INSECTA. 95 



Vitus's dance, in which the person bitten was obliged to 

 laugh and skip about until he sunk down exhausted. 

 This dreadful disorder is said to be cured only by music ; 

 for this purpose a particular tune, called the Tarantelle, 

 is played in presence of the sufferer, and believed to be 

 an infallible remedy. 



The Mowers or Weavers (phalangium opilio) have 

 small, roundish bodies, with remarkably long legs ; not 

 larger than peas, they are brown-gray above, whitish 

 below ; in the summer months they are found in consid- 

 erable numbers, living on trees and walls. They are 

 very active and, when running, appear as if mounted on 

 stilts ; their legs break off readily on being touched, and 

 move convulsively for some time after being separated 

 from the trunk. They feed upon flies and mites. A 

 relative species, but bearing more resemblance to the 

 tarantula, is found in southern Russia, and considered 

 poisonous. 



The Common Scorpion (scorpio europseus) is one 

 inch long without including the tail, has pincers in front 

 like the crab ; the tail is composed of six rings or joints, 

 terminating in an excessively acute point or sting, arcu- 

 ated outwards. Scorpions are vivaparous ; they are 

 very abundant in Italy, concealing themselves under 

 stones and other bodies, mostly, however, in ruins, and 

 sometimes in houses. Keeping closely in their retreats 

 during the day, they sally forth at night, run actively 

 everywhere, moving their pincers and elevating their 

 tails. The sting of the scorpion produces severe inflam- 

 mation, but in Europe is seldom fatal. These irascible 

 creature will not bear imprisonment ; if a scorpion is 

 confined in a glass jar or hemmed in by fire, as soon as 

 it finds escape impossible, it stings itself to death. The 



