MY PUT SCORPION. 609 



on the outer edges of the cepkalo-thorax, are placed the remaining 

 six eyes, three on a side, in a triangular group. These eyes are not 

 quite as large as those in front, but they are of a shining yellow color, 

 and altogether give the face of the whip scorpion a decidedly un- 

 canny look. 



But to return to the history of my pet. As Madam Thelyphonus 

 had obviously been accustomed to rather primitive furniture, I did 

 not overburden her new apartments. A thickly sanded floor, a salt 

 dish filled with fresh water, a square of pine bark the size of my 

 hand, slightly elevated, with a few nice pieces of green moss to re- 

 mind her of the country home she had left, and my involuntary guest 

 was ready for housekeeping. She accepted her new quarters without 

 question or examination, and promptly retired to her bedroom under 

 the bark. 



But housekeeping, even for a whip scorpion, involves the food 

 question. Here I was upon uncertain ground. The strictly noc- 

 turnal habits of the Thelyphonus render all such investigations dif- 

 ficult. Naturally, the authorities on this point are somewhat indefi- 

 nite or conflicting. The first things which I placed in the cage were 

 a number of roaches of assorted sizes. One investigator claims that 

 they are readily eaten by the Thelyphonus. Twenty-four hours 

 passed and not a roach was missing. 



The matter, however, in which I felt a more immediate interest 

 was the supposed venomous character of my new pet. My experi- 

 ments were, therefore, especially directed to the settlement of this 

 question. The next night a large, full-grown toad, that for some time 

 had made his home in my back yard, was placed in the cage. The 

 roaches were still there, and right here a very interesting thing hap- 

 pened. The largest cockroach, nearly two inches in length, was upon 

 the side of the cage. The toad had hardly got comfortably seated 

 immediately in front of him when the cockroach suddenly disap- 

 peared. I could not say that I saw him disappear. I was looking 

 directly at both, but the " dissolving view " was too rapid for the 

 eye to follow. To say that it was " quick as a flash " would depend 

 somewhat on what kind of a " flash " was meant. I think nitro- 

 glycerin would undoubtedly have kept up with my bufo; but, judg- 

 ing from what I saw, or rather didn't see, I should say that this toad 

 could have swallowed about six cockroaches while gunpowder was 

 getting ready to go off ! Any one who wishes to get an entirely new 

 view of the meaning of the phrase " with neatness and dispatch " 

 should by all means try this " lightning combination " of cockroaches 

 and a Florida toad! 



And now I was all ready for the coming " battle royal " that I 

 had reason to suppose would take place between my little captives. 



TOL. LIV. — 45 



