456 PEOr. E. RAT LANKESTEE ON 



support for the body. The scraping action was very rapid, the 

 sand being thrown out by the quick strokes of the three pairs 

 of legs in a constant shower, and to a distance of three or four 

 inches, so as to produce a curious rattling sound. 



The use of the legs in burrowing in this species of Scorpion 

 is interesting to compare with the parallel but not identical use 

 of the legs in Limulus. Androcfonus funestus is, it should be 

 observed, distinctly an inhabitant of sandy regions, to which 

 fact its pale yellow colour is related. 



General Carriage in Locomotion and Mode of using the Sting. — 

 These Scorpions were by no means courageous, but, on the con- 

 trary, very timid. During the daytime they were always hidden 

 in their burrows, or under the water-pan, or pieces of wood. If 

 brought to the surface, they gave very little evidence of sight, 

 and none of hearing, and endeavoured as rapidly as possible to 

 hide themselves again. The carriage is remarkable, differing 

 much from that of JEuscorpius carpathicus and JE. italicus. The 



Fig. 1. 



V'-Z_^ 



Aiidroctomis funestus, var. citrinus, Ehr. 

 Drawn from the living animal, March 1882. 



body is well raised from the ground, the tail reflected over the 

 back, and the sting carried just over the back of the cephalic 

 shield, ready to give a forward stroke, whilst the large chelae are 

 widely outstretched and held horizontally, acting most obviously 

 as tactile organs, the creature feeling its way with them; The 



