J3trttcmarn of gmmatcfc $ature. 597 



" The sudden change in the temperature 

 that generally occurs in the early part of 

 May, brings out great numbers of insects, 

 from their winter quarters, to enjoy the 

 sunshine and the ardent heat which are 

 congenial to their natures. While a con- 

 tinued hum is heard among the branches of 

 the trees, from thousands of bees and flies, 

 drawn thither by the fragrance of the burst- 

 ing buds ; swarms of little beetles of various 

 kinds come forth to try their wings, and, 



BCOLYTUS DK8TRTJOTOR AND I.ARVA, WITH A 



PIECK OF WOOD TO SHOW THS RAVAGES 



OF THE IN8BOT. 



with an uncertain and heavy flight, launch 



into the air. Among these beetles there are 



many of a dull red or fox colour, nearly 



cylindrical in form, tapering a very little 



before, obtusely rounded at both extremities, 



and about one quarter of an inch in length. 



; They are seen slowly creeping upon the 



sides of wooden buildings, resting on the 



tops of fences, or wheeling about in the air, 



1 and every now and then suddenly alighting 



i on some tree or wall, or dropping to the 



I ground. If we go to an old pine-tree, we 



| may discover from whence they have come, 



and what they have been about during the 



j past period of their lives. Here they will 



I be found creeping out of thousands of small 



! round holes which they have made through 



the bark for their escape. Upon raising a 



piece of the bark, already loosened by the 



undermining of these insects, we find it 



I pierced with holes in every direction, and 



even the surface of the wood will be seen to 



have been gnawed by these little miners. 



i After enjoying themselves abroad for a 



few days, they pair, and begin to lay their 



eggs. They gnaw little holes here and there 



through the rough bark of the trunk and 



! limbs, drop their eggs therein, and, after this 



' labour is finished, they become exhausted 



and die. In the autumn the grubs hatched 



from these eggs will be found fully grown. 



They devour the soft inner substance of the 



bark, boring through it in various directions 



for this purpose ; and they gnaw a passage 



to the surface, for their escape after they 



have completed their transformations. Their 

 depredations interrupt the descent of the 

 sap; the bark becomes loosened from the 

 wood, and the tree decays. 



8COMBERESOX. A fish, called also the 

 Mackerel Pike, or Saury Pike, found in the 

 Mediterranean, and remarkable for its long, 

 beak-like jaws. They are gregarious fishes ; 

 and are followed and preyed upon by Por- 

 poises, and also by the Tunny and other 

 large members of the Mackerel family. 



SCOMB E RID^E. A family of Acanthop- 

 tervgious fishes, of which the genus Scomber, 

 or Mackerel, is the type. They are charac- 

 terized by having a smooth body covered 

 with small scales, and a very powerful tail 

 and caudal fin ; in most of the species the 

 pectoral fins are long, narrow, and pointed. 

 This family includes species of the greatest 

 utility to mankind, in consequence of their 

 abundance and their wholesomeness as food. 

 [See MACKEREL.] 



SCORP^EN A. A genus of Acanthoptery- 

 gious marine fish, associating in shoals, and 

 haunting rocky shore*. The head is tuber- 

 culated and compressed laterally, but in 

 other respects they much resemble a Perch. 

 The species are popularly termed Hog-fish. 

 SCORPION. (Scorpio.) A genus of the 

 class Arachnida, distinguished from other 

 groups of Spiders by having the abdomen 

 articulated, and its hinder part, or tail, ter- 

 minated by a curved spur or sting, beneath 

 the extremity of which are two small ori- 

 fices, by which a venomous fluid is dis- 

 charged : the stigmata are eight in number, 

 and situated along the inferior and lateral 

 part of the abdomen. Between the thorax 

 and abdomen there is no distinct division ; 

 and the latter is com- 

 posed of twelve seg- 

 ments, six of which 

 are broad, forming the 

 posterior part of the 

 body, whilst the other 

 six form the tail. The 

 palpi are very large, 

 resembling extended 

 arms, and the terminal 

 segment assumes the 

 form of the lobster's 

 claw, being in like 

 manner provided with 

 pincers. The Scorpio- 

 nidce inhabit the warm 

 countries of both he- 

 mispheres, living on 

 the ground, hiding 

 themselves under 

 stones or other bodies, 

 generally amongst 

 ruins or other dark 

 and cool places, and 

 sometimes taking up their abode in houses. 

 They run with considerable swiftness.curving 

 the tail over the back : they can turn it in all 

 directions, and employ it as a weapon of of- 

 fence or defence. With their forceps they seize 

 wood-lice and various other ground insects, 

 on which they feed, after having pierced 

 them with their sting ; and it is remarkable 



SCORPION. 

 (SCORPIO AFER.) 



