VENOMOUS ANIMALS 273 



us suppose it to chance upon a big spider. That is 

 indeed a succulent morsel, but its capture involves 

 danger, for the spider on its side is armed with two 

 venomous fangs in its mouth. Being both thus 

 equipped with deadly weapons, which of the two will 

 succumb? It will be the spider. 



"The scorpion seizes it with its two nippers and 

 holds the victim far enough away to avoid the risk 

 of a bite. Then the coiled tail quickly straightens 

 out over the scorpion and proceeds to inflict a sting 

 on the helpless captive. It is all over. The stricken 

 prey gives a momentary shudder in its death agony 

 and then collapses, lifeless. The huntsman can 

 now feast on his victim at leisure and in perfect se- 

 curity. 



"We have in France, in the southern departments, 

 two species of scorpions, of which the smaller and 

 more common is of a greenish black. Its customary 

 haunt is under the stones at the base of old walls, 

 the favorite lurking-place of the wood-louse and the 

 spider ; but it also very often finds its way into hu- 

 man habitation 3, where it hides in dark corners. In 

 rainy weather it snuggles under the linen laid away 

 in cupboards, and even creeps under the bedclothes. 

 Not a pleasant experience is it to find this baneful 

 intruder, some fine morning, in the foot of one's 

 stocking. One shakes out the frightful creature and 

 treads it under foot. If it has stung you, the pain is 

 no joke, though not seriously dangerous. 



"The other species, much larger and far more to 

 be dreaded, is found almost exclusively in Languedoc 



