altered action of the muscular system. Instead of strutting for ever on the ground, or basking on the sultry soil, the wilder brood of the forest would be furnished with a vigour of wing corresponding to their fear of danger, and which would both enable and incline them to frequent and rapid flight. Now, it is evident that all birds, to pursue an easy course through the air, must have their tails stretched out, on the same line with their bodies; otherwise their powers of fight would be greatly impeded. Hence it is that the peacock when alarmed, or about to seek safety in flight, instantly lowers his gorgeous train, so as to form a smooth continuance of the dorsal line; and, although I am not sufficiently skilled in anatomy to be able to say that this is absolutely and unavoidably necessary, I think it highly probable that a more minute attention to the subject would prove, that the upright position of the tail was incompatible, as a simultaneous act, with that vigorous muscular impulsion-called flight. Be this as it may, it is a matter of daily observation, that the boldest and most magnificently plumed cock of the domestic breed, when pursued by a dog, or otherwise forced to use his wings, immediately lowers both his head and tail; and I have had occasion to see this action more strongly manifested in an individual, which, having dwelt for the greater part of a summer in the woods upon his own resources, became so shy and wary, that he could neither be caught nor reclaimed, but generally rose with a harsh cry, at the distance of thirty or forty yards, with his tail extended horizontally; and was at last shot, like any other wild game, as a legitimate object for the exercise of sportsman-like skill.

I have entered into these apparently trifling details, because it has been objected to the Bankiva cock, that the nearly horizontal position of the tail formed so striking a distinction between him and our common breeds, that they

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could not fairly be considered as specifically allied; and it therefore became necessary for me to shew' how probable it was, that, as domestication, in the one case, has added both to the extent and verticality of the caudal plumes,so, on the other, a return to the natural habits of the species would cause a corresponding assimilation in form and structure to the parent source. I therefore do not conceive that a good argument can be adduced from the dissimilar forms of the tail, to prove that our domestic poultry are in no way descended from the wild Java cock, called Ayam Bankiva. In all other respects the resemblance is as perfect as can be expected to exist between birds, which for some thousand years have been influenced by domestication, and the original stock, which has continued to dwell unsubjected to any other modifying power than that of nature.

The conclusions which we are therefore entitled to draw from the preceding observations, are, 1st, That the Jungle Cock is not, as so generally supposed, the parent of our domestic poultry, from all the known varieties of which it differs materially, both in the form and structure of its plumage; and, Adly, That, as far as it is possible to judge in the present state of our knowledge, that honour is claimed by two species inhabiting the Asiatic Islands, which respectively possess the principal characters of our domestic kinds, and are not contradistinguished by any marked peculiarity of structure.

XX.-On the Okrub of the Ancient Hebrers, and

Scorpion of the English Bible.

By the Rev. David Scot, M. D., M. W. S., F.H. S. E.

(Read 5th December 1829.)

Among linguists and critics there has never been any doubt about the propriety of translating Okrub a scorpion. No one has ever experienced any difficulty in identifying this animal with that denoted by the Hebrew term.

Okrub is thought to be compounded of ok, to press, and rub much, or kerub near, because the scorpion brings together, holds fast, or squeezes, with its nippers, whatever it kills or devours.

The Arabic name is the same as the Hebrew, and is pronounced kerb, or with the article prefixed, al kerb.

It must strike every one, that in respect to shape, the scorpion and lobster resemble each other. This resemblance the Arabs had in their eye, when they termed the latter al kerb ul bachur, the scorpion of the sea.

In ancient geography, Akrabbim, high mountains on the north borders of Moab, stretching eastwards from the lake Asphaltites or the Dead Sea*, and afterwards called Akrabatane ; Akraba, a city of Mesopotamia, not far from Harran* ; and Akrabene, a region lying on the Tigris; were all so named, because they were infested with scorpions. * Mentioned, Numb. xxxiv. 4.; Josh. xv. 3.; Judg. i. 36.

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This insect is found in Europe, rarely in France or Hungary, but often in Greece and Italy. It abounds in all the warmer parts of Asia, particularly India, throughout the whole extent of Africa, and the hottest part of America.

The scorpion has two arms, or fore-claws, in each of which are four joints, and at the end two nippers. These arms stretch round and beyond the head. Its head is a continuation of the trunk, which consists of seven or more rings. From each side of the trunk hang four legs, each being divided into six joints and two claws, here and there covered with hair.

To the last ring the tail is attached, in which globules or knots, from four to seven, are united by muscles, and these globules, it is thought, point out the length of the animal's life, one being added each year.

In the last of these globules the sting is placed, which is small, bent forward, and sharp, perforated by three very small holes, almost invisible, one at the upper part, and two at the sides of the tip, through which the poison is propelled. The poison is secreted by a gland, situated at the root of the sting, and this gland is pressed when the sting is used, and the poison thrown into the wound.

If the animal be not irritated, it trails its tail along the ground; but if it be irritated, it raises it over its back in the form of an arch, and strikes with all its force, whenever it finds, or imagines, an opportunity.

In some scorpions are eight eyes, in others six. There are two on the middle of the head, and two on each side of it, but placed near the mouth. The two nearest the mouth, which were discovered by Swammerdam, are very small. All of them indeed are small; but, from the kind of life which the animal leads, it has little need of

eyes. As far as the eyes are concerned, not to mention other

. 1 Maccab. v. 3.

particulars, it resembles the spider, and therefore, with perfect propriety, it has been placed by Lamarck among the arachnides, or spider-like animals.

Scorpions vary in colour. They are brown, or ironcoloured ; grey or ash-coloured. They are white or black, green or yellow. Those that are black and yellow are said to be most poisonous.

They vary also in length, being commonly from 1 to 6 inches long. Some may be longer in warm climates ; but we can give little credit to those who assert, that in warm climates some are a foot, and even others a yard long.

We do not know whether the number of species has been ascertained; but about one species with wings, talked of by the ancients, and even not unnoticed by the moderns, we are somewhat sceptical. We even presume to say, that all scorpions are aptera, or creatures destitute of wings.

The female spins a web, in which she lays her eggs. These are not fewer than 26, and seldom more than 40. They are about the largeness of pin points, and contained in the bag, which the mother carries about with her, till they are hatched. When this

When this process is over, the young ones get upon her back, and she covers them with her tail, and defends them with her sting.

Those who are ignorant of the natural history of this animal are puzzled what to think of such small creatures. Accordingly, some have mistaken them for ants, and of course given out, that the scorpion was pestered with these insects.

Scorpions hate the light, and court concealment. They delight in stony grounds, and in old ruins, and even in dwelling-houses. When they come into these, they lurk behind chests, benches or beds. In general they creep to all places in which they can find a cover or a defence.

They are carnivorous, or devour flesh. Their ordinary food is flies and small insects. They sometimes also devour