144 ARACHNIDA. 



is moveable. The abdomen (inclucling the tail) is composed 

 of twelve segments. The use of the cui-ious comb-like appen- 

 dages has not yet been determined. 



The scorpion is one of the most renowned amongst the obnox- 

 ious of the insect tribes. Fortunately for our country no species 

 is found amongst us, although in Germany, and several otlier parts 

 of Europe, it is too weh known. It is chiefly in tropical, or at 

 least in hot regions of both hemispheres, that the various species 

 are found, and" in the former they occasionably attain a very large 

 size. They reside on the ground on sandy districts, and hide them- 

 selves by day under stones, logs of wood, &c., especially in dark 

 places, and often in houses. They run very quickly, and, when 

 alarmed, throw their tail over the back, twisting it about in every 

 direction, and using it both as an offensive and defensive weapon. 

 They make use of their claws to lay hold of insects upon which 

 they feed, and which generally consist of ground beetles, cock- 

 roaches, &c., which they first wound with their sting, and then con- 

 vey to their mouth. They are also especially fond of the eggs of 

 spiders and other insects. 



In France the Scorpio europcms appears about the forty-fourth 

 degree of latitude, in that zone where the almond tree and pome- 

 granate are capable of cultivation, and nearly equal with the most 

 northern limits of the olive- 

 There are few animals more obnoxious than the scorpion, espe- 

 cially in tropical climates, where it often attains to a very large 

 size. In Batavia, where they are stated to attain the length of 

 twelve inches, there is no removing any piece of furnitm'e without 

 the utmost danger of being stung by them. 



Maupertuis, who made several experiments on the European 

 species, found it by no means so invariably dangerous as had till 

 then been represented. He provoked one of them to sting a dog 

 in three places of the belly, and in about an hour afterwards the 

 poor animal was greatly swollen, and became very sick. After- 

 wards it fell into convulsions, bit the ground, dragged itself along 

 on its fore feet, and at last died, five hours after being stung. The 

 experiment was repeated, however, upon another dog, even with 

 aggravated cruelty, yet the animal seemed in no way affected, 

 howhng only a little when stung, and without showing the smallest 

 symptom of pain. The same experiment was also tried by fresh 

 scorpions upon seven other dogs and three hens, but not the 

 smallest deadly symptom was seen to ensue. Hence it is evident, 

 that although, in the majority of cases, the sting of this insect 

 may not be greater than that of a wasp or hornet, yet, in certain 

 cases, and under certain unknown circumstances, either connected 



