CHAP. IX.

OF THE SCORPION AND ITS VARIETIES.

There is scarce an insect without wings that is not obnoxious to man: the smallest have the power of annoying him, either by biting or stinging him; and though each is in itself contemptible, they become formidable from their numbers. But of all this class there is none so terrible as the scorpion, whose shape is hideous, whose size among the insect tribe is enormous, and whose sting is generally fatal. Happy for England, the scorpion is entirely a stranger among us! In several parts of the continent of Europe it is but too well known, though it seldom grows above four inches long; but in the warm tropical climates it is seen a foot in length, and in every respect as large as a lobster.

The scorpion is one of the largest of the insect tribe, and not less terrible from its size than its malignity. It resembles a lobster somewhat in shape, but is infinitely more hideous. There have been enumerated nine different kinds of this dangerous insect, chiefly distinguished by their colour; there being scorpions yellow, brown, and ash-coloured; others that are the colour of rusty iron, green, pale-yellow, black, claret-colour, white, and grey.

There are four principal parts distinguishable in this animal-the head, the breast, the belly, and the tail. The scorpion's head seems, as it were, jointed to the breast; in the middle are seen two eyes; and a little more forward two eyes more, placed in the fore-part of the head: these eyes are so small that they are scarcely perceivable; and it is probable the animal has but little occasion for seeing. The mouth is furnished with two jaws; the undermost is divided into two, and the parts notched into each other, which serves the animal as teeth, and with which it breaks its food and thrusts it into its mouth: these the scorpion can at pleasure pull back into its mouth, so that no part of them can be seen. On each side of the head are two arms, each composed of four joints; the last of which is large, with strong muscles, and made in the manner of a lobster's claw. Below the breast are eight articulated legs, each divided into six joints; the two hindmost of which are each provided with two crooked claws, and here and there covered with hair. The belly is divided into seven little rings; from the lowest of which is continued a tail composed of six joints, which are bristly, and formed like little globes, the last being armed with a crooked sting. This is that fatal instrument that renders this insect so formidable: it is long, pointed, hard, and hollow; it is pierced near the base by two small holes, through which, when the animal stings, it ejects a drop of poison, which is white, caustic, and fatal. The reservoir in which this poison is kept is in a small bladder near the tail, into which the venom is distilled by a peculiar apparatus. If this bladder be gently pressed the venom will be seen issuing out through the two holes above-mentioned; so that it appears that when the animal stings the bladder is pressed, and the venom issues through the two apertures into the wound.

There are few animals more formidable or rore truly mischievous than the scorpion. As it takes refuge in a small place, and is generally found sheltering in houses, so it cannot be otherwise than that it must frequently sting those among whom it resides. In some of the towns of Italy, and in France, in the province of Languedoc, it is one of the greatest pests that torment mankind: but its malignity in Europe is trifling when compared to what the natives of Africa and the East are known to experience. In Batavia, where they grow twelve inches long, there is no removing any piece of furniture without the utmost danger of being stung by them. Bosman assures us that along the Gold Coast they are often found larger than a lobster, and that their

sting is inevitably fatal. In Europe, however, they are by no means so large, so venomous, or so plentiful. The general size of this animal does not exceed two or three inches; and its sting is very seldom found to be fatal. Maupertuis, who made several experiments on the scorpion of Languedoc, found it by no means so invariably dangerous as had till then been represented. He provoked one of them to sting a dog in three places on the belly, where the animal was without hair; in about an hour after the poor animal seemed greatly swoln and became very sick he then cast up whatever he had in his bowels; and for about three hours continued vomiting a whitish liquid. The belly was always greatly swoln when the animal began to vomit; but this operation always seemed to abate the swelling, which alternately expanded and was thus emptied for three hours successively. The poor animal after this fell into convulsions, bit the ground, dragged himself along upon his fore-feet, and at last died five hours after being bitten. He was not partially swoln round the place which was bitten, as is usual after the sting of a wasp or a bee; but his whole body was inflated, and there only appeared a red spot on the places where he had been stung.

