SOOKPION.- 
-INSECTS. 
-Mvhiapoda. 
279 
insects of quite a different texture from those we have 
previously glanced at. These, at least many of the 
species, have very much the appearance of minute 
crabs. Their bodies are transverse, have a hardened 
integument or shell, and are armed with numerous 
sharp spines. Others belonging to an allied genus have 
the body armed with two long spines, frequently curved, 
from an inch to an inch and a half in length. These 
are all exotic species. Many are most beautifully 
adorned, the cephalo-thorax being of a bright golden 
yellow, and the long spines of a bright steel-blue. Very 
brilliant species are found in Borneo, and in the islands 
of the Eastern Archipelago. This brilliancy of colour- 
ing, however, fades or disappears after death, but speci- 
mens occasionally retain much of their brilliancy for a 
considerable length of time. 
SCORPION (Scorpio) a genus belonging to the class 
Arachnida. The Scorpion is one of the most renowned 
of all obnoxious creatures, and the most dreaded of the 
insect tribes ; they have furnished the poet with similes 
the most expressive that language can convey, and in 
Holy Writ the Scorpion is used as symbolical of all 
that is hateful and malignant. That the Scorpion has 
engaged the attention of people in the most remote 
ages is certain, and, in the ancient mythology of Egypt, 
we find it represented as the genius of evil. Fabu- 
lous accounts of these creatures exist in abundance ; 
the most potent medicinal virtues have been ascribed 
to them, and also the most poisonous and malignant 
qualities ; so much so, that even to be touched b}' one 
was deemed a fatal occurrence. Scorpions of mon- 
strous size were fabled, others with wings, and of habits 
so ferocious that the winged monsters attacked every 
one who came in their way. 
Exaggerated as the records of antiquity certainly 
are, yet Scorpions are venomous, stinging witli much 
virulence The sting is usually followed by painful 
tumours, but in this case, as in the stinging of wasps, 
the effect is much more painful with persons of inflam- 
matory constitutions. Some species are as much as 
eight inches in length. Not one is found in this 
country, but the Scorpion is met with in the south of 
France and in Italy. Some of the species from Africa, 
particularly those from the Gold Coast, are the largest 
known. The female brings forth her young alive, 
usually from twenty to forty ; these only differ from the 
parent in being smaller : as the creatures grow, they 
from time to time cast their skins, until they arrive at 
maturity. The species are numerous, and in many 
localities are exceedingly obnoxious. Scorpions having 
the abdomen articulated, enables them to sting in all 
directions. There are twelve of these articulations; 
the palpi are veiy large, resembling the claws of a crab, 
with these they seize their victims ; the abdomen is 
terminated by a curved spine or sting, at the extremity 
of which beneath, are two small orifices, out of which a 
venomons fluid is discharged in the act of stinging. 
Scorpions are found in holes, under stones, logs, &c., 
in fact, in almost any cool place, particularly in houses; 
they run quickly, curling their tail over their backs ; 
they prey upon all kinds of insects, rendering them 
defenceless by stinging them before they feed upon 
them. The sight of these animals is acute; they have 
usually six or, in some species, eight eyes. 
Class— MYKI APOD A. 
This class is composed of two orders, and in it are 
assembled all those animals commonly known under 
the names of Centipedes, Millipedes, and Scolopendrce; 
they cannot be called true insects, since they have the 
body divided into a great number of segments, each of 
which is furnished with a pair of legs ; they are also 
destitute of wings. 
The order Chilopoda is characterized by having 
two short antennae, thick at the base, and tapering to a 
point at the apex ; the mandibles are furnished with a 
palpiform process, and have numerous denticulations 
at the apex ; their feet are numerous, and each is ter- 
minated by a single claw ; the representatives of the 
palpi are two jointed appendages, resembling legs, 
being terminated each by a claw ; the body is elon- 
gate and flattened, of a corneous consistency, and 
divided into numerous segments. Tlie Myriapoda are 
usually much neglected, more so than any other divi- 
sion of the Articulata. They are to people in general 
repulsive creatures, and to casual observation offer few 
apparent differences in the species ; notwithstanding 
this, they have well-defined characters, and to the 
