566 THE SCORPION, 



Genus IX. — Scorpio. The Scorpion. 



\\E are now to contemplate the manners of an animal, 

 the moft hideous, and perhaps the mofl formidable of 

 the infed tribes. There are fix different fpecies of the 

 fc <rpion, diftinguifned by their fize and colour, and the 

 countries where they refide. Happily for Britain, none 

 are found there, but a fpecies no bigger than a loufe ; 

 and even that is extremely rare f . In Italy, Spain, and 

 the fouth of France^ they are frequently to be met with 

 three inches in length, and are confidered as tVe greated 

 pefts that torment mankind. But the fize and malignity 

 of the fcorpions of Europe may be deemed trifling, when 

 compared with that of the Africaii monflers that are di- 

 flinguifhed by that name. Along the Gold Coafi they 

 are fometimes found larger than a lobfter, and their fling 

 is inevitably fatal J. From the language of Scripture, 

 too, we find that in the eaft thefe animals have long been 

 formidable to mankind. In Batavia, they fometimes 

 grow twelve inches in length ; and in removing furni- 

 ture, behind which they fkulk, there is the utmotl dan- 

 ger of being ftung. 



The genus of fcorpions is characlerifed by eight eyes, 

 three of which are placed on each fide of the thorax, and 



tWG 

 f Barbut's Gen. Inf. p, 351. t Bofman's Travels 



