Scorpion carrying Flower

Abstract

ONE evening last February, while sitting in the verandah of my house at Aden, my attention was drawn to an object advancing across the floor, which seemed to be some peculiar leaf insect or phasma. On looking at it closer I saw it to be a scorpion (identified by Mr. Pocock from my description as Parabuthus liosoma), which was holding over its back by one claw a large blossom of Poinciana regia, known in Aden as the white-gold mohur tree. Its tail, curled over its back, further assisted in retaining the flower in position. The nearest tree from which it could have obtained it was at least 30 feet away, and to bring it the scorpion must have carried it over a low stone parapet and up two or three steps, so that intention seems to be proved. What that intention was it is hard to define. Hardly for concealment, for the size of the flower made it more conspicuous; besides, it was night. If it was the lamp-light it wanted to avoid, it is necessary to assume that, finding the light too strong, it went back to get the flower. It could hardly be as food, for scorpions are not known to live on vegetable substances; nor, as far as I know, do they construct nests. I regret that I did not allow the creature to reach its destination, and so ascertain its intention; but, unfortunately, I gave in to my first impulse and crushed it. My wife suggested that perhaps it was going to a wedding, but this explanation is more poetical than scientific.