HABITS, BREEDING 39 



secreted by the large glands inside the body, usually called the 

 accessory glands. When the egg falls out it is received by 

 the little hooks, and is firmly clasped by them. This is 

 the critical moment in the existence of the Lithobius into 

 which the egg is destined to develop. If a male Lithobius sees 

 the egg he makes a rush at the female, seizes the egg, and at 

 once devours it. All the subsequent proceedings of the female 

 seem to be directed to the frustration of this act of cannibalism. 

 As soon as the egg is firmly clasped in the little hooks she 

 rushes off to a convenient place away from the male, and uses 

 her hooks to roll the egg round and round until it is completely 

 covered by earth, which sticks to it owing to the viscous material 

 with which it is coated ; she also employs her hind legs, which 

 have glands on the thighs, to effect her purpose. When the 

 operation is complete the egg resembles a small round ball of 

 mud, and is indistinguishable from the surrounding soil. It is 

 thus safe from the voracious appetite of the male, and she leaves 

 it to its fate. The number of eggs laid is small when compared 

 with the number laid by Julus. 



The food in the case of Litliobius consisted of worms and 

 blue-bottles, which were put alive into the glass vessel containing 

 the Lithobius. I tried raw meat chopped up, but they did not 

 thrive on it in the same way that they did on the living animals. 

 I also put into their vessel bits of rotten wood containing larvae 

 of insects, etc. 



I have succeeded in bringing back some specimens of Polydesmus 

 alive from Madeira, and in getting them to breed in this country 

 of course in artificial warmth and their way of laying eggs 

 and making a nest resembles that of Julus. Geophilus has one 

 curious habit in connexion with the fertilisation of the female. 

 The male spins a web and deposits in the middle of it a single 

 spermatophore, and the female comes to the web to be fertilised. 

 The Scolopendridae are said to bring forth their young alive, but 

 I think the evidence for this is unsatisfactory. What have 

 been taken for the young Scolopendrae are perhaps the large 

 spermatophores of the male, which are not unlike a larval Myria- 

 pod in size and shape. I have never been able to observe the 

 process of breeding in this family. I have had the spermatophores 

 sent me from Gibraltar as " eggs," but a little examination soon 

 showed me their real character. 



