20 
POPULAR SCIENCE NEWS. 
[Febkuaky, 1891. 
forest, which theu, in process of time, again be- 
came peat moss. By the recurrence of this pro- 
cess, tlie alternate layers of coal, sandstone, and 
slate were formed, which constitute the strata of 
the Carboniferous peiiod. 
illead before the I.yell Scientlflc Circle, of Pittsburg, I'a.] 
SCOBPIOXS. 
BY W. J. l'KK>TICE. 
There are several ditterent species of the 
Arachnida, such as acarus, mites, spiders, and 
scorpions. Under the name "scorpion" may be 
enumerated : _ 
1. Book scoi-piou, which belongs to tlie family 
of Cheliferidm. 
2. Water scori)ion, of the genus yepa, found in 
ditches, etc. 
'A. Sea scorpion {Cottus aoorpius), a voracious 
salt-water fish. 
4. Whip scorpion {Thclyphonns yiyanteus), or 
mule-killer. 
.5. Rock scorpion {Beth xisafer), found on rocky 
clitts. 
Perhaps a brief description of one or two \\ ill 
be sufHcieut to convey some idea of the structure 
and habits of these venomous little animals called 
scorpions. 
To anyone interested in entomology, the whip 
scorpion — of that interesting intermediate group 
known as Thelyphonidm — will prove a fuost inter- 
esting subject. The antennai of the whij) scorpion 
are not like tlie harmless feelers seen on tlio heads 
of beetles, moths, and butterflies, but are changed 
into venomous fangs, or claws. The fore feet are 
formed of a great number of joints, so that the 
front limbs are converted into flexible, organs of 
touch. The anterior pair of legs are much thinner 
than the other three pairs. This species derives 
its name from the whip-like shape of its caudal 
appendage, which is flexible, and can be moved 
about by the owner at will. It is found in the 
dark recesses of the forests of Florida. It is 
nocturnal in its habits, hiding under chips, leaves, 
etc., during the day, awaiting the approach of 
night, when it can go forth in seai-ch of prey, 
which consists generally of bugs and insects, 
which it greedily devours. When disturbed by 
cattle or mules travelling through tlie underwood, 
it often seizes them by the legs with its poisonous, 
jaw-like claws ; and the poison usually proves fatal 
in a few hours. 
The next si)ecies 1 wish to call your attention to 
is called the bethusafer, or rock scorpion. The 
body of the rock scorpion is usually about five 
inches long from tip to tip. They breathe air, 
and in this respect are like insects, but unlike 
Crustacea. Tiiey are like the Crustacea, however, 
in this respect : they have no distinction of head 
and thorax, the two being united iuto what is 
called a "cephalo thorax." They undergo no 
metamorphosis, and have no true antenna; or 
wings. My attention was first called to this 
species on the loth of June, 1862, after the 77th 
Regiment, Pennsylvauia \'olunteers, had marched 
from Tuscunibia, Alabama, and were preparing 
to encamp on the south bank of the Tennessee 
River. I commenced clearing away the brush 
and leaves on a high cliff overlooking the river, 
preparatory to pitching our tent for the night. I 
was somewhat startled at the rapid and pugna- 
cious movements of a small animal whoso lordship 
I had di8turl)ed, and which, on closer examina- 
tion, proved to be a rock scorpion of a dark brow u 
color, and about four and one-half inches long. 
This specimen, however, diftered from any I have 
since neen in this iyar,iimimi • iu> dut Mb frtA back ! 
part of the head it had a hemispherical receptacle 
corresponding in curvature to that of the telson, 
or last joint of the tail. Into this receptacle it 
would turn and rest the end of the tail, as if to 
steady its aim before making a spring backwards, 
at the same time striking a lilow at the slick with 
which 1 was ti;asing it. Otlierwise it did not 
ditt'er materially from others of the same species 
I have since examined. It was very active, and I 
found that it could run about as fast backwards 
or sideways as forward. The only thing I ever 
found they were apparently afraid of wa&a current 
of air. This I found by striking at it with my 
hat, when it would cling to the piece of bark on 
which 1 had placed it, as if afraid of being blown 
away. I then tried striking at it with a stick, 
which it would take no notice of whatevci'. 1 
then tried Idowing on it gently, when it would 
immediately flatten itself out and cling tenaciously 
by the chela;, or claws. 
As 1 said before, tlierc is no distinction in the 
scorpion betwe<;n the head and thorax. The 
abdomen and post abdomen are segmental. The 
tail consists of from six to twelve segments, and 
terminates in an arched joiut and a sharp sting 
which communicates with two poison glands in 
the base of the joint. They have no true antenii.'e, 
or feelers, such as are developed on' the heads of 
butterflies or beetles, but are represented liy the 
large mandibles, or lobster-like claws, at the tips 
of which are the modified palpi. The eyes difter 
in number, according to the species; some have 
six, others eight, and some as high as twelve. 
The lireathing organs — tour pairs of pulmonary 
vessicles, found in tlie sides of the body — admit 
air by apertures, called stigmata. The legs 
— eight in number, four on each side, as in all 
arachnida — are <iuite long, and at the tips are con- 
verted into chela' (pronounced kela), or nipping 
claws. On examining the under part of the body, 
two remarkable appendages are seen, called the 
combs. The numl)er of teeth in the combs vary 
according to the species. Some (the rock scorpion) 
liave thirteen teeth, while others (the red scor- 
pion) have never less than twenty-tiight. The 
poison from the sting may be pressed out by the 
fingers, when it is found to be a white, milky 
fluid with a very pungent smell. 
