OF NATURAL HISTORY. 99 



rope. It has eight feet, and two claws, the lafl of which are fitu- 

 ated on the fore part of the head. Lik^ the fpider, the fcorpion 

 has eight eyes, three of which are placed on each fide of the 

 breaft, and the other two on the back. The tail is long, jointed, 

 and terminates in a fliarp crooked fling. The venom of the fcor- 

 pion is more deftrudive than that of any other infed ; and is fome- 

 times fatal in Africa and other hot regions. 



"O 



The laji divlfion of infeds is termed vermes^ or nvorms, by Lin- 

 naeus. This clafs comprehends not only all the infeds commonly 

 called "worms, but all the teftaceous animals, and the zoophites, or 

 plant-animals. The ftrudure of feveral genera belonging to this 

 clafs is extremely fingular. After giving a few examples, we ftiall 

 haften to the conclufion of the prefent fubjed. 



The body of the gordius, or hair-ivorm, is long, fhaped like a 

 thread or hair, fmooth, and round. A fpecles of the hair-worm is 

 very common in our frefh waters, and is perfedly harmlefs. In 

 Scotland, it is a vulgar and foolilh notion, that the hair of a horfe's 

 tail, when thrown into the water, is converted into this worm. 

 Though inoffenfive in this country, the hair-worm of Africa, and 

 of both the Indies, is extremely noxious. It is of a pale yellowifh 

 colour, and is frequently met with among the grafs, efpecially when 

 covered with dew. It often infinuates itfelf into the naked feet or 

 limbs of children and unwary perfons, where it produces an inflam- 

 mation, which is fometimes fatal. It may be extraded by tying a 

 thread round its head, and then pulling it gently out of its abode. 

 But this operation requires great caution ; for, if the animal is 

 broken, the part which remains does not die, but, in a ihort time, 

 regains what it had loft, and becomes equally entire and trouble- 

 forae as if it had received no injury, — The himbricus, or earth-ivorm: 

 The body of this worm is cylindrical, confifts of many rings, and 



N 2 the 



