i6 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



some time, attached by their pincers to all portions of her 

 body. 



Scorpions live in warm countries. They are common in 

 the southern portion of the United States, but are not found 

 in the North. They are nocturnal, remaining concealed dur- 

 ing the day, but leaving their hiding-places at dusk. When 

 they run the post-abdomen is bent upwards over the back. 

 They feed upon spiders and large insects, which they seize 

 with the large pincers of their palpi, and sting to death with 

 their caudal poison sting. 



The sting of a scorpion rarely if ever proves fatal to man, 

 although the larger species, which occur in the Tropics, pro- 

 duce serious wounds. 



Nearly twenty species are known from North America. 



Order SOLPUGIDA (Sol-pu'gi-da). 

 The Jointed Spiders. 



The members of this order differ from all other Arach- 

 nida in having the head separate from the thorax, and in 

 having the thorax composed of 

 three distinct segments, as with 

 insects. The mandibles are very 

 large, and are furnished with 

 strong pincers. The palpi are 

 shaped like the legs, and are said 

 to be used in locomotion. The 

 first of the four pairs of true legs, 

 like the palpi, are not furnished 

 with claws, and are used as palpi. 

 There are only two eyes. Respi- 

 ration is effected by means of 

 tracheae, which open through three 



FIG. 9. A Jointed-spider, Datames 



diiatata. (After Putnam.) pairs of spiracles, situated in the 



first thoracic and the second and third abdominal segments. 



Only a few species of Solpugida occur in the United 



States, and specimens of these are rarely found. So far 



