TOE SCORPIOJT. 
J6B 
1 he common food of the fcorpioa are worms, flied,' 
and fpiders. i he Italian fcorpion, when inclofed with 
the latter animal in a glafs bottle, exhibits a dreadful 
combat, which terminates in favour of the fcorpion. 
After having flung his adverfary to death, he cuts off his 
limbs with his claws, and then fucks the juice from his 
bodyf. No obfervations nor experiments of naturalifts 
have yet enabled them to affign the caufe why the fling 
of the fcorpion, which at one time is fatal, proves harm- 
lefs at another ; nor has the medical art yet found out 
any certain antidote againfl its malignity. The efficacy 
of the oil of fcoipions, and fome other remedies that are 
ufed, is perhaps rather to be afcribed to want of a&ivity*. 
or the total abfence of the poifonous matter. 
t Ephemef. Dec. II, 1687. Obfery. 22 4 , 
