SCORPIONS. 



125 



Fig. 181.— Under surface, 

 of scorpion, c. Combs, 

 s. Spiracle. 



After laying, the eggs are carried by the female attached to the first segment of the 

 abdomen, and, according to Metchnikoff, the development is much different from that 

 of the scorpions. 



SuB-OedSK V. — SCOEPIODEA. 



With the exception of the spiders the scorpions are possibly the most familiar, at 

 least by reputation, of any of the Arachnida. They have an elongate body, the last 

 six segments of the abdomen being of nearly equal size, forming a 

 flexible tail armed on the tip with the well-known and much- 

 dreaded sting. The chelicerse are short and end in a pincer, 

 while the palpi are long and also terminate in a forceps. The 

 ocelli vary from six to twelve, and their numbers were formerly 

 employed to distinguish the different families. On the under 

 surface is a peculiar pair of comb-like appendages, just behind 

 the last pair of feet. The respiration is effected by two pairs <of 

 pulmonary sacks, which communicate with the exterior through 

 four stigmata. 



The young are developed within the mother. After birth the 

 mother apparently shows great regard for the young, which she 



carries for some time about with her, attached by their 

 pincers to all portions of her body. 



Mr. J. Wood-Mason, the able naturalist of Calcutta,. 

 says that in Scorpio a/er, and some other forms, there 

 are well-developed organs for producing sounds. These 

 stridulating organs are composed of a scraper on the out- 

 side of the terminal 

 joints of the palpi, and 

 a rasp occupying a cor- 

 responding position on 

 the first pair of legs. 

 When these ai-e rubbed 

 against each other a 

 noise is produced. 



Scorpions are espe- 

 cially noted as venom- 

 ous insects. The sting 

 is the sharp point of 

 the last segment of the 

 abdomen. In this segment are the two poison glands 

 which empty through two minute orifices near the 

 point of the sting. When irritated the scorpions, 

 apparently fully aware of their power, show great 

 fierceness, waving their abdomen about in a most 

 threatening manner, and when the opportunity occurs 

 a sudden straightening of the hinder portion of the 

 body forces the sting into the offending object. The 

 sting of the scorpion rarely if ever proves fatal to 

 man, but the larger species, especially in the warmer scorpion, natural size. 



Fig. 182. ~£uthus carolinus, scor- 

 pion, natural size. 



