298 ARACHNIDA—EMBOLOBRANCHIATA CHAP. 
Fossil scorpions are rarely found. The earliest examples 
known occur in the Silurian rocks, and belong to the genus 
Palacophonus. In the Carboniferous Hoscorpius is found, and 
in the Oligocene 7ityus. 
Much remains to be discovered with regard to the habits of 
scorpions, and most of the isolated observations which have been 
recorded lose much of their value through the uncertainty as to 
the species concerned. The brief accounts given by Lankester 
and by Pocock,' and the more recent and elaborate studies of 
Fabre,” are free from this defect and contain almost the only trust- 
worthy information we possess. 
All are viviparous, and the females carry the newly-hatched 
young on their backs. They are predaceous, feeding for the most 
part on insects and spiders. These are seized by the chelate 
pedipalps, and, if small, are simply picked to pieces by the chelicerae 
and devoured, but if large the tail-sting is brought into play and 
the victim quickly paralysed. The process of eating is a slow 
one, and a Cape scorpion in captivity took two hours to devour a 
cockroach. 
In walking, scorpions carry their pedipalps horizontally in 
front, using them partly as feelers and partly as raptorial organs. 
As regards the body the attitude varies considerably. In some 
cases (Parabuthus, Prionurus, etc.) it is raised high upon the legs, 
and the “ tail” or metasoma is curved forward over the back, but in 
others (Huscorpius) the body is held low, and the “ tail” is dragged 
along behind, the end only being slightly curled. In the day- 
time they hide away under wood or stone, or in pits which they 
dig’in the sand. Parabuthus capensis was observed to dig a 
shallow pit by means of its second and third ambulatory legs, 
resting on its first and fourth legs aided by the chelae and the 
metasoma. Those that hide under wood are usually found 
clinging to their shelter ventral side uppermost. In captivity 
the creatures, though supphed with water, were never observed to 
drink ; indeed, they are characteristic inhabitants of arid steppes 
and parched wastes. Like most Arachnids they can endure 
prolonged abstinence from food. 
The only sense well developed seems to be that of touch. 
Notwithstanding the possession of several eyes their sight is 
1 Nature, xlviii., 1893, p. 104. 
” Souvenirs entomologiques, Sér. 9, 1907, p. 229. 
