827 
SCORPIO. 
Js Of a rounded shape; the body is raised with brown and 3. Scorpio maurus.—This species has combs with eight 
yellow transverse bands, and all the fins are variegated. This teeth ; the hands are slightly heart-shaped and punctured.— 
species was observed by Commerson about half a century It inhabits Africa. 
ago, near the islands of Mah£. 4. Scorpio Afer, or African scorpion.—The combs of this 
12. Scorpaena bicapillata.—This species has an abrupt species have thirteen teeth; the hands are slightly heart- 
sub-depressed head, furnished at the back part with two ex- shaped and hairy.—It inhabits Persia, India and some parts 
tremely long filaments. It is about four inches long; the of Africa. The body is of a glossy brownish-black,; the 
body is rather thick, and covered with minute scales; the incisures of the abdomen are yellow; the first joint of the 
head is large, and somewhat depressed, and marked with pro- tail serrate. Of the several species of the scorpio, none are 
tuberances; the lower lip is much elevated, so as to make so remarkable for size and the malignity of their poison as 
the head appear truncated in front; the eyes are small and this. It has been seen ten inches long, when measured from 
near; and the pectoral fins very large, and so long as to the end of the claw to the extremity of the tail. The general 
reach as far as the middle of the body.—It is a native of colour being of a dark brown, it is not easily distinguished 
the Indian seas. The colour is not mentioned by Cepede, from the rotten wood and furniture under or within which it 
whose description is taken from Commerson. lurks. The tail is the instrument which renders this animal 
13. Scorpaena brachiata.—The head of this is abrupt and formidable; and the reservoir which contains the poison is 
depressed ; the ventral fins are attached to a brachial pro- situated near the extremity, from whence it is ejected through 
cess. It is allied to the last, which it resembles in the shape two very small holes, one on each side the tip of the sting, 
of the head ; the size and situation of the eyes : the confer- These holes are so very minute as to elude the sight of any 
mation of the jaws; the smallness of the scales on the body, but a very accurate observer with the assistance of glasses, 
and rounded tail; but it differs in being destitute of the two This species is dreaded in Africa, where the activity of the 
filaments, so remarkable in the other species, as well as in venom is frequently productive of very serious evils; and in 
having the membrane of the dorsal fin much less deeply some cases, where the evil has been neglected, the conse- 
scalloped; while each of the pectoral fins forms as it were quences have proved fatal. 
a band, which reaches from the fore part of the branchial 5. Scorpio Americanus.—Combs with fourteen teeth ; the 
aperture, to the vent. hands are subciliate, with filiform claws.—It inhabits South 
14. Scorpaena aculeata.—The Specific Character of this America. The body is spotted with brown. 
fish is, that it has four spines above the eyes; and both 6. Scorpio Chilensis.—This species has combs with six- 
plates of the gill-covers 'are spiny. It is distinguished teen teeth; the hands are subangular.—It inhabits Chili, as 
from the other species by having four very strong recurved its specific name denotes. 
spines above the eyes; both plates of the gill-covers are 7. Scorpio Europaeus, or Italian scorpion.—This hsfi 
aculeated; the dorsal and anal fins are more elevated on one combs with eighteen teeth; the hands are angular.—It in¬ 
part than the other ; the elevated part being of a rounded habits the southern parts of Europe, and is said to be vivipa- 
form, as well as the pectoral fins and tail. This is described rous, and is remarkably fond of spiders as a food, but with 
by M. Cepede, who does not mention its colour or country, the larger kinds it has often very severe contests. The scor- 
15. Scorpaena barbata.—The head of this species is pion, after having stung its adversary to death, cuts off his 
marked in some partsby several protuberances, and in others limbs with his claws, and sucks the juice from his body. 
by pretty large depressions or cavities; on the upper lip are 8. Scorpio Hottentotta.—Combs with twenty-two teeth 
two beards; and the pectoral fins are united to each other only; the hands are smooth, and the tail is rough.—It is 
by a small membrane; the tail is almost rectilinear. found in Sierra Leona. The body is brown, and covered 
SCORPIACA, the name of an antidote recommended by with small raised dots; the tail is marked with rough raised 
Galen against the stinging of scorpions. lines; the legs are paler. 
SCORPIO, Scorpion, in Astronomy, the eighth sign of 9. Scorpio criseus.—Combs with twenty-five teeth ; the 
the zodiac, denoted by the character rt]_. hands are subciliate and ovate.—It inhabits the American 
The stars in Scorpio, in Ptolemy’s catalogue, are 24; in islands; body pale testaceous; the tail is as long as the 
that of Tycho, 10; in that of Hevelius, 20; in that of Mr. body. 
Flamsteed and Mr. Sharp, 44. 10. Scorpio Australis.—The combs of this species are 
SCORPIO, in Botany, a name by which some of the old divided into thirty-two teeth ; the hands are smooth. The 
authors have called the genista spinosa, or common furze body is brown; the legs are rufous; the hands are long and 
bush. rufous, with filiform claws. 
SCORPIO, the Scorpion, in Entomology, a genus of All the species of this genus are capable of stinging in a 
insects of the order aptera. The Generic Character is, i ess or greater degree, and they all seem actuated by a similar 
that it has eight legs, besides two chelae, or hands, seated malignant spirit; for they will attack each other with fury if 
on the fore-part of the head; the eyes are eight in number; confined in the same glass, and the survivor will devour the 
three of them are placed on each side of the thorax, and two conquered. We are indebted to M. Maupertuis for the first 
on the back; it has two feelers, projecting cheliform; lip accurate and philosophical account of the habits of these 
bifid and no antennae; the tail is long, jointed, and termi- animals. According to him they are all viviparous; the 
nated by a sharp crooked sting; on the underside, between body of the pregnant female exhibiting, when dissected, 
the breast and abdomen, are two instruments resembling a between 40 and 50 young. Each of these is separated from 
comb. The insects of this tribe are all armed with a slightly the rest by a thin membrane, while all are united by a corn- 
pungent sting; none of them, however, are dangerous, ex- mon filament. This philosopher, in order to ascertain the 
cept those in very hot climates; they prey upon worms, strength of their venom, bred a great number together; and 
spiders, flies, &c., and even on one another; the larva and let them loose upon dogs and other animals, and he found 
pupa are eight-footed, nimble, and resembling the perfect that sometimes the sting was so poisonous as to cause the 
insect. There are ten species, all of which are of warmer "whole body of the wounded animal to swell, the conse- 
dimates than our own. quences of which were frequently violent retching, convul- 
1. Scorpio Australasia.—Combs with six teeth; the hands sions and death. At other times he found the stings of the 
are smooth.—It inhabits the Pacific islands, and is a very same species almost harmless. 
small insect. The body is depressed, above it is of a brown These animals are said to cast their skins from time to 
colour, the last joint of the tail is paler; the belly and legs t> me > and to live chiefly on worms and insects, on which, 
are of a paler hue. if they are well provided, they will live a long time in a state 
2. Scorpio Carpathicus.—Combs with six teeth; hands of confinement. 
slightly heart-shaped and glabrous.—This species is found in Redi took the pains of examining microscopically the 
the Carpathian and Helvetic mountains, and by some authors stings of scorpions, brought alive from Tunis, Egypt and 
is thought to be a variety of the Australasia. Italy, and found in all the trials which he made, a small drop 
of 
