SECTION I. 

 WINGLESS INSECTS, 



THE SCORPION, 



THE Scorpion is the largest and most malignant of all the insect 

 tribes. From the above engraving, it will be seen that it somewhat 

 resembles the lobster in its general appearance, but is much more 

 hideous. Those found in Europe seldom exceed four inches in 

 length, but in the tropical climates it is not an unusual thing to meet 

 with them twelve inches long. 



There are few animals more formidable, and none more irascible, 

 than the scorpion ; but, happily for mankind, it is equally destruc- 

 tive to its own species as to other animals. Goldsmith states, that 

 Maupertius put about a hundred of them together in the same glass, 

 and they scarcely came into contact, when they began to exert all 

 their rage in mutual destruction ; so that, in a few days, there re- 

 mained but fourteen, which had killed and devoured all the rest. 

 But their malignity is still more apparent in their cruelty to their 

 offspring. He enclosed a female scorpion, big with young, in a 

 glass vessel, and she was seen to devour them as fast as they were 

 excluded. There was only one of the number that escaped the 

 general destruction, by taking refuge on the back of its parent; and 

 this soon after revenged the cause of its brethren, by killing the old 

 one in its turn. Such is the terrible nature of this insect ; and it is 

 even asserted, that when placed in circumstances of danger, from 

 which it perceives no way of escape, it will sting itself to death. 

 Surely, says Mr. Taylor, Moses very properly mentions scorpions 

 among the dangers of the wilderness, Deut. viii. 15. And what 

 phall we think of the hazardous situation of Ezekiel, who is said to 

 dwell among scorpions (ch. ii. 6) people as irascible as this terri- 



