ON TRACHEAN ARACHNIDA. 
515 
contented themselves by telling us an infinity of stories, one 
more appalling than the other. According to them, the bitten 
place swells very considerably, soon grows black, and is 
speedily followed by mortification and death* This opinion 
is equally established in Egypt and the south of Persia. M. 
Pallas relates several facts, of which he declares himself to 
have been a witness, which appear to prove that the poison 
of this insect is mortal, if a timely remedy be not applied. 
He considers oil and all unctuous substances as the fittest for 
this purpose. We confess, that in spite of the assertion of the 
Arabs, of the Egyptians, and of all the natives of those coun- 
tries where the galeodes are found, — in spite of the assertion 
of M. Pallas himself, — we doubt that these insects are as 
venomous as is reported. Has not a similar reputation been 
given in Persia to the scorpion, in Italy to the tarantula, in 
almost all the east, and in the south of Europe, to the differ- 
ent species of geckos which live in houses or in ancient 
ruins ? In Egypt and in Crete, are not the skinks equally 
considered as venomous ? 
“We have found the galeodes very common in Persia, in the 
desert of Mesopotamia, and in that of Arabia. Every even- 
ing it used to run over us, over our effects, our table, and our 
beds, with the utmost celerity, and without ever stopping. 
Nobody was bitten; and we have never been able to ascer- 
tain a well-authorized fact which could prove that this insect 
is as dangerous as they say. The bite of the galeodes must 
doubtless be very painful, if we may judge from the powerful 
forceps with which the mouth is armed; but is it perfectly 
certain that this bite is accompanied with an effusion of 
poison, as in the vipers ? The inspection of the mouth of the 
animal does not appear to prove this. This insect conceals 
itself pretty generally during the day, and seldom comes 
forth except at night. It would seem that it is attracted by 
the light of a lamp or candle, for it was particularly in our 
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