their line.

The study of the ant and the bee, the spider and the scorpion
should fill us with hope. We should say to ourselves:

"If these tiny fragments of life can develop so highly, what may
not WE hope for in the way of ultimate possibilities? Our
beginning is so much more full of promise than the beginnings of
our tiny insect brothers." ----

This writer, taking his own advice, which is most unusual, has
been trying to get acquainted with some insects in the hope of
cheering himself and getting new ideas.

From the female scorpion we acquire fresh veneration for the
possibilities of maternal devotion.

The mother of the Gracchi has been well advertised because she
preferred her sons to jewelry. The Russian mother who feeds
herself to the wolves, instead of throwing her boy over the back
of the sleigh in the usual way, is also highly praised. But
their devotion shrinks to nothing when compared with that of any
poor mother scorpion of Mexico's sandy tracts.

As soon as her young scorpions arrive, they climb to her back,
half a hundred of them or more. She moves about with them,
protecting them, avoiding danger, giving them the sunlight.
Meanwhile they are feeding on her body. Her movements get
gradually slower and slower; finally they cease. The young
scorpions depart leaving the mother scorpion simply an empty