486 
SCORPION. 
different individuals, some inclining to a reddish, 
and some to a yellowish cast. This animal is 
found in neglected places, beneath boards, stones, 
&c. and frequently makes its appearance in houses: 
its sting is painful, but seldom productive of any 
very serious consequences, and the usual remedy is 
sweet oil, well rubbed on the punctured part. 
Like the rest of the genus, this insect preys on 
other insects, and particularly on spiders. 
Scorpio Americanus or the American Scorpion 
is of somewhat smaller size than the })receding, 
and of a more slender or lengthened form : its co- 
lour is a yellowish brown. It is a native of many 
parts of America. 
The largest and by far the most formidable of 
the genus is the Scorpio Afer of Liiinaeus, or great 
African Scorpion. This species is of so large a 
size as often to measure four inches from the head 
to the beginning of the tail, and ten inches, if 
measured from the tips of the claspers to that of 
the tail. Its colour is a dark brown, inclining to 
yellow beneath, and in the interstices of the joints^ 
and the claspers have often a reddish cast. This 
species is found in many parts of Africa, where it 
is held in great dread; the effect of its sting pro- 
ducing very severe symptoms, and sometimes 
even proving fatal. 
The poison of the Scorpion is evacuated through 
two very small oblong foramina situated on each 
side the tip of the sting. It is well known that a 
diversity of opinion has subsisted among authors 
relative to this particular. The cclebraccd Redi, 
