$69 THE SCORPION; 



'the co'mnioii food of the fcorplon afe \vorir»s, flies^ 

 and fpiders. The Italian fcorpion, Vvhen inclofed with 

 the latter animal in a glafs bottle, exhibits a dreadful 

 combat, which terminates in favour of the fcorpion. 

 After having flung his adverfary to death, he cuts off his 

 limbs with his claws, and then fucks the juice from his 

 body f . No obfervations nor experiments of naturalifts 

 have yet ena;bled them to affign the caufe why the fling 

 of the fcorpion, which at one time is fatal, proves harm- 

 lefs at another ; nor has the medical art yet found out 

 any certain antidote againfl its malignity. The efficacy 

 of the oil of fcorpions, and fome other remedies that are 

 ufed, is perhaps rather to be afcribtd to want of a6\ivity^ 

 or the total abfcnce of the poifonous matter, 



i Ephemef. Dec. H. 1687. Obferv, zt,^. 



