379 



OF THE SCORPION, AND ITS VARIETIES. 



There is scarce an insect without wings that is not 

 obnoxious, but the scorpion is the most terrible of all 

 the race ; happily for England it is a stranger amongst 

 us, for few recover from its malignant bite. On the 

 continent of Europe they seldom exceed four inches ; 

 but in the tropical climates, they frequently grow near 

 five times that length. It is not merely terrible for its 

 magnitude, but for its malignant influence and unpleas- 

 ing shape, which bears some resemblance to that of a 

 lobster, though infinitely more unpleasing to the eye. 



There are nine different kinds of this destructive in- 

 sect, distinguished more by their colour than their 

 shape ; some are yellow, brown, and ash-colour ; others 

 green, black, white, and grey. There are four prin- 

 cipal parts distinguishable in this animal, the head, the 

 breast, the belly, and the tail ; the former of which 

 seems joined to the breast, and, instead of two, it has 

 four eyes: the mouth is furnished with two jaws, the 

 bones of which are notched, and fix into each other so 

 as to supply the place of teeth : on each side the head 

 two arms are extended, formed like the claw of a lob- 

 ster, and each having four joints ; below the breast 

 eigbt legs are placed ; the belly is divided into seven 

 small rings, from the lowest of which issues a tail with 

 six joints, in which is concealed that dreadful instru- 

 ment with which the animal imparts its envenomed 

 sting. With 'this weapon it not only wounds, but in- 

 jects a corrosive poison that is contained near it in a 

 small bag, which by being compressed, the venom is- 

 sues through two apertures into the wound, and gene- 

 rally produces the most fatal effects. 



The mischiefs produced by this obnoxious insect 



