PROF. E. EAT LANKESTEB ON^ SCOEPIOJfS. 455 



Notes on some Habits of the Scorpions Androcionusfvnestus, Ehr., 

 and Ei(,scorpms italicus, Eoes. By E. Eat Lankestee, M. A., 

 E.E.S., Jodrell Professor of Zoology in University College, 

 Loudon. 



[Eead June 1.5, 1882.] 



I. OBSEEVATIOIfS Olf AnDEOCTONTJS FUNESTUS. 



Early in last Norember I received from Biskra, in tbe south 

 of Algeria, through the kindness of Professor Carl Vogt, six 

 living specimens of the beautiful citron-coloured Scorpion, 

 Androcfonus fmiestus. A cage, measuring 3 ft. by 4 ft., and 

 covered above by glass, was prepared for tbem. The cage was 

 kept at a temperature of 65° Fahr. by means of gas, and some 

 six inches in depth, of fine sand and gravel was placed on the 

 floor of the cage. 



The Scorpions were all active enough after tbeir journey, 

 wbicb tbey had made whilst packed in sand. All were full- 

 grown, measuring three inches and a half from the front margin 

 of the cephalic shield to the anus, excepting one which was 

 about half this size. This small specimen was found torn into 

 two pieces, and the soft tissues sucked out of the integument, 

 on the day after the arrival of the specimens. The other five 

 lived about four months : one died without apparent cause ; a 

 second was killed, and its soft tissues consumed by its com- 

 panion ; whilst the other three were killed for dissection and 

 experiment. 



JBurroioing in Sand. — A pan of water was placed in the cage 

 with the Scorj^ions, but the Scorpions were never seen to visit 

 it. They preferred the drier parts of the sand, in which they 

 buried themselves, excavating each a tunnel for its own habita- 

 tion. These tunnels were often as much as eight inches in 

 length, and ran horizontally just below the surface of the sand. 

 In consequence of the sand having become caked by the sprink- 

 ling of water on its surface, the Scorpions were able to work 

 upon it in the way mentioned. 



The process of excavation was observed on several occasions. 

 The Scorpion commenced by pushing the large chelse into the 

 sand, and scraping backwards with the three anterior pairs of 

 walking-legs ; whilst the hindmost pair of walking-legs did not 

 share in this movement, but remained motionless, acting as a 



