( 131 ) 



carries with its tail bent, or turned inwardii, in order, nioft pro- 

 bably, to preferve the fling from any injury it niiglit fuflain by 

 llie blunting of the point, or otherwife. 



Fig. 12, F G H I, reprefents the ftijig, as feen through tlie 

 microfcope, and, between the letters G and H, may be feen the 

 aperture which the fting has, on one fide; -and j?^'-, 13, K L M N, 

 reprefents the other fide of the fling where tlie fame aperture is 

 to be obferved between the letters L M. 



It mufl: here be noted, that the prominent part whicli is feen 

 in Jigs. 12 and 13, at letter X, is not to be taken for a fecond 

 fling, for in my opinion it ferves only as a bafe or fupport, to be 

 fixed on the fkin, in order that by its help, the fling may be thruft 

 in with greater force. 



Upon refledling frequently on the make of this fling, I confi- 

 dered with myfelf, that, if the above mentioned aperture had been 

 at the very extremity, the fling could not fo eafily have been 

 made to pierce the (kin : I alfo thought, that the Scorpion has not 

 power to expel the poilbn, but that when the fling enters the 

 fiefh, then the fides of the oblong cavity in it (which is feen in 

 the Jigs. 12 and 13, between the letters G H and LM) are, by the 

 prefiure on the fling in its entrance ( in regard the inner parts of 

 this cavity are of a foft and yielding nature) forced inwards, and 

 by that means the poifon within the fling is driven out. Now, 

 if the Scorpion had power to eje6l its venom, I imagine that it 

 would not flrike at any objeft whatever with its fling, without at 

 the fame time emitting- fome of the venom ; but as this is not 

 obferved to be the cafe, we mufl conclude, that the poifon is 

 kept within the fling, until, by the force applied in piercing the 

 ficin or flefh, the poifon is driven out, and there it will exert 

 its full force upon the juices of the wounded part. 



The liquid matter, or poifon which I before mentioned to have 

 extra6led from the fling by prefllire (though it was in a very 

 fmall quantity) I put into a clean glais, which I prepared on 



