4 o THE ANIMALS OF NORTHERN AFRICA 



spot by means of the hind-legs of the beetle, where it is buried in the ground. In 

 due course the grub emerges from the egg, to find an adequate supply of nutriment 

 in the enveloping ball. 



North Africa, in common with the other Mediterranean countries, 

 abounds in scorpions. In addition to the sting at the tip of the tail, 

 these creatures are provided with a powerful pair of nippers on the first pair of 

 appendages, and they also possess two comb-shaped structures on the abdomen, 

 the function of which is unknown, although they probably serve as feelers. 

 Scorpions produce living young, which are carried about by their parents for some 

 time. They are represented by about two hundred species distributed over the 

 warmer regions of the globe. Scorpions remain in concealment during the day, to 

 issue forth at twilight and at night for their prey, which consists chiefly of spiders 

 and insects. The Mauritanian scorpion (Scorpio maurus) is a well-known North 

 African representative of the group. 



All the numerous kinds of scorpions are predaceous in their habits ; and all 

 produce their young alive, these being carried for a time on the backs of the 

 females. The prey, which consists chiefly of insects and spiders, is seized by the 

 large " pincers," and if of small size is torn up by the appendages, which fulfil the 

 part of jaws, and eaten. When, however, a large insect or spider is seized, the 

 •sting at the tip of the tail is brought into play, and the unfortunate victim quickly 

 paralysed by the poisonous secretion. A scorpion takes a long time over its meals ; 

 neither does a prolonged fast appear to cause it any inconvenience. Touch seems 

 to be the sense on which scorpions chiefly rely. 



