SEA-MAID.] NATURAL HISTORY. 277 



fourth upon the third, and a fifth upon the fourth, until 

 they have made themselves like a chain, to descend from 

 the top to the bed wherein the man sleepeth, and the last 

 striketh him ; after which stroke he first of all runneth 

 away by the back of his fellow, and every one again in 

 order, till all of them have withdrawn themselves. It is 

 thought that hares are never molested by Scorpions, because 

 if a man or beast be anointed with the rennet of a hare, 

 there is no Scorpion or spider will hurt him. Wild goats 

 are also said to live without fear of Scorpions. The seed 

 of nose-wort burnt or scorched doth drive away serpents, 

 and resist Scorpions, and so doth the seed of violets and 

 of wild parsnip. The smell of garlic and wild mints set 

 on fire or strewed on the ground, and dittany have the 

 same operations ; and above all other, one of these Scorpions 

 burned driveth away all his fellows which are within the 

 smell thereof. By touching of hen-bane they lie dead and 

 overcome, but if one touch them again with white Helle- 

 bore they revive. The sea-crab with basil in her mouth 

 destroyeth the Scorpion, and so doth mushroom of trees. 

 To conclude, the spittle of a man is death unto Scorpions. 



Topsell, "Four-footed Beasts," pp. 750-57. 



YOUR tongues like Scorpions 

 Both heal and poison. 



Beaumont and Fletcher, " Philaster," iii. I. 



THEY which are stung with the Scorpion cannot be 

 recovered but by the Scorpion. "Euphues' Golden Legacie." 



Screech-owl. 



TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, v. 10, 16. 



AMONG diviners with crying he tokeneth adversity ; and 

 if he be still, he tokeneth prosperity. 



Bartholomew (Bertkelet), bk. xii. 36. 



Sea-maid. 



MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, ii. I, 154. 



V. Siren. 



