328 



ARACHNO1DEA AND PALMOSTRACA. 



but active at night. The Scorpio afer of the East Indies 

 attains a length of 6 inches, but most are much smaller. 

 They feed on insects, spiders, and other small animals. The 

 " tail," with the venomous sting at its tip, is usually curved 

 over the anterior part of the body, and can reach forward to 

 kill the prey caught by the anterior appendages, or can be 



FIG. 105. Scorpion. 



ch^ Chelicerae ; //, pedipalps ; o, genital operculum ; /., pectines ; 

 s, stigma of a lung book on the prae-abdomen ; st, sting or post 

 anal piece. 



suddenly straightened to strike backwards. When man is 

 stung, the poison seems to act chiefly on the red blood 

 corpuscles, and though never or very rarely fatal, may cause 

 much pain. It has been said that scorpions commit suicide 

 when surrounded by fire or otherwise fatally threatened, but 



