THE LANGUEDOCIAN SCORPION 225 



a sheet of cardboard as easily as though I were using a 

 needle. 



Owing to its powerful curve, the sting points downwards 

 when the tail is held in a straight line. To use his weapon, 

 the Scorpion must therefore raise it, turn it round and 

 strike upwards. In fact, this is his invariable practice. 

 The tail bends over the animal's back and comes forward 

 before pinking the adversary held down with the claws. 

 The animal, for that matter, is almost always in this 

 posture : whether in motion or at rest, he curves his tail 

 over his chine. He very rarely drags it slackened in a 

 straight line. 



The pincers, buccal hands suggesting the claws of 

 the Crayfish, are organs of battle and information. 

 When moving forwards, the animal holds them in front 

 of him, with the fingers opened, to take stock of things 

 encountered on the way. When he wants to stab, the 

 claws catch the adversary and hold him motionless, 

 while the sting operates above the assailant's back. 

 Lastly, when he has to nibble a morsel for any length 

 of time, they serve as hands and keep the prey within 

 reach of the mouth. They are never used for walking, 

 for support or for the work of excavation. 



That falls to the real legs. These are abruptly trun- 

 cated and end in a group of little curved, moveable claws, 

 faced by a short, fine point, which, in a manner of speak- 

 ing, serves as a thumb. The stump is finished off with 

 rough bristles. The whole constitutes an excellent grap- 

 nel, which explains the Scorpion's capacity for roaming 

 round the trellis-work of my wire beUs, for standing there 

 ver}^ long in a reversed position and, lastly, for clambering 

 up a vertical wall, notwithstanding his clumsiness and 



awkwardness. 



2d 



