety, and numerous difadvantages, were very remarkable. He published at various times, anonymously, feveral controverfial tracts, adapted to the circumftances of his adopted church; and, in the year 1757, "A Differtation on Jacob's Prophecy, humbly offered as a Supplement to the Bithop (Sherlock) of London's admirable Differtation on the fame Text;" which was highly approved by the learned bishop, and by other eminent biblical critics. In the year 1788 he published an Ecclefiaftical History of Scotland, in 2 vols. 8vo, in a series of letters, which has obtained the approbation of very eminent men. His leifure hours and retired life Mr Skinner amufed by poetical compofition. He poffeffed more than ordinary proficiency in the compofition-They who have a mind to fee the iffue, may of Latin verfe; and fome of his Scotch fongs and Skip thefe two chapters. Burnet. 2. In the followludicrous compofitions, both Latin and Scotch, ing example skip is active or neuter, as over is have attained the higheft celebrity. This talent thought an adverb or prepofition.-Although to he exercited as a mere paftime. After his pieces engage very far in fuch a metaphyfical speculation had amufed his little circle, he was fo carelets of were unfit, yet we dare not quite skip it over. Boylethem, that many, of which the effect is yet recollected, have been totally loft. His chief occupa tion, during his long life, was biblical criticifin: be was a good Hebrew fcholar, and an ardent fupporter of the Hutchinfonian fyftem of inter

Some men fleep in skittish fortune's hall. Shak. Unftaid and kittish in all notions elfe. Shak. SKRIMZEOUR, Alexander. See SCOTLAND, *SKITTISHLY. adv. [from kittish.] Wan-20; and SCRIMGEOUR. tonly; uncertainly; fickly.

Inlandick, a head. 1. The bone that inclofes the
head: it is made up of several pieces, which, be-
ing joined together, form a confiderable cavity,
which contains the brain as in a box, and it is pro-
portionate to the bigness of the brain. Quincy.
Some lay in dead men's skulls.
Drives the batter'd skull within the brains.
Dryden
2. [Sceole, Saxon, a company.] A fhoal. See
SCULL-Repair to the river where you have feen
them fwim in skulls or shoals. Walton.

Shak.

(2.) SKULL, or CRANIUM. See ANATOMY Index.

(3.) SKULL, in geography, a town of Ireland, in Cork county, Munfter, near Skibbereen.

(1.) * SKULLCAP. #. s. A head-piece.
(1.) SKULLCAP. n. s. leaffida, Latin.] A plant.
(3. SKULL-CAP. See SCUTTELLARIA,
SKUNY. See SCOONIE.

SKUOE, one of the FERRO ISLANDS,
SKUPOPING, a lake of N. Carolina, 12 miles
long and s broad; 10 miles S. of Albemarle
Sound.

SKUPPERNONG, a river of N. Carolina. SKURR-CHOINICH, and, two mountains of SKURR-DHONUIL, Scotland in Argyllshire, in the parish of Ardnamurchan; the former 2,364 feet, the latter 2730 feet, above the Lea level.

SKURUP, a town of Sweden, in Schonen.
SKUSCH, a town of Bohemia, in Chrudim.
SKUTERAD, a town of Norway, in Agger
huys, 22 miles W. of Chriftiana.

SKUTTOCK HILLS. See SCUTTOCK.
(1.) * SKY. n. s. [sky, Danish.] 1. The region
which furrounds this earth beyond the atmosphere.
It is taken for the whole region without the earth.
Their tops afcend the sky.
Milton.
The maids of Argos, who with frantick cries,
And imitated lowings, fill'd the skies. Roscom.
Raifeallthy winds, with night involve the skies.
Dryden.

2. The heavens.—

The thunderer's bolt you know, Sky-planted, batters all rebelling coafts. Shak. What is this knowledge but the sky-ftol'n fire? Davies. Wide is the fronting gate, and rais'd on high, With ada antine columns threats the sky. Dryd. J. The weather; the climate.-Thou wert better in thy grave, to answer with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies. Shak.

We envy not the warmer clime, that lies In ten degrees of more indulgent skies. Addison. (2.) Sax, the blue expanse of air or atmosphere. For the reafon of its blue colour and concave fi. gure, fee OPTICS, Index.

