THE SCORPION. 
277 
mal : the head, the breast, the belly, and the tail The scor- 
p.on’s head seems, as it were, joined to the breast; in the 
middle ol which are seen twoeyes ; and a little more forward 
* two e y eii "'are, placed in the fore part ol the head : these 
eyes are so. small, that they are scarcely perceivable ;"and it 
is probable the animal has but little occasion for seeing. The 
mouth is furnished with two jaws ; the undermost is divided 
into two, and the parts notched into each other, which serves 
the animal as teeth, and with which it breaks its food, and 
thrusts it into its mouth: these the scorpion can at pleasure 
pull back into its mouth, so that no part of them can be seen 
On each side of the head are two arms, each composed of 
four joints ; the last of which is large, with strong muscles 
and made m the manner of a lobster’s claw. Belovv'the breast 
are eight articulated legs, each divided into six joints • the 
two hindmost of which are each provided with two crooked 
claws, and here and there covered with hair. The belly is 
divided into seven little rings ; from the lowest of which is 
continued a tail, composed of six joints, which are bristly 
and formed like little globes, the last being armed with a 
crooked sting. This is that fatal instrument’ which renders 
this insect so formidable : it is long, pointed, hard and hol- 
low ; it is pierced near the base by two small holes, through 
which, when the animal stings, it ejects a drop of poiso"n 
which is white, caustic, and fatal. The reservoir in which 
this poison is kept, is a small bladder near the tail, into which 
the venom is distilled by a peculiar apparatus. Iftliis bladder 
be gently pressed, the venom will he seen issuing out through 
the two holes above mentioned ; so that it appears, that 
when the animal stings, the bladder is pressed, and the venom 
issues through the two apertures into the wound. 
There are few animals more formidable, or more truly mis- 
chievous than the scorpion. As it takes refuge in a small 
place, and is generally found sheltering in houses, so it cannot 
be otherwise than that it must frequently sting those anions 
whom it resides. In some of the towns of Italy, and in 
France, in the province of Languedoc, it is one of the greatest 
pests that torment mankind ; but its malignity in Europe is 
tnHing when compared to what the natives of Africa and the 
East are known to experience. In Batavia, where they grow 
Lvelve inches long, there is no removing any piece of furni- 
tuce, without the utmost danger of being stung by them. 
Bosnian assures 11s, that, along the Glold Coast, they are 
often found larger than a lobster ; and that their sting is in- 
evitably fatal. In Europe, the general size of this animal 
does not exceed two or three inches; and its sting is very 
s ddom found to he fatal. Maupertuis, who made several 
