1819.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 139 



April 22. 

 The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the chair. 

 Twenty-seven persons present. 



Notice of a New Panropod. Mr. J. A. Ryder described a new 

 mj r riapod which he had recently discovered, and which turned 

 out to be nearly allied to the form described by Sir John Lubbock 

 under the name of Pauropus. The specimens which the speaker 

 had obtained were five in number, and had but six segments, fewer 

 than any other known member of the group, whilst the number of 

 pairs of legs was nine, the same as in Pauropus, which is very 

 strong evidence that the specimens are adults. The following 

 characterization of the genus and species was proposed: 



Eurypauropus spinosus, gen. et sp. nov. Body segments six 

 in number, sixth exceedingly rudimentary; antennae five-jointed; 

 legs in nine pairs, equidistant; tergal sclerites laterally expanded 

 so as to conceal the legs almost entirely when the animal is viewed 

 from above, and covered with fine tubercles which are joined to 

 each other by raised lines ; appressed curved spines are also scat- 

 tered over their surface in less number, and also fringe their mar- 

 gins, being disposed at regular intervals; the spines and lines 

 give the dorsal surface of the little creature *a slightly silky lustre 

 when viewed with reflected light. Color a delicate light brown. 

 Mouth-organs the same as in the first-described genus. No evi- 

 deuce of eyes could be detected. Length ^th of an inch ; width 

 about Jgth of an inch. Habitat in Fairinount Park, Philadel- 

 phia, east and west of Schuylkill, under decaying wood. 



The tergal sclerites are much thicker than in Pauropus, having 

 the characteristic brown color of chitin when viewed with trans- 

 mitted light. The antennas have the terminal globular hyaline 

 body with a long pedicle as in Pauropus pedunculatus. The tj-pe 

 is the most distinct form discovered since the detection of the 

 first known representatives in England in 1866, and also extends 

 the geographical range of the family, and does much towards fully 

 establishing the Pauropoda as a distinct order of myriapods. 



Bo Snakes Swallow their Young? Mr. Meehan remarked that 

 European zoologists 3'et seemed incredulous that young snakes 

 would enter their mothers' mouths for protection when frightened. 

 He had witnessed such an occurrence, but it had been suggested 

 that his eyes deceived him. Professor Brown Goode had collected ' 

 evidence sufficient, he thought, for American zoologists to believe 

 in. Similar facts came to us from Australia. He read a part of a 

 letter to himself from Baron Ferdinand Von Mueller, of Mel- 



