1!38 THE STORY-BOOK OF SCIENCE 



"Next to the viper there is in France no venom- 

 ous creature more to be feared than the scorpion. 

 It is very ugly and walks on eight feet. In front 

 it has two pincers like those of the crayfish, and be- 

 hind a knotty, curled tail ending in 

 a sting. The pincers are inoffen- 

 sive, despite their menacing aspect ; 

 it is the sting with which the end of 

 the tail is armed that is venomous. 

 The scorpion makes use of it in self- 

 defense and to kill the insects on 

 which it feeds. In the southern de- 

 partments of France are found two 

 different kinds of scorpions. One, 

 of a greenish black, frequents dark 

 and cool places and even establishes 

 itself in houses. It leaves its re- 



Scorpion seen from . 



above treat only at night. It can be seen 



then running on the damp and cracked walls, seeking 

 wood-lice and spiders, its customary prey. The 

 other, much larger, is pale yellow. It keeps under 

 warm and sandy stones. The black scorpion's sting 

 does not cause serious injury ; that of the yellow may 

 be mortal. When one of these creatures is irritated, 

 a little drop of liquid can be seen forming into a pearl 

 at the extremity of the sting, which is all ready to 

 strike. It is the drop of venom that the scorpion in- 

 jects into the wound. 



' ' There are many other important things I could 

 tell you about the venomous creatures of foreign 

 countries, about divers serpents whose bite causes 

 a dreadful death; but I hear Mother Ambroisine 



