272 



FIELD, FOREST AND FARM 



distinct head. In reality it has a head, but so little 

 differentiated from the rest of its body as to give a 

 truncated appearance to the whole. On each side are 

 four feeble legs, and in front a big pair of nippers 

 like those of the crab. Behind is a sort of jointed 

 tail, the terminal joint of which, more swollen than 

 the others, serves as reservoir for the venom. It 

 ends in a hook, very sharp and with a microscopic 

 perforation at the point, from which the venomous 

 fluid escapes at the instant of attack. 



"In this jointed tail with its terminal sting you 

 behold the scorpion's implement of the chase, a ter- 

 rible weapon which kills immediately, at one stroke, 

 any small game the animal may have seized. It is 

 carried bent over on the back, 

 ready to inflict its deadly wound 

 in front or behind with the sudden- 

 ness of a released spring. The 

 two-jawed nippers, of which only 

 one jaw moves, are harmless 

 despite their menacing appear- 

 ance. They are a sort of tongs 

 used by the animal to hold within 

 reach and prevent from escaping 

 the prey it is about to sting. 



"The scorpion is carnivorous, 

 feeding on all game adapted 

 to its size, such as wood-lice, in- 

 sects, spiders. Endowed with but 

 little ' agility, it leaves its lair by night and under 

 cover of the darkness hunts its sleeping prey. Let 



Scorpion Seen from 

 Above 



