SCORPIONS. 
216 
upon chance for the capture of prey; for although provided with a large number 
of eyes, vision is so defective that they cannot see more than a few inches, and there 
is no evidence of the existence of any organs of hearing. The sense of touch, how¬ 
ever, which resides in the hairs with which the body and limbs are studded, is 
exceedingly keen. No sooner does an unwary insect approach within reach than 
it is seized in the vice-like grip of 
the scorpion’s pincers; then quick 
as lightning the tail is brought into 
use, and the sting plunged into the 
struggling prey, which, as a rule, 
quickly succumbs to the paralysing 
effect of the poison. If, however, 
the prey be of large size, and 
muscular in proportion, the process 
of stinging is repeated; but it has 
been noticed that the scorpion in 
most cases carefully selects a soft 
spot into which to thrust its weapon, 
and does not strike at random. The 
object of this caution is evidently 
to avoid all risk of breaking the 
point of the sting against too hard 
a substance. The same care is 
shown in the carriage of the tail, 
this organ when not in use being 
almost always kept curled up in 
such a manner that the sting is 
securely protected. Having imper¬ 
fectly developed visionary powers, 
and no tactile antennae to supply 
this deficiency, scorpions when on 
the move always hold their large 
pincers well to the front, so as 
carefully to feel the way. But 
different species show considerable 
variation in the carriage of the 
body, some like Buthus, holding it 
high, while others shuffle along 
scarcely lifting it off the ground. 
African rock-scorpion, Scorpio viatoris (nat size). Again, many of the larger 
species, such as those belonging to 
Scorpio and Opisthophthcilmus, live in deep holes, which they excavate in the ground 
by means of their large and powerful pincers. Others, like the little flat scorpions 
of South Europe ( Euscorpius ), hide away under stones and tree trunks, to which 
they cling belly uppermost; whilst others, like Buthus, dig shallow pits in 
sand, just deep enough to allow their eyes a clear vision of their surround- 
