128 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



valves, and other marine parasites, it was evident that they were 

 not forced out of the mud by the shock, but had been in that po- 

 sition for a considerable time. All, however, were damaged, one 

 or both ends being broken off. Their color was pure white on 

 the exterior, and yellowish within. None of them were perfectly 

 straight, and the greater number more or less contorted. 



CHAPTER VI 



BURROWING SPIDEES. 



The Scorpion and its Habits. — The Burrow of the Scorpion. — How detected. — 

 Suicide among the Scorpions. — Spiders and their Burrows. — The Atypus. — Ma- 

 dame Merian and her Book of the Bird Spider. — Mr. Bates's Discoveries. — Hair 

 of the Bird Spider. — The Tarantula. — Its Ferocity and Courage. — The Trap- 

 door Spider. — Its Tunnel and the Lining thereof. — Its Appearance under the 

 Microscope. — The " Trap-door" itself, and its Structure. — Curious Example of 

 Instinct. — Activity of the Spider. — Specimen in the British Museum. — Strength 

 and Obstinacy of the Trap-door Spider. — An Australian Trap-door Spider. 



Among the burrowers belonging to this order may be reck- 

 oned the well-known Scorpion, of which there are several spe- 

 cies, resembling each other in their general appearance, their 

 structure, and their habits. 



Scorpions are found in all the warmer portions of the globe, 

 and under the tropics they may be said to swarm. They are, 

 as a general rule, intolerant of light, creeping by day into every 

 cranny that can shelter them from the unwelcome sunbeams, and 

 often causing very great annoyance by this custom. Old travel- 

 ers, who have learned by experience the habits of these creatures, 

 do not retire to rest before they have carefully examined the bed 

 and surrounding furniture, especially taking up the pillow, and 

 seeing that no enemy has lodged within the folds of the bedding. 

 The left hand is generally employed in lifting the clothes, while 

 the right is armed with a boot-jack, or stout shoe, or some other 

 convenient weapon, with which the Scorpion may be immolated 

 to the just wrath of its discoverer, before it can run off and hide 

 itself afresh. Shoes, boots, and gloves are also favorite resorts of 

 the Scorpion, which has caused many an inexperienced traveler 

 to buy future caution at rather a dear rate. 



Scorpions may be found every where, under every stone, and 

 in every crevice ; and it not unfrequently happens that when a 