To be stung by a scorpion is very painful, but is 
not always attended with fatal results, and can 
often be relieved by the use of alkaline remedies. 
The result depends somewhat, however, on the 
constitution of the person stung, and the size and 
species of the scorpion. The most venomous, 
however, 1 believe, is found in Mexico, as stated 
in a conmuiiiicatioii from Dr. \. Gozalez, which 
was read by Di-. l.eidy at a meeting of the Acad- 
emy of Xatural Science, at I'hiladelphia, in 1886, 
giving an account of the scorpions of Durango, 
Mexico, and the deadly ett'ects of their sting. lie 
stated that the sting was fatal, and especially so 
in the case of children from two to three years of 
age, they dying in a few hours, and sometimes in 
a few minutes, in strong general convulsions. No 
antidote for the poison liail yet been discovered. 
An eftbrt, however, has iieeu made to exterminate 
the scorpions by ottering a revi'ard of one and one- 
half cents each for males and three cents each for 
females, and it is estimated as many as 100,000 
have been destroyed in one year. The jjoison of a 
scorpion is quite powerless to kill itself or another 
of the same species. This is demonstrated by 
their lashing themselves with their tails, penetrat- 
ing the sting, and thus irying to commit suicide 
by the same poisonous instrument with which 
A writer in a paper called "Land and Water," 
relates that while in a house in Jamaica, suddenly 
a moving mass dropped from the cedar roof above 
on to the table near where he was standing, which 
he found, on examination, to be the body of a 
large female scorpion, from which ran away in 
every direction thirty-eight young scorpions, 
about one-fourth of an inch in length. The 
mother scorpion lay dying, and soon ended her 
feeble struggle, as the whole of her back had been 
eaten out by her own ofl'spring, leaving but the 
thin outer shell. She had clung to the shingles 
until, death approaching, she had dropped, to 
expire in a few moments, and ihus gave up her 
life for her young. 
LUeUicateJ to Mru. Kliiia 8tuart Keuilwoith.] 
MODKS OF COLLKCTING SPECIMENS OF 
THE MORPHOLOGJE.SOF FRESH AND SEA 
WATERS. 
UV KPIIKAIM CTTTKli, LI.. 1). 
Since 1854 I-liave studied this subject more or 
less. It has given great delight and pleasure. 
Perhaps some would like to l;no\\ « hat have 
proved to be the best modes. 
I. 
(That of Professor I'aulus F. iieinsch, of Erlangeii, 
Germany, the best algologis: I know of), lb; 
selects a groui> of water plants that he can sijueeze 
in the hand. It is gathered between the palm and 
the fingers, and forcibly comj)ressed. The exudate 
is caught in a bottle, and is ready for use. Usually 
there are several streams, the largest of wbieli is 
taken. About hall' an ounce of liquid is thus (col- 
lected, which is full of the flora and fauna which 
make the plants their liabitat. Do not be dis- 
tressed if the quantity is small. Professor Reinseh 
once rode with nio in a buggy from Boston to 
Cape Cod. After dark we came to Holbrook, 
where the road ran through a jioud. The pro- 
fessor got out, reached in his hand, and got a 
handful of plants at the first grab. .Vbout twij 
teaspoonfuls of fluiil wore seoured, as the mouth 
of the vial was small and it was impossible to stu! 
much. At our hotel we spent a good part of the 
night studying the forms found. They wert; very 
interesting, and many of the desmids were new to 
science. 
II. 
(Also Reinsch's mode). Things needed: .\. n 
bag of cotton or flannel cloth, 4X IV^ inches, made 
thus : Take a piece of thick cloth, 414X3 inches; 
fold lengthwise; turn over. the edges Vi inch, ami 
stitch over and over. H, a string. C, a coimuoii 
goblet. D, a hydr.uit faucet. Tie A on to I) willi 
B, and let the water run till the Ijag is clogged so 
that the water has to come out in jets. Then 
remove so that the Viag is half full of water. 
Invert contents into (^ Then turn the bag inside 
out and soj) in the water, thus disengaging many 
forms of life from the bag. Finally, twist the bag 
lengthwise and catch the drips in the goblet. The 
specimens are theu leady for the microscope. 
III. 
(The writer's mode. For ditches, canals, and 
ponds, even out in the middle, while the collector 
is in a boat or on a raft) . Things needed : A, bag 
as above. B, a tube about 1 inch in diameter, — 
an old lawn india-rubber hose-pipe is best, — I or 5 
inches long. C, a funnel. D, a dipper or tumliler. 
E, a string. F, a bottle, an ounce or larger. The 
b.ag is tied on to the tube; the funnel is put in the 
other end of the tube. Arrived at the littoi-.il 
margin, the central, or other jiart of the surface 
they had, no doubt, slain many a defenceless vlo- I of the water in lake, pond, tlitch, or canal, dip 
tim upon whom they had chosen to prey. ' water and pour it in the funnel as long as it i'lU' ' 
