THE FARMER AT HOME. 353 



Mr. J. A. Taintor, of Hartford. (Conn.,) has imported some of the 

 best Saxon sheep known in the United States. The wool of his sheep 

 is of the finest and best quality ; and the animals have more size, and, 

 it is believed, better constitutions, than belonged to previous importa- 

 tions. It may be affirmed that his patriotic services in such laudable 

 efforts to improve the stock of this valuable animal deserves public 

 commendation. Of his importation there was a three year old buck, 

 which weighed one hundred and fifty pounds ; and he was admirably 

 well built, and had one of the best of fleeces. Mr. Taintor is a gentleman 

 of wealth, and of high intellectual bearing, and his personal acquaint- 

 ance with the best wool growers of France, Spain, and Germany, 

 enabled him to be thus successful in his selection. In making the 

 selection, he had the aid of Baron de Spreck, second to no other man 

 in judgment on such a subject. 



SCORPION. Is an insect of this description, and is frequently 

 mentioned in the Scripture, but scarcely ever without being associated 

 with representations of malevolence and mischief. Among all the 

 insect tribe, the scorpion, indeed, is the most terrible ; its figure is 

 hideous, and its sting is generally fatal. This creature, which, of all 

 the insects without wings, is the largest as well as most formidable, 

 somewhat resembles a lobster in shape, although beyond comparison 

 more horrible. Of this dangerous insect nine different species have 

 been enumerated, and all of them remarkable for their malignity. 

 Indeed there are few animals more dreadfully mischievous than the 

 scorpion. As it frequently takes refuge in houses, it is found to be a 

 dangerous inmate, and often stings those among whom it resides. In 

 some parts of Italy, and also in the south of France, it is one of the 

 greatest pests that torment mankind ; but as in those countries its 

 sting seldom proves mortal, the malignity of the European scorpion is 

 trifling in comparison of that which the natives of Africa and the East 

 experience from those bred in their climates. In Batavia, where they 

 grow to a foot in length, it is scarcely possible to remove any furniture 

 without being in danger of being stung by these poisonous animals. 

 Bossman also informs us that on the Gold Coast in Africa they are 

 often found larger than a lobster, arid that their sting is inevitably 

 fatal. In Europe their size does not exceed two or three inches, and 

 those v,ho are stung generally recover. 



The malevolent disposition of the scorpion has been proved by a 

 number of experiments, which show that no animal in creation is en- 

 dued with so irascible a nature. Its fierceness is dangerous not only to 

 all other creatures that approach it, but also to its own species ; for scor- 

 pions are the most cruel enemies to one another, which is a happy means 

 of preventing the too great increase of their numbers, as whenever 

 two of them meet, a combat immediately commences, and they never 

 cease fighting till one of them be destroyed. Maupertius put a hun- 

 dred of them together in a vessel, and they scarcely came into contact 



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