SCORPIONS. 



codes in its nippers, quickly brought its tail over its back, and by a well-directed 

 stroke succeeded in stinging its enemy. At the moment of receiving the stroke, the 

 Galeodes started back, opened all its limbs, began to quiver throughout its whole frame, 

 and rolled over quite dead. 



The color of the Galeodes is palish yellow, arid the tips of the fangs are black. 

 Their surface is very hard and polished, and when the light falls upon them they 

 gleam as if covered with burnished gold. In a specimen now before me, the array of 

 hairs with which the fangs are fringed glitter as if tinged with the rainbow. 



One species of the Galeodes inhabits the New World, being found in Havannah, but 

 the greater number of them are inhabitants of the hotter portions of the Old World. 

 In India the present species is plentiful, and is apt to be rather annoying, especially to 

 a new-comer. On the same illustration with the Galeodes is seen a magnified repre- 

 sentation of the curious CHELIFER, a little arachnid very much resembling a tiny scor- 

 pion without a tail. The body is flattened, and the palpi are much elongated and 

 furnished with a regular claw at the end, like that of a true scorpion. The Chelifer is 

 an active little being, running with much speed, and directing its course backward, 

 forward, or sidewise, with equal ease. It lives in dark places in houses, between books 

 in libraries, and similar localities, preferring, however, those that are rather damp. It 

 does no harm, however, to the books, but rather confers a favor on their owner, feed- 

 ing on woodlice, mites, and other beings that work sad mischief in a library. 



Its general color is brownish red, and it is remarkable that the palpi are twice as 

 long as the whole body. This, as well as an allied genus called Obisium, is found in 

 England. The two genera can be easily distinguished by the cephalothorax, that of 

 Chelifer being parted by a cross groove, and that of Obisium being entire. 



We are now approaching the true Scor- 

 pions, and pause on the way to examine the 

 remarkable arachnid represented in the illus- 

 tration. In this, as well as the Scorpions, the 

 abdomen is divided into segments, the palpi 

 are very large and foot-like, and are furnished 

 at their tips with claws like those of the 

 Crustacea. The cephalothorax is broad, semi- 

 circular, and very slightly separated from the 

 abdomen. 



Of all the spider race, the Scorpions are 

 most dreaded ; and justly so. These strange 

 beings are at once recognized by their large 

 claws and the armed tail. This member is 

 composed of six joints, the last being modi- 

 fied into an arched point, very sharp, and 

 communicating with two poison glands in the 

 base of the joint. With this weapon the 

 Scorpion wounds its foes, striking smartly at 

 them, and by the same movement driving 

 some of the poison into the wound. 



The effect of the poison varies much, ac- 

 cording to the constitution of the person who 

 is stung and the size and health of the Scor- 

 pion. Should the creature be a large one, 

 the sting is productive of serious consequences, and in some cases has been known to 

 destroy life. Generally, however, there is little danger to life, though the pain is most 

 severe and the health much injured for the time, the whole limb throbbing with shooting 

 pangs, and the stomach oppressed with overpowering nausea. The poison seems to be of 

 an acrid nature, and the pain can be relieved by the application of alkaline remedies, 

 such as liquid ammonia, tobacco ashes, etc. Melted fat is also thought to do good service, 

 and the nausea is relieved by small doses of ipecacuanha. Some of the poison can mostly 



PHRY.NUS.-PAr.vaus palmatus. 



