14 THE SCORPION. 



Africa and America, and other countries, their innumerable 

 swarms render life uncomfortable. In some of these unpleasant 

 regions, if a c^n^le be lighted such multitudes of insects rush 

 upon it as immediately to extinguish it ; and the inhabitants are 

 obliged to smear their faces with tar or some other composition, 

 to protect them from the puncture of these diminutive enemies, 

 of which, when millions are destroyed, millions still succeed, and 

 the numbers appear undiminished. 



The longest life would be far too short for the acquisition of a 

 complete knowledge of the insect tribes, and a folio would not 

 suffice for the descriptions of their different species. The defi- 

 nitions used by naturalists are filled with technical terms, of little 

 use to a person who has other pursuits to occupy his attention ; 

 and to enumerate the immense variety of genera and species, 

 would give no information to the juvenile student. 



Buffon divides the whole tribe of insects into four classes, 

 and Linnaeus into seven, which, as we know the value of time 

 and the importance of other studies to the young student, we 

 shall not enumerate ; but shall only mention two or three species, 

 which are particularly interesting to man, on account of th$ in- 

 conveniencies or benefits of which they are productive, or from 

 being frequently alluded to by ancient writer 



THE SCORPION 



Is an insect of this description, and is frequently mentioned in 

 the Scripture, but scarcely ever without being associated with 

 representations of malevolence and mischief. Among all the 

 insect tribe, the scorpion, indeed, is the most terrible ; its figure 

 is hideous, and its sting is generally fatal. This creature, which, 

 of all the insects without wings, is the largest as well as most for- 

 midable, somewhat resembles a lobster in shape, although be- 

 yond comparison more horrible. Of this dangerous insect nine 

 different species have been enumerated, and all of them remark- 

 able for their malignity. Indeed there are few animals more 

 dreadfully mischievous than the scorpion. As it frequently 

 takes refuge in houses, it is found to be a dangerous inmate, and 

 often stings those among whom it resides. In some parts of 

 Italy, and also in the south of France, it is one of the greatest 

 pests that torment mankind ; but as in those countries its sting 

 seldom proves mortal, the malignity of the European scorpion 

 is trifling in comparison of that which the natives of Africa and 

 the East experience from those bred in their climates. In Ba- 

 tavia, where they grow to a foot in length, it is scarcely possible 

 to remove any furniture without being in danger of being sturg 

 by these prisonous animals. Bossman also informs us that on 

 the Gold coast in Africa they are often found larger than a lobster 



