THE SCORPION. 567 



two almon: contiguous upon the back. Befides eight 

 feet, they have two palpi, each armed at the extremitj 

 with a forceps. The tail is lengthened out by dilTerent 

 articulations, the lail terminating in a fliarp and crooked 

 lling. 



Scorpio Afer. This terrible and venomous animal is 

 an inhabitant of Africa : Its colour is a deep gloffj brown ; 

 the fegmeats of which the body is compofed, each ter- 

 minate in a band of bright yellow ; while the two eyes 

 fparkle in the back like diamonds. Its appearance bears 

 a ftrong refemblance to the lobfter. Mofl of the travel- 

 lers who have vificed Africa reprefent this animal not 

 only as poifonous, but exceedingly irafcible ; and the ef- 

 fefts of its refentment, unlcfs fpeedily relieved, become 

 fatal f . 



It is to M. cle Muupertuis that the public is Indebted 

 for the firft accurate and philofophical account of thefe 

 animals. According to him, they are all viviparous ; 

 the body of the pregnant female exhibiting, when open- 

 ed, betweep forty and fifty living young. Each of thefe 

 is feparated from the reft by a thin membrane, while all 

 are united by a common filament. In order to afcertaia 

 the venom of their fling, that philofopher bred a great 

 number together, and let them loofe upon dogs and other 

 animals ; and he found that fometimes the fting was fo 

 empoifoned as to fwell the whole body of the wounded 

 animal ; and in that cafe it brought on violent retching, 

 convulfions, and death. At other times, whether from 

 the difference of food, orfome other caufe, he found their 

 fting harmlefs. 



The 



f I<eta and Moore, 



