216 



SCORPIONS. 



upon chance for the capture of prey ; for although provided with a large number 

 of eyes, vision is so defective that they cannot see more than a few inches, and there 

 is no evidence of the existence of any organs of hearing. The sense of touch, how- 

 ever, which resides in the hairs with which the body and limbs are studded, is 

 exceedingly keen. No sooner does an unwary insect approach within reach than 



it is seized in the vice-like grip of 

 the scorpion's pincers ; then quick 

 as lightning the tail is brought into 

 use, and the sting plunged into the 

 struggling prey, which, as a rule, 

 quickly succumbs to the paralysing 

 effect of the poison. If, however, 

 the prey be of large size, and 

 muscular in proportion, the process 

 of stinging is repeated; but it has 

 been noticed that the scorpion in 

 most cases carefully selects a soft 

 spot into which to thrust its weapon, 

 and does not strike at random. The 

 object of this caution is evidently 

 to avoid all risk of breaking the 

 point of the sting against too hard 

 a substance. The same care is 

 shown in the carriage of the tail, 

 this organ when not in use being 

 almost always kept curled up in 

 such a manner that the sting is 

 securely protected. Having imper- 

 fectly developed visionary powers, 

 and no tactile antennae to supply 

 this deficiency, scorpions when on 

 the move always hold their large 

 pincers well to the front, so as 

 carefully to feel the way. But 

 different species show considerable 

 variation in the carriage, of the 

 body, some like Biithus, holding it 

 high, while others shuffle along 

 scarcely lifting it off the ground. 



Again, many of the larger 

 species, such as those belonging to 



Scorpio and Opisthophthalmus, live in deep holes, which they excavate in the ground 

 by means of their large and powerful pincers. Others, like the little flat scorpions 

 of South Europe (Euscorpius), hide away under stones and tree trunks, to which 

 they cling belly uppermost ; whilst others, like Butlius, dig shallow pits in 

 sand, just deep enough to allow their eyes a clear vision of their surround- 



AFRICAN ROCK-SCOEPIOX, Scorpio viatoris (nat size). 