Some days after, however, the same experiment was tried upon another dog, and even with more aggravated cruelty; yet the dog seemed no way affected by the wounds, but, howling a little when he received them, continued alert and well after them; and soon after was set at liberty without showing the smallest symptoms of pain. So far was this poor creature from being terrified at the experiment, that he left his own master's house to come to that of the philosopher, where he had received more plentiful entertainment. The same experiment was tried by fresh scorpions upon seven other dogs and upon three hens; but not the smallest deadly symptoms were seen to ensue. From hence it appears that many circumstances which are utterly unknown must contribute to give efficacy to the scorpion's venom. Whether it is food, long fasting, the season, the nature of the vessels it wounds, or its state of maturity, contribute to or retard its malignity is yet to be ascertained by succeeding experiment. In the trials made by our philosopher, he employed scorpions of both sexes, newly caught, and seemingly vigorous and active. The success of this experiment may serve to show that many of those boasted antidotes which are given for the cure of the scorpion's sting owe their success rather to accident than their own efficacy. They only happened to cure when the sting was no way dangerous; but in cases of actual malignity they might probably be utterly unserviceable.

The scorpion of the tropical climates, being much larger than the former, is probably much more venomous. Helbigius, however, who resided for many years in the East, assures us that he was often stung by the scorpion, and never received any material injury from the wound: a painful tumour generally ensued; but he always cured it by rubbing the part with a piece of iron or stone, as he had seen the Indians practice before him, until the flesh became insensible. Seba, Moore, and Bosman, however, give a very different account of the scorpion's malignity; and assert that, unless speedily relieved, the wound becomes fatal.

It is certain that no animal in the creation seems endured with such an irascible nature. I have often seen them taken and put into a place of security, exerting all their rage against the sides of the glass vessel that contained them. I have seen them attempt to sting a stick when put near them, and attack a mouse or a frog, while those animals were far from offering any injury. Maupertuis put three scorpions and a mouse into the same vessel together, and they stung the little animal in different places. The mouse, thus assaulted, stood for some time upon the defensive, and at last killed them all, one after another. He tried this experiment in order to see whether the mouse after it had killed would eat

the scorpions; but the little quadruped seemed entirely satisfied with the victory, and even survived the severity of the wounds it had received. Wolkamer tried the courage of the scorpion against the large spider, and enclosed several of both kinds in glass vessels for that purpose. The success of this combat was very remarkable. The spider at first used all its arts to immesh the scorpion in its web, which it immediately began spinning; but the scorpion rescued itself from the danger by stinging its adversary to death; it soon after cut off with its claws all the legs of the spider, and then sucked the internal parts at its leisure. If the scorpion's skin had not been so hard Wolkamer is of opinion that the spider would have obtained the victory; for he had often seen one of these spiders destroy a toad.

The fierce spirit of this animal is equally dangerous to its own species; for scorpions are the cruellest enemies to each other Maupertuis put about a hundred of them together in the same glass; and they scarce came into contact when they began to exert all their rage in mutual destruction: there was nothing to be seen but one universal carnage, without any distinction of age or sex; so that in a few days there remained only fourteen, which had killed and devoured all the

rest.

But their unnatural malignity is still more apparent in their cruelty to their offspring. He enclosed a female scorpion, big with young, in a glass vessel, and she was seen to devour them as fast as they were excluded: there was but one only of the number that escaped the general destruction by taking refuge on the back of its parent; and this soon after revenged the cause of its brethren by killing the old one in its turn.

