SCORPIONS. 290 
turing the former. Yet in truth, when placed in the same box, the insect 
seldom has a long lease of life, Its ultimate fate is always due to its ignorance 
of the scorpion’s nature, and to the latter’s adroitness in seizing anything 
that comes within reach. Wandering round the box, and exploring every 
inch of its new quarters with its antennz, the cockroach soon discovers the 
presence of the scorpion by touching it with the tips of these organs. The 
scorpion’s sense of touch, however, is as delicate as the imsect’s, and the 
latter’s antenne, or any part of it that happens to be near, is quickly seized 
by the pincers of the scorpion, Should the latter be disinclined for food and 
take no notice of the cockroachs first approach, the insect, continuing its 
wanderings, will fearlessly creep over the scorpion, just as a rabbit will over 
a python. Obviously this fearlessness must prove its destruction in the end, 
if not immediately. By means of its agility and strength, a cockroach some- 
times eludes the scorpion’s first clutch, and sometimes, but not often, breaks 
away from the latter’s hold. Butit does not readily learn from its narrow 
escape the advisability of giving its enemy a wide berth the next time they 
meet. 
Although usually trusting to their heels for escape, cockroaches occasion- 
ally resort to a method of self-defence which is sufficiently curious to be 
described. Advancing upon an adversary rear end foremost, and at the same 
time wagging from side to side this region of the body, they deliver vigorous 
backward kicks with their spinny hind-legs. ‘his novel and humiliating 
mode of fighting, although not likely to prevail long against jaws and stings, 
is sufficient, nevertheless, to gain sometimes for the insects a temporary 
reprieve. I have indeed seen a fine female Madeira tarantula spider retreat 
in discomfiture before a big cockroach of the same sex, which assaulted her 
in the way described. 
As soon as a cockroach is seized the use of thescorpion’s tail is seen; for 
this organ is brought rapidly over the latter’s back, and the point of the 
sting is thrust into the insect. The poison instilled into the wound thus 
made, although not causing immediate death, has a paralysing effect upon 
the muscles, and quickly deprives the insect of struggling powers, and con- 
sequently of all chance of escape. If the insect, however, is a small one—one 
in fact that can be easily held in the pincers and eaten without trouble while 
alive—a scorpion does not always waste poison uponit. Thus I have seen a 
Parabuthus seize a blue-bottle fly, transfer it straight to its mandibles, and 
pick it to pieces with them when still kicking. Prof. Lankester only rarely 
saw his scorpions feed. I was more fortunate and repeatedly watched the 
operation, which is always performed exactly as this author has described. 
An insect is literally picked to pieces by the small chelate mandibles, these 
two jaws being thrust out and retracted alternately, first one and then the 
other being used. The soft juices and tissues thus exposed are drawn into 
17 