(3-) SKY, in geography, one of the greatest of the Weltern iflands of Scotland, fo called from Stianach, which in the Erfe dialect fignifies wing ed, because the two promontories of Valernels and Troternih, by which it is bounded on the NW. and NE. are supposed to resemble wings. It lies between the shire of Rofs and the W. part of Lewis. According to the computation of Mr Penant, Dr Johnlon, and Dr Campbell, it is Ca miles in length, and nearly tile fame in width VOL. XXI. PART I.

where broadeft; according to others it is so miles
long, and in fome places 30 broad. The iftand
is divided between two proprietors; the S. part
belongs to the laird of Macleod, faid to be lineal-
ly defcended from Leod fon to the black prince
of Man: the northern diftrict, or barony of Tros
ternifh, is the property of Lord Macdonald,
whofe anceftor was Donald, king or lord of the
Ifles, and chief of the numerous clan of Macdo
naids, who are counted the most warlike of all the
Highlanders. Sky is included in the county of In-
vernefs, and formerly belonged to the diocefe of
the Ifles: on the S. it is parted from the main
land by a channel 9 miles in breadth; though, at
the ferry of Glenelly, it is fo narrow that a man
may be heard calling for the boat from one fide
to the other. Sky is well provided with a variety
of excellent bays and harbours. The furface is
mountainous, some mountains are so high as to be
covered with fnow on the top at midfummer; in
general, their fides are clothed with heath and
grafs, which afford good pafturage for sheep and
black cattle. Between the mountains there are
fome fertile valleys, and the greater part of the
land towards the fea-coaft is plain and arable. The
ifland is well watered with a great number of ri-
vers, above 30 of which afford falmon; and fome
of them produce black mufcles in which pearls
are bred, particularly the rivers Kilmartin and
Ord: Martin was affured by the proprietor of the
former, that a pearl had been found in it valued
at 201. Sterling. Here is also a confiderable num-
ber of fresh-water lakes well ftored with trouts
and eels. The largest of these lakes takes its name
from St Columba, to whom is dedicated a chapel
that stands upon a small ille in the middle of the
lake. (See COLUMBA, N° II.) Sky likewife af
fords several cataracts, that roar down the rocks
with great impetuofity. That the island has been
formerly covered with woods, appears from the
large trunks of fir and other trees daily dug out
of the bogs and peat-marshes in every part of it.
From the height of the hills and proximity of the
fea, the air feldom continues long of the fame
temperature; fometimes it is dry, oftener moift,
and in the end of winter and beginning of spring
cold and piercing; at an average, 3 days in 12
throughout the year scarcely free from rain, far
lefs from clouds. Thefe, attracted by the hills,
fometimes break in useful and refreshing showers;
at other times fuddenly bursting pour down their
contents with tremendous noise, in impetuous
torrents that deluge the plains below and render
the fmalleft rivulet impaffable; which, together
with the ftormy winds fo common in the country
in Aug. and Sept. frequently blaft the hopes of
the husbandmen. Snow has been often known to
lie on the ground from 3 to 7 weeks; and on the
higheft hills, even in the middle of June, fome
spots of it are to be feen. To this various tem
perature of the air, and uncertainty of weather,
the fevers and agues, headach, rheumatisms, colds,
and dyfenteries, which are the prevailing diftem-
pers, may be afcribed. That it is far, however,
from being unwholefome, is evinced by experi
ence; for the inhabitants are, in general, as ftrong
and healthy, and arrive at as advanced an age, as
E