Such is the terrible and unrelenting nature of this insect, which neither the bonds of society nor of Nature can reclaim it is even asserted that, when driven to an extremity, the scorpion will often destroy itself. The following experiment was ineffectually tried by Manpertuis; but I am so well assured of it by so many eyewitnesses, who have seen it both in Italy and America, that I have no doubt remaining of its veracity. A scorpion, newly caught, is placed in the midst of a circle of burning charcoal, and thus an egress prevented on every side the scorpion, as I am assured, runs for a minute round the circle in hopes of escaping; but finding that impossible, it stings itself on the back of the head, and in this manner the undaunted suicide instantly expires.

It is happy for mankind that these animals are destructive to each other; since otherwise they would multiply in so great a degree as to render some countries uninhabitable. The male and female of this insect are very easily distinguishable-the male being smaller and less hairy. The female brings forth her young alive, and perfect in their kind. Redi, having bought a quantity of scorpions, selected the females, which by their size and roughness were easily distinguishable from the rest, and putting them in separate glass vessels he kept them for some days without food. In about five days one of them brought forth thirty-eight young ones, well shaped, and of a milk-white colour, which changed every day more and more into a dark rusty hue. Another female in a different vessel brought forth twentyseven of the same colour; and the day following the young ones seemed all fixed to the back and belly of the female. For near a fortnight all these continued alive and well; but afterwards some of them died daily; until, in about a month, they all died except two.

Were it worth the trouble, these animals might be kept living as long as curiosity might think proper. Their chief food is worms and insects; and upon a proper supply of these their lives might be lengthened to their natural extent. How long that may be we are not told; but if we may argue from analogy, it cannot

be less than seven or eight years-perhaps in the larger kind double that duration. As they have somewhat the form of a lobster, so they resemble that animal in casting their shell, or more properly their skin; since it is softer by far than the covering of the lobster, and set with hairs, which grow from it in great abundance, particularly at the joinings. The young lie in the womb of the parent, each covered up in its own membrane, to the number of forty or fifty, and united to each by an oblong thread, so as to exhibit altogether the form of a chaplet.

Such is the manner in which the common scorpion produces its young; but there is a scorpion of America produced from the egg in the manner of the spider. The eggs are no larger than pin-points; and they are deposited in a web which they spin from their bodies, and carry about with them till they are hatched. As soon as the young ones are excluded from the shell they get upon the back of the parent, who turns her tail over them and defends them with her sting. It seems probable, therefore, that captivity produces that unnatural disposition in the scorpion which induces it to destroy its young; since, at liberty, it is found to protect them with such unceasing assiduity.

CHAP. X.

OF THE SCOLOPENDRA AND GALLY WORM.

Of these hideous and angry insects we know little, except the figure and the noxious qualities. Though with us there are insects somewhat resembling them in form, we are placed at a happy distance from such as are really formidable. With us they seldom grow above an inch long; in the tropical climates they are often found above a quarter of a yard.

The scolopendra is otherwise called the centipes, from the number of its feet; and it is very common in many parts of the world, especially between the tropics. Those of the East Indies, where they grow to the largest size, are about six inches long, of a ruddy colour, and as thick as a man's finger; they consist of many joints, and from each joint is a leg on each side; they are covered with hair, and seem to have no eyes; but there are two feelers on the head, which they make use of to find out the way that they are to pass; the head is very round, with two small sharp teeth, with which they inflict very painful and dangerous wounds. A sailor that was bitten by one on board ship felt an excessive pain, and his life was supposed to be in danger: however, he recovered by the application of three roasted onions to the part, and was soon quite well. Of this animal there are different kinds-some living, like worms, in holes in the earth; others under stones and among rotten wood: so that nothing is more dangerous than removing those substances in the places where they breed.

The gally-worm differs from the scolopendra in having double the number of feet-there being two on each side to every joint of the body. Some of these are smooth and others hairy; some are yellow, some black, and some brown. They are found among decayed trees, between the wood and the bark; as also among stones that are covered with moss. They all when touched contract their bodies, rolling themselves up like a ball. Whatever may be their qualities in the tropical parts of the world, in Europe they are perfectly harmless-having been often handled aud irritated without any vindictive consequences.

