202 SCORPION. 



stranger among us ! In several parts of the continent of 

 Europe, it is but too well known, though it seldom grows 

 above four inches long ; but in warm tropical climates it 

 is seen a foot in length, and in every respect as large as 

 a lobster. 



The scorpion is one of the largest of the insect tribe, 

 and not less terrible from its size than its malignity. It 

 resembles a lobster somewhat in shape, but is infinitely 

 more hideous. There have been enumerated nine different 

 kinds of this dangerous insect, chiefly distinguished by 

 their colour ; there being scorpions yellow, brown, and ash- 

 coloured ; others that are the colours of rusty iron, green, 

 pale yellow, black, claret-colour, white, and grey. 



There are few animals more formidable, or more truly 

 mischievous than the scorpion. As it takes refuge in a 

 small place, and is generally found sheltering in houses, 

 so it cannot be otherwise than that it must frequently 

 sting those among whom it resides. In some of the 

 towns of Italy and France, in the province of Languedoc, 

 it is one of the greatest pests that torment mankind; but 

 its malignity in Europe is trifling when compared to what 

 the natives of Africa and the East are known to experience. 

 In Batavia where they grow twelve inches long, there is 

 no removing any piece of furniture without the utmost 

 danger of being stung by them. Bosman assures us, that 

 along the Gold Coast they are often found larger than a 

 lobster, and that their sting is inevitably fatal. In Europe, 

 however, they are by no means so large, so venomous, or 

 so plentiful. The general size of this animal does not 

 exceed two or three inches, and its sting is very seldom 

 found to be fatal. Maupertius, who made several experi- 

 ments on the scorpion of Languedoc, found it by no means 

 so invariably dangerous as had till then been represented. 

 Hejprovoked one of them to sting a dog in three places 

 of the belly, where the animal was without hair. In about 

 an hour after, the poor animal seemed greatly swollen, and 

 became very sick : he then cast up whatever he had in his 

 bowels, and for about three hours continued vomiting a 

 whitish liquid. The belly was greatly swollen when the 

 animal began to vomit, but this operation always seemed 

 to abate the swelling ; which alternately swelled, and was 

 thus emptied, for three hours successively. The poor 

 animal after this fell into convulsions, bit the ground, 

 dragged himself along upon his forefeet, and at last died, 

 five hours after being bitten. He was not partially swollen 

 round the place which was bitten, as is usual after the 



