of fo terrible a nature as is commonly fuppofed, and it 

 Is but rarely that any bad confequences happen from its 

 {ting. But the large Scorpions of Africa, fuch as here 

 reprefented, may well be fuppofed capable of inflicting 

 a wound of the moft fevere pungency and of the mo ft 

 dreadful malignity. The poifon is evacuated through 

 three very fmall foramina near the tip of the fling, viz. 

 one on each fide the tip, and the other in the upper 

 part. It is well known that a diverfity of opinion has 

 fubfifted amongft authors relative to the flit or foramen 

 in the fangs of fpiders, through which their poifon is 

 evacuated. The fame contrariety of fentiment takes 

 place with refpect to fuch a foramen in the Scorpion's 

 fting. The celebrated Redi, affifled by the beft micro - 

 fcopes he could procure, was not able to difcover it ; 

 though he was well convinced of its exiftence from 

 perceiving the minute drop of poifon exfude from near 

 the tip of the fting. Others have denied the exiftence 

 of the foramen ; but Vallifneri and Leewenhoek have 

 both defcribed two foramina, viz. one on each fide the 

 tip, and which are of a lhape inclining to triangular: 

 befides thefe a third foramen has fometimes been feen ; 

 fo that the fting of the Scorpion can with greater faci- 

 lity difcharge its venom than that of any other animal. 

 The part in Scorpions which is feated below the breaft 

 and is toothed in the manner of a comb, is in the Lin- 

 nsan language termed the peclen; and Linnaeus has 

 endeavoured to diftinguilh the fpecies of Scorpions 

 from the number of teeth in this part; but this has 

 been found a fallacious mark of diftindion ; fince they 

 vary in the number of teeth, and confequently no great 

 certainty can be obtained from this character alone. 



The 



