46 
SCOEPIOXS. 
about and bunted for specimens of natural his- 
tory. Coming to a bxllen tree, I overturned it, 
and discovered a slender green snake, •with a 
turned-up pointed nose, and otherwise graceful 
in its movements and appearance. The crea- 
ture, being vigilant, wide-awake, and active, very 
naturally made its escape as soon as it found 
itself disturbed in its retreat, A little further 
onward I came upon a fallen trunk overgrown 
with ferns. On raising it I j)erceivcd beneath it 
two ugly scorpions, black, of a formidable size, and 
coiled affectionately round a numerous progeny. 
These reptiles were rather repulsive in appearance. 
With cautious care,- for I suspected their venom to 
be potent, I passed a running noose of twine round 
their knotted tails, and secured the parents of this 
interesting family by suspending them to a conve- 
nient twig. As for the little ones, I could dispose 
of them only by a second “ JMassacre’ of the Inno- 
cents,” and every tender scorpion of the brood was 
mercilessly butchered ! 
Talking of scorpions reminds me that I have at 