thofe

34 ) those who live in milder climates, and under a marina ; so that they appear like mere skeletons ferener sky. The gout is scarcely known in this in the spring; though, as the grass grows op, island. The soil is generally black, though it they soon become plump and juicy, the beef be likewise affords white, red, and blue, clay, and ing Tweet, tender, and finely interlarded. The in fome places fuller's earth. It is, however, amphibious animals are seals and otters. Among much less adapted for agriculture than for pafture, the reptiles are vipers, asps, frogs, roads, and and feldom, umless in very good years, supplies three different kinds of serpents; the firft spotted itself with a sufficiency of provisions. Yet, though black and white, and very poisonous ; the fecoad the foil is not very fertile or rich, it might with yellow, with brown spots; and the third of a proper management be made to produce more brown colour, the smallest and leaft poisonous. plentiful crops. But the generality of the far. Weasels are also numerous. Whales and cairbans, mers are so prejudiced in favour of old curoms, or fun.fith, come in sometimes to the sounds af. that they will not change them for beiter; espe. ter their prey, but are rarely pursued with any cially if the alteration or amendment proposed be success. The fines commonly caught on the attended with expence. Therefore, with respect coast are herrings, ling, cod, scate, haddock, to improvements in agriculture, they are fill mackerel, lythe, fye, and dog.fith. The average much in the same state as they were 30 or 40 years price of ling at home is L. 13, 13 $. per ton : when ago. Ploughs, on a new and impioved model, fold, one by one, if fresh, the price is from 3 d. that, in comparison to the advantages derived from to s d.; if cured, from s d. to 7d. The barrel of them, might be had at a moderate expence, have herrings seldom rells under 19 6. which is owing lately been introduced into several diftricts around, to the great difficulty of procuring salt, even somewhere their goed effects are manifett, in impro- times at any price; and the same cause prevents ving the crops and diminishing the labour of man many from taking more than are sufficient for and beast; but the laird of Raasay and one other their own use. The kyle of Scalpe teems with gentleman are the only persons in Portree that have oysters, in such a manner, that after some springused them. The cascroim, a crooked kind of tides, 20 horse loads are left of them upon the fpade, is almost the only instrument for labouring fande. Near the village of Bernstill, the beach the ground used among the ordinary class of te. yields muscles sufficient to maintain 60 persons sants. (See CASCAROM.) The average crops of per day ; this providential supply helps to fupcorn are 8000 boils. When Mr Knox vifted this port many poor families in times of scarcity. The island in 1986, the number of inbabitants amount., people are strong, robust, healthy, and prolific. ed to 15,000 ; and some gentlemen affirmed there They generally profess the Proteftant religion; were 16,000. But by the returns made to Sir J. are honest, brave, innocent, and hospitable. They Sinclair by the clergy, between 1990 and 1798, speak the language, wear the habit, and observe the exact population was found to be 14,470 ; and the customs that are common to all the Hebrides. the increase, 3,218, since 1755. It is divided in. The meconium in new-born infants, is purged a. to y parishes, in each of which there is a school, way with frelh butter : the children are bathed ebesides three charity-schools in different places. very morning and evening in water, and grow up The chief minerals are lead and iron ore, which, so strong, that a child of 10 months is able to however, have never been wrought to any advan- walk alone : they never wear Moes or stockings tage. Near the village of Sartle, the natives find before the age of 8 or 10 and night.caps are hardblack and white marcasites, and variegated pebbles. ly known; they keep their feet always wet; they Applesglen, in the neighbourhood of Loch-fallart, lie on beds of Kraw or heath, which last is an ex. produces beautiful agates of different sizes and co- cellent restorative : they are quick of apprehen. lours : stones of a purple hue are, after great rains, lion, ingenious, and very much addicted to mufic found in the rivulets: chrystal of different colours and poetry. They eat heartily of fish ; but fel. and forms, abounds in several parts of the island, dom regale themselves with flesh : their ordinary as well as black and white marble, free.stone, food consists of butter, chçese, milk, potatoes, lime-ftone, and talc: small red and white coral is calewort, brochan, and a dish called oon, which found on the southern and western coasts in great is the froth of boiled milk or whey raised with a abundance. The fuel consists chiefly of peat and stick, like that used in making chocolate. A fort turf, which are impregnated with iron ore and of coarse woollen cloth called cloa, or codoes the faltpetre; and coal has been discovered in several manufacture of their wives, made into short jackets diftri&ts. The wild birds are, folan geese, gulls, and trousers, is the common dress of the meni cormorants, cranes, wild geese, wild ducks; ea. The philibeg is rarely worn, except in summer gles, crows, ravens, rooks, cuckoos, rails, wood. and on Sundays ; on which days, and some other cocks, moor.fowls, partridges, plovers, wild occafions, those in better circumstances appear pigeons, and blackbirds, owls, hawks, snipes, in tartans, a bonnet, and short hose, and some in and a variety of small birds. In mild seasons, the hat, short coat, waistcoat, and breeches, of cuckoo and rail appear in the end of April; the Scottish or English manufacture. The women former disappears always before the end of June; are in general very cleanly, and so excesively the latter sometimes not till September. The fond of dress, that many maid-fervants are often woodcock comes in O&ober, and frequently re- known to lay out their whole wages that way. mains till March. The taine sorts of fowls are There are two fairs held annually at Portree, to geese, ducks, turkeys, cocks, pullets, and pige. which almost every part of Sky fends catttle. The ons. The black cattle are here exposed to all the first is held in the end of May, and the second in rigours of the severe winter, without any other the end of July. The fair commonly continues provender than the tops of the heath and the alga from Wed. till Sat.. The commodities are horses,

COWS,