LITHOB1US AND ITS ALLIES 



77 



FJG. 76. Jalnn ca/m- 



The members of this genus crawl rather slowly, and 

 when at rest coil the body. When disturbed they give 

 out a strong odor through lateral open- 

 ings of the body. They feed on dead 

 snails and earthworms ; some species, 

 on ears of Indian corn or strawberries. 

 Their eggs are laid in holes in the 

 ground in the spring ; consequently densis. Nat. size. 

 they may be easily dug up at this Phot0 ' by W - H - C - P - 

 season. One of the common Eastern species of North 

 America is Julus {Parajulus) canadensis, which is dark 

 brown or black above, has sides spotted with yellow, and 

 nearly colorless feet, and is about 20 to 25 millimetres 



long (Fig. 76). Spirobolus is a large 

 species, 10 to 12 centimetres long. 



Polydesmus l includes much-flattened 

 species, which, when disturbed, roll up 

 spirally. P. canadensis, of the northern 

 United States, is deep brown, with 

 pubescent antennae. These myriapods 

 are somewhat destructive to agricul- 

 ture, especially to cabbage and straw- 

 berries. 



Two genera of myriapods which 

 stand somewhat isolated deserve a 



FIG. 77. - - Polydesmus . , , . . , 



canadensis (=P.serra- passing notice. Pauropus * and allied 



t-us). <i.5. Photo, by genera include a few animals about 

 w. H. c. P. 



1 millimetre long, found on the moist 



loam of woods. They are intermediate between chilopods 

 and diplopods, inasmuch as they have only one pair of legs 



TroXus, much ; Secr/zos, band. 

 2 TraO/oos, small ; TTOUS, foot, 