All these, as well as the scorpion, are supposed to be produced perfect from the parent or the egg; and to undergo no changes after the first exclusion. They are seen of all sizes; and this is a sufficient inducement to suppose that they preserve their first appearance through

The last of this wingless tribe that I shall mention is the leech, which, like all the former, undergoes no varieties of transformation, but when once excluded from the body of the parent preserves its first figure to the end. I place the history of the leech among the first class of insects; while I have degraded the earth-worm, the tænia, and the polypus into the class of zoophytes, or that imperfect tribe which serves to make the shade between Animal and Vegetable Nature. Not but that the earth-worm or the polypus have their motions, their appetites, and their vital principles as complete as the leech, and, to a cursory view, appear every way as complete animals. But there is one circumstance that lays the line between them-that exalts the one and degrades the other the earth-worm and the polypus may be cut in two pieces, and each piece will produce a new and perfect animal; the leech cannot suffer this dissection, but dies when cut in two-an evident instance that it is possessed of a more perfect organization than those animals which it otherwise very much resembles.

The leech, from its uses in medicine, is one of those insects that man has taken care to preserve; but of a great variety one kind only is considered as serviceable. The horse-leech, which is the largest of all, and grows to four inches in length, with a glossy black surface, is of no use, as it will not stick to the skin; the snail-leech is but an inch in length, and though it will stick, is not large enough to extract a sufficient quantity of blood from the patient; the broad-tailed leech, which grows to an inch and a half in length, with the back raised into a sort of a ridge, will stick but on very few occasions it is the large brown leech with a whitish belly that is made use of in medicine, and whose history best merits our curiosity.

The leech has the general figure of a worm, and is about as long as one's middle finger. Its skin is composed of rings, by means of which it is possessed of its agility and swims in water. It contracts itself when out of water in such a manner, that when touched it is not above an inch long. It has a small head and a black skin, edged with a yellow line on each side, with some yellowish spots on the back. The belly, also, which is of a redish colour, is marked with whitish-yellow spots. But the most remarkable part of this animal is the mouth, which is composed of two lips, that take whatever form the insect finds convenient. When at rest the opening is usually triangular: and within it are placed three very sharp teeth, capable of piercing not only the human skin, but also that of a horse or an ox. Still deeper in the head is discovered the tongue, which is composed of a strong fleshy substance, and which serves to assist the animal in sucking when it has inflicted its triple wound; for no sooner is this voracious creature applied to the skin than it buries its teeth therein, and closes its lips round the wound which it has made; thus, in the manner of a cupping- glass, it extracts the blood as it flows to the different orifices.

In examining this animal's form farther towards the tail, it is seen to have a gullet and an intestinal canal, into which the blood flows in great abundance. On each side of this are seen running along several little bladders, which, when the animal is empty, seem to be filled with nothing but water; but when it is gorging blood they seem to communicate with the intestines, and receive a large portion of the blood which flows into

the body. If these bladders should be considered as so many stomachs, then every leach will be found to have twenty-four. But what is most extraordinary of all in this animal's formation is, that though it takes so large a quantity of food it has no anus or passage to eject it froin the body when it has been digested. On the contrary, the blood which the leech has thus sucked remains for several months clotted within its body, blackened a little by the change, but no way putrefied, and very little altered in its texture or consistence. In what manner it passes through the animal's body, or how it contributes to its nourishment, is not easily accounted for. The water in which they are kept is very discoloured by their continuance; they cannot be supposed to return the blood by the same passage through which it was taken : it only remains, therefore, that it goes off through the pores of the body, and that these are sufficiently large to permit its exclusion.

