The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-03-05
SCORPIONS and centIpedes.


seldom more than three OF fouI inches IN
length and Of a peculiar, iivid. yeliowish
color with dark shade on earh side OF
the hack. Two round, exceedinfy bright
nii. ewes are situated on top Of the front
,srt Of the head. From each side Of the
front Of the head extends joinicd leg or
arm. terminating in pair Of Pincers IKE
that ofthe crawiish OF lobster. The body
Is further provided with four pairs OF
painted legs. The tail is considerably
longer thsn the body, ana is composed OF /
six sections. OF joints, on the last OF which
j. sixed the sharp, hollow sting. Two
little sacks or bags in the last section fur
nish venom to the sting. The sting Is bull
l,ous at its attachment. but quickly con-
trac,s. into a slightly curved, hard, black
point, perhaps an eighth Of an inch IN
length,
The sting Of the scorpion Is very pain
fol. but not necessary fgial to mankind
I once saw q bare-f footed native that had
been stung on the inssep; the Young man
complained considerably ofthe pain, and
the member in a couple Of hours became
swollen. and there were symptoms OF
fever in the system. A liberal dose Of
spirits given at intervals with an applica-
tion Of ammonia and the wounded menu
Der being wrapped in wet cloths seemed
shortly 70 subdue the effects Of the poi
son. A lump remained where the sting
was for two on three days, and there was
a small sloughing sore, which soon recov-
cred. however, after being treated with
carbolic ointment
tried some experiments with the
venom on small animals. Nice died IN
two or three hours after being siung. A
dog seemed greatly distressed during The
9av. and inclined 10 be very restless and
fegerish. but finally apparently recover
ei without being treated. Horses and
cattle We were told were frequently stang
without fatal effect, but ihere remained
for a while a tumor which discharged
p7s. The venom seemed 10 have a fatal
eff.ct on any kind Of an insect in a short
time. 1.-two scorpions we're irritated and
placed together, they attempted to sting
one another, which they generally man
ayed % DO, with fatal effect.
The dry, rocky, barren regions ofthe
Roston Mountains and other spurs ofthe
southern part of the Ozlrks seem TO be
the natural home Of the scorpion. They
are invariably found among the rocks on
the mountain side, except during very
warm day they seldom venture forth
from their retreats. and to find them one
has 10 turn over the fat stones under
which they lie, always with their tails
CURED toward their side; ami ! noted
that il wa- nearly on tine right side of the
animal Even after the cover OF It's re-
treat is taken away The creature will lie
perfectly still until further disturbed,
when it Immediately erects its tail over
its back and endeavors to scamper off
with quick, skipping sort Of movement.
While collecting ] used a couple Of sticks
Il pick them and drop them in can or
bottle Of alcohol. The creature would
always make frantic efforts to p erce the
stick with their sting. We placed a
number Of them in tin box, with some
leaves. where they remained for several
davs without disturbing one another.
II one was left in an empty box with
out being disturbed it soon began TO walk
about slowly with its arms extended in
font, the little pincers opening and shut
ting as though it used them as feeiers to
examine objects. During these quiet
movements its tail was extended back
ward, but on the least alarm il assumed
a hostile attitude with the sting erected
over the back. In captivity We failed to
observe them in the act of eating any
thing. although we repeatedly placed be-
fore them flies and other insects in order
% ascertain whether they used their
pincers in capturing their prey. Ants,
however after being placed in this box
disappeared in a manner we could not
accoun: for unless they were devoured.
They are very susceptible to cold, and
seek 10 get under anything warm. Once
we found scorpion under our coat where
we had laid il down on some rocks one
cool morning while we were gathering
some specimens Of minerals. Natives in
the mountains always shake their shoes
well before putting them on if they are
clmi near the rocks. One can re IDLY
believe that il would hardly be pleasant
on pulling on ones boot to find scor-
pion or centipede in the bottom Imme-
diate action is the rule in such cases, and
any explanation occurs after the noxious
creature is COTTON rid Of heard a story
told that during a meeting in school
house on the mountain side when the
house was filled with people Of both sex
es, a worthy member of well established
reputation for sobriety and quiet demean-
or. suddenly, during the opening service,
astonished his neighbors by leaping from
his seat with loud exclamations and with
frenzid haste .livest himself Of his panta-
looms. When calmness, after little time
was partially restored. it was found that a
scorpion had somehow made its way up
the inside Of his clothes. consiiing OF
pants and shirt. and had resented being
sat upon
We were much interested to end in
our collection Of scorpions that they were
infested with very peculiar parasite, q
little bug near the color Of the scorpion
armor and itself a crustacean. The para.
sites of which We saw bui few. were hid
about under the legs and joints of the
shield Of the SCORPIONS body. Scorpions
quite probably al times shed their skins
or rather their shell covering. for ] no
ticed under several Of the stones where
the creatures lay that there were the re.
mains of the shell coverings that might
have been cast on There were ais
what thought might be the egg, but O
this ] was not assured.
The exclusive habits Of the scorpion
together with their ready means of de
fence ami loT orgAniz ition, have had no
doubt something tD do with their survi-
val since almost inconceivably remot,
ages. They have few enemies, nothing
that We are aware of eats them, nobody
moiests them, except what some Of my