SCORPIONS AND THEIR ANTIQUITY 375 



intention of causing its own death cannot for a moment be 

 admitted. 



Although, probably, many of my readers are acquainted 

 with it, for the benefit of those who are not I must conclude 

 with a well-known Indian story. Where scorpions and 

 centipedes abound, it is the general custom of servants 

 in India to turn their masters' boots upside down before 

 helping to put them on. In the instance in question, where 

 this precaution had been omitted, a cavalry officer had just 

 put his foot into a regulation boot, when he felt something 

 sharp touch his heel. With the greatest promptitude he 

 lifted his leg and stamped violently on the ground, in the 

 hope of destroying the supposed scorpion before it had time 

 to use its sting. He found that a spur, with the rowels 

 uppermost, had been inadvertently dropped into the boot ! 