But it is not in this instance alone that leeches differ from all other insects. It was remarked in a former chapter that the whole insect tribe had the opening into their lungs placed in their sides, and that they breathed through those apertures as other animals through the mouth. A drop of oil poured on the sides of a wasp, a bee, or a worm would quickly suffocate them, by stopping up the passages through which they breathe; but it is otherwise with the leech, for this animal may be immersed in oil without injury, nay, it will live therein; and the only damage it will sustain is that, when taken out, it will be seen to cast a fine pellucid skin exactly of the shape of the animal, after which it is as alert and vigorous as before. It appears from hence that the leech breathes through the mouth; and, in fact, it has a motion that seems to resemble the act of respiration in more perfect animals: but concerning all this we are very much in the dark.

This animal seems to differ from all others in several respects: the rest of the reptile tribe are brought forth from eggs; the leech is viviparous, and produces its young one after the other to the number of forty or fifty at a birth. It is propable that, like the snail, each insect contains the two sexes, and that it impregnates and is impregnated in the same manner. The young ones are chiefly found in the month of July, in shallow running waters, and particularly where they are tepified by the rays of the sun. The large ones are chiefly sought after; and being put into a glass vessel filled with water, they remain for months, nay for years, without taking any other subsistence. But they never breed in this confinement; and, consequently, what regards that part of their history still remains obscure.

In this part of the world they seldom grow to above four inches; but in America and the East they are found from six to seven. Their pools there abound with them in such numbers, that it would be dangerous bathing there if for no other consideration. Our sailors and soldiers, who during the last war were obliged to walk in those countries through marshy grounds, talk with terror of the number of leeches that infested them on their march. Even in some parts of Europe they increase so as to become formidable. Sedelius, a German physician, relates that a girl of nine years old, who was keeping sheep near the city of Bomst, in Poland, perceiving a soldier making up to her, went to hide herself in a neighbouring marsh among some bushes; but the number of leeches was so great in that place, and they stuck to her so close, that the poor creature expired from the quantity of blood which she lost by their united efforts. Nor is this much to be wondered at, since one of those insects that when empty generally weighs but a scruple, when gorged, weighs more than two drachms.

When leeches are to be applied, the best plan is to take them from the water in which they are contained about an hour before, for they thus become more voracious and fasten more readily. When saturated with

blood they generally fall off of themselves: but if it be thought necessary to take them from the wound, care should be used to pull them very gently, or even to sprinkle them with salt if they continue to adhere; for if they be plucked rudely away it most frequently happens that they leave their teeth in the wound, which makes a very troublesome inflammation, and is often attended with danger. If they be slow in fixing to the part, they are often enticed by rubbing it with milk or blood, or water mixed with sugar. As salt is a poison to most insects, many people throw it upon the leech when it has dropped from the wound, by which means it disgorges the blood it has swallowed, and it is then kept for repeated application. They seldom, however, stick after this operation; and as the price is but small, fresh leeches should always be applied whenever such an application is thought necessary.

BOOK II-CHAP. I.

OF THE SECOND ORDER OF INSECTS IN GENERAL.

In the former part we gave a concise history of the most considerable insects that, without wings, were produced in a perfect state-either from the body of the parent alive, like quadrupeds, or from the egg, in the manner of birds. We come now to a second order of insects, that are produced from the egg like the former, but not in a perfect state; for when first excluded they are without wings. This, however, does not hinder the exercise of their animal functions; the insect, although not yet come to perfection, walks, leaps, and eats; nor is it ever deprived of motion, only that it rests a little when it is about to cast that part of its skin previous to its state of perfection. It is then seen to assume two wings, which, like a budding flower, burst through the case that contained them, and the animal becomes a winged insect in its state of highest perfection. To this order we may refer the libella, or dragon-fly, the formica-leo, or lion-ant, the grasshopper, the locust, the cricket, the wood-cricket, the mole-cricket, the flea-locust, the flying-bug, the tipula, the water-scorpion, the notonecta or water-fly, and many others.

CHAP. II.

OF THE LIBELLA, OR DRAGON-FLY.

