Scutums

It is well stored with implements of offence and defence—mangonels, balistas, arbalists, rams—cranes for repairing breaches—lances, javelins, swords, axes, shields, scutums, pavises, armor—timber for ships—cressets for night work—ironmonger machines—arquebuses, but of antique patterns—quarrels and arrows in countless sheaves—bows of every style.

The scutums of 5 nymphs gave the following measurements in mm.:[…]

[…]no similarly situated dark spot is observable in the scutums of the closely allied species A. hebraeum, A. cohaerens, etc.

Plate 1.—Photomicrographs of scutums of T. microti and T. bisignata.

Text-figs 25-43.—Scutums of the larvae of trombidiid mites, 25.

2. The ornate scutums and the festoons in the Ixodidæ. 3. The extent of the scutums in male and female Ixodidæ.

Sometimes, they held all their scutums together to form a huge shield overhead.

Holding fast behind their false hopes of being protected by their shields, like a porcupine’s soft underbelly, hidden behind the shielded wall was the squishy vulnerable targets tucked behind their bowed scutums.