Newport daily independent., 1905-11-04
SCORPIONS SUICTDK
Positive Evidence That the Creatuns
 Does Kill Itself.
Iastaace% an Which the Act of yeiA- Destrnct,am was UHmists K absyY nessea-ARertea
 by LHht.

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 Lord Byron has referred to tendenp cy of the scorpion to commit suicide when surrounded by fire. Naturally enough, this has been regarded as . poetic fction; and . distinguished writer has gore so far ss to say that ths popular idea regarding scorpionia suicide is q dciusion based ON an impos- ability" The impossibility to which this writer refers is this: The sting oe the scorpion is in it's tail, and the tor imitation of the tail is recurved, so that it would really be Impossible for tho scorpion to sting itself on the under part of it's body. But 1t is not impos- sble for the sting to penetrate the back or even the head; and there be positive evidence that in certain circumstances the scorpion does commit suicide in that way. This creature seems to be unable to endure light; and when 1t ts exposed to light 1t seems to become 70 desperate as to end it's torture with its own sting. w. G. Eddie tells this tn- cident, which he himself observed in Madras, and which he communicated to Nature:
 One morning a servant brought to me large specimen of scorpion. which. having staid out too long in its noo- turnal rambles. had apparently got be- wildered at daybreak and been unable to find it's way home. To keep it safe, the creature was at once put into . glazed chronological case. Having . flow leisure minutes in the course of the forenoon, I thought l would see how my prisoner was getting on. and ts have a better view of it the case was placed in a window in the rays of the hot sun. The light and heat seemed to irritate 1t very much, and this recalled Q my mind story which had rea6 somewhere that a scorpion, on beinS surrounded with fire. had ScommitteA suicide. hesitated about submitting my pet to such a terrible ordeal; but, taking a common botanical lens, fo- cused the rays of the sun on fits back. The moment this was done it began to run hurriedly about the case, hissing and splitting in very fierce way. This experiment. was repeated some four OF five times with like results, but on try ing it once again the scorpion turned it's tail and plunged the stinger quick ss lightning into it's own back. The infiiction of the wound was followed by ! sudden escape of fluid, and friend standing by me called out. See. 1t Has stung itself; it -is dead;' and sure enough, in less than half . minute life was quite extinct. I have written this brief note to show (1) that animals may commit suicide; @ that the poison et certain animals may be destructive ts themselves"
 An eminent writer, Dr. Allen Thomp son, F. R. S., has contributed the fok lowing narrative of facts observed by B. F. Hutchinson, while living in the MT. Hutchinson and his family were very much annoyed blythe frequent in- trusion of small black scorpions in tho house, which secreted themselves among the bedclothes. in shoes. and ta other articles of Aress. He says:
 Ut thus became necessary to be con stantly on the watch for these trouble. some creatures, and to take means for their removal and destruction. Having been informed by the natives of thS place that the scorpion would destroy itself if exposed to a sudden light, my informant and her friends soon became adopts in catching the scorpions ant aisposing of them in the manner suQ Rested. This consisted in conanin6 the animal under an iaxerted driniint glass or tumbler, bsl which . card was inserted when the capture WAS made. and then, waiting till dark. sud- denly bringing the light of candle near to the glass in which the animal was confined.
 No sooner was this done than tho scorpion invariably showed signs of great excitement. running round and round the interior of the tumbler with reckless velocity for a number et times. This state having lasted for . minute or more, the animal became quiet. and, turning it's tail on the hinder part of it's body over it's back. brought its recurved sying down upon tho mia dle of the head. and. piercing 1t fors' ibly, in few seconds became qsioL motionless. and, in fact. quito dead. This observation was repeated very freau~ntiy: in truth, 1t was adopted as