Living Scorpions, Mygale, and Protopterus

Abstract

WILL you allow me to use your columns in order to ask any of your readers residing in tropical localities, who may be generous enough to wish to help a naturalist in his researches, to send to me living specimens of large Scorpions (not less than three inches in length), and living specimens of large Mygale (birdsnesting spider); also I would beg for living Earthworms of large size from African, Indian, American, and Australian localities. Any of these animals can be sent in a small tin box in which a few holes are perforated; the tin box being packed in a much larger wooden box with hay or loose paper. Damp moss should be placed with the Scorpion or Mygale. Each specimen should be inclosed in a separate tin box, since these animals are cannibals. The holes in the tin box containing an Earthworm should be very few, and the amount of damp moss very great. Earthworms would travel best in a Wardian case, should the opportunity offer—not loose, but in the above-mentioned tin box.