548 



THE TALANTULA — TEE COMMON SCORPION. 



THE TARANTULA, 



This spider is somewhat more than an inch in length. The breast 



and belly are of an ash- iolor. The legs 

 are likewise ash-colored, with blackish 

 rinixs on the under part. 1'he fangs aro 

 red within. 



The T;irantula Spider is a native of 

 Italy, Cyprus, Barbary, and the East 

 Indies. This animal lives in fields, and 

 its dwelling is in the ground, about four 

 inches deep, half an inch wide, and 

 closed at the mouth with a net. These 

 spiders do not live quite a yar. They lay about seven hundred and 

 thirty egi^s, which are hatched in the spring. The j>arents never 

 survive the winter. Inflammation, difficulty of breathing, and sick- 

 ness, are said to be the invariable consequences of the bite of thia 

 insect. 



TBI TARANT01.A. 



OF TEE SCORPION TRIBE. 



Scorpions may be considered as the most malignant and poisonous 

 of all known insects. Their poison is emitted through three very 

 small holes in the sting, one on each side of the tip, and the other on 

 the upper part. In California there is a species, the Scorpio Americanua, 

 which is eaten by the inhabitants. 



These animals prey en worms and insects, and frequently even on 

 one another. Their offspring are produced from eggs, of which one 

 female lays a considerable number, After their appearance, they 

 seem to undergo no further change than perhaps casting their skin 

 from time to time, in the same manner as spiders. 



THE COMMON SCORPION. 



This like other Scorpions, has a distant resemblance in shape to 

 the Lobster, but it is infinitely more ugly. 

 The head appears, as it were, jointed to the 

 breast; and the mouth is furnished with 

 two jaws; the under one of which is divided 

 into two, and the parts, notched into each 

 other, answer the purpose of teeth in break- 

 ing the food. On each side of the head 

 there is a four-jointed arm, terminated by 

 a claw, somewhat like that of a Lobster. 

 The belly is divided into seven segments, 

 from the lowest of which the tail commences: this, in the present 



THB BOOKPIOR. 