Of all the flies which adorn or diversify the face of Nature, these are the most various and the most beautiful; they are of all colours-green, blue, crimson, scarlet, white; some unite a variety of the most vivid tints, and exhibit in one animal more different shades than are to be found in the rainbow. They are called in different parts of the kingdom by different names; but none can be at a loss to know them, as they are distinguished from all other flies by the length of their bodies, by the largeness of their eyes, and by the beautiful transparency of their wings, which are four in number. They are seen in summer flying about with great rapidity near every hedge and by every running brook; they sometimes settle on the leaves of plants, and sometimes keep for hours together on the wing.

Dragon-flies, though there are three or four different kinds, yet agree in the most striking part of their history, and one account may serve for all. The largest sort are generally found from two to three inches long; their tail is forked; the body divided into eleven rings; their eyes are large, horny, and transparent, divided by a number of intersections; and their wings, which always lie flat when they are at rest, are of a beautiful

glossy transparency-sometimes shining like silver, and sometimes glistening like gold. Within the mouth are to be seen two teeth covered with a beautiful lip; with these the creatures bite fiercely when they are taken; but their bite is perfectly harmless, as I have experienced more than once.

These insects, beautiful as they are, are produced from eggs which are deposited in the water, where they remain for some time without seeming life or motion. They are ejected by the female in the water in clusters, like a bunch of grapes, where they sink to the bottom by their natural weight, and continue in that state till the young ones find strength enough to break the shell and to separate from each other. The form in which they first show life is that of a worm with six legs, bearing a strong resemblance to the dragon-fly in its winged state, except that the wings are yet concealed within a sheath peculiar to this animal. The rudiments of these appear in bunches on the back, within which the wings are folded up into each other, while all the colours and varieties of painting appear transparent through the skin. These animals upon quitting the egg still continue in the water, where they creep and swim, but do not move swiftly. They have likewise a sharp sight, and immediately sink to the bottom if any one comes to the places wherein they live, or whenever they perceive the least uncommon object. Their food at that time is soft mud and the glutinous earthy substances that are found at the bottom.

When these animals prepare to change from their reptile to their flying state, they then move out of the water to a dry place, as into grass, to pieces of wood, stone, or anything else they meet with. They there firmly fix their acute claws, and for a short time continue quite immoveable, as if meditating on the change they are to undergo. It is then observed that the skin first opens on the head and back; and out of this opening they exhibit their real head and eyes, and at length their six legs; whilst, in the meantime, the hollow and empty skin or slough of their legs remains firmly fixed in its place. After this the enclosed creature creeps forward by degrees, and by this means draws first its wings and then its body out of the skin; and, proceeding a little farther, sits at rest for some time as if immoveable. During this time the wings, which were moist and folded, begin by degrees to expand themselves, and to make smooth and even all those plaits which were laid egainst each other like a closed fan. The body is likewise insensibly extended, until all the limbs have obtained their proper size and dimensions. All these surprising and difficult operations are accomplished by the force of the blood and the circulating humours. The creature cannot at first make use of its new wings, and therefore is forced to stay in the same place until all its limbs are dried by the circumambient air. It soon, however, begins to enter upon a more noble life than it had hitherto led in the bottom of the brook; and from creeping slowly and living accidentally, it now wings the air, and makes choice from amidst the variety of its provisions.

Indeed, no animal is more amply fitted for motion, subsistence, and enjoyment. As it hunts and seeks after its food flying in the air, Nature has provided it with two large eyes, which make almost the whole head, and which resemble glittering mother-of-pearl. It has also four expansive silver-coloured wings, with which, as with oars, it can turn itself with prodigious velocity; and to assist these, it is furnished with a very long body, which, like a rudder, directs its motions. As the wings are long and the legs short they seldom walk, but are ever seen either resting or flying. For this reason they always choose dry branches of trees or shrubs to remain on; and when they have refreshed themselves a little they renew their flight. Thus they are seen adorning the summer with a profusion of beauty, lightly traversing