SCORPIONS 127 



Scorpions are carnivorous and nocturnal in their habits. They 

 shun strong light and hide by day under stones, in crevices in 

 the rocks, under the bark of fallen trees, or in deep burrows in 

 the ground, which the larger species excavate for themselves with 

 the aid of their pincers. At night they leave their hiding-places 

 and prowl about in search of food, which consists chiefly of insects. 

 Their habit of hiding in all sorts of odd places has made scorpions 

 exceedingly unpopular, for they will frequently enter houses and 

 conceal themselves under pillows, in the beds, or creep into 

 unoccupied boots and shoes. The little black scorpions of Southern 

 Europe are particularly addicted to this troublesome habit, 

 especially during wet weather. 



Many people are terribly afraid of scorpions, but the danger 

 of their sting is much exaggerated ; and although the wound 

 they give is very painful, it is not, except in the case of the largest 

 species, attended with very serious consequences. The sting of 

 a Great African Scorpion may sometimes cause sickness and a 

 rise of temperature, but it is rarely, if ever, fatal, as is so gener- 

 ally believed. Scorpions, indeed, are really timid creatures, and 

 their chief anxiety is to avoid notice and slink away into some 

 safe retreat. 



They are solitary in their habits, each scorpion living alone, 

 except during the mating season, when for a time a pair will 

 dwell amicably together. The celebrated French naturalist, 

 M. Fabre, has given an interesting account of the courtship of 

 these strange creatures, colonies of which he kept in his garden 

 in order to study their ways. He states that after some curious 

 preliminary antics the two scorpions face each other with raised 

 and curling tails, which they intertwine in an affectionate manner. 

 Then they proceed to take what Fabre calls a " promenade a deux." 

 The male clasps the claws of the female with his own, and walks 

 slowly backwards, his mate following him. And thus, hand in 

 hand, the two quaint creatures promenade for an hour or more. 

 When tired of these manoeuvres, the male proceeds to dig a hole, 

 generally under a convenient stone, but never for one moment 

 does he release his hold on the scorpion of his choice ; and when 

 the marriage chamber is sufficiently large to contain them com- 

 fortably, the strange pair disappear from view Within it. But 

 the lady scorpion is fickle and bad-tempered, and the chances 



