Mr. Newport on the Class Myriapoda, Order Chilopoda. 401 



spines, arranged partly on the superior surface. Inferior surface convex, with from 

 eight to ten spines irregularly distributed. Angular process large, tuberculiform, with 

 from six to eight minute black spines. Distal angle of the femoral joint of the eleven 

 posterior pairs of legs with from three to five spinulae. Preanal scale elongate quadrate, 

 margin rounded. Lateral anal appendages very short, obtuse, with the process tuber- 

 culiform, with five minute black spines. 



This magnificent and truly gigantic species is quite distinct from all hitherto 

 described. It differs from S. gigas of Leach in the more cylindrical form of 

 the posterior pair of legs and the obconic femoral joints, and in the legs being 

 all of an uniform colour. 



The specimen in the Museum cabinet is believed to be from Jamaica. It 

 agrees more nearly than any known species with fig. 4. tab. 42. of " The large 

 Centipie," in Brown's ' History of Jamaica,' the description of which is, "Sco- 

 lopendra2: maxima, pedibustriginf a sex." I have no doubt, however, that this 

 description, so far as relates to the number of legs, is inaccurate, as on refer- 

 ring to the figure I find that nineteen pairs of legs are delineated, while not 

 only are some of these incorrectly placed, but the subbasilar legs are entirely 

 omitted. Yet this is the species which Linnaeus describes, apparently from 

 Brown's figure and account of it, as Linnaeus himself has written the name 

 " Scolopendra gigantea" on the margin of the page of his own copy of Brown's 

 work, now in the possession of the Linnean Society. That Linnaeus described 

 his species from Brown's figure seems evident from the fact, that in the copy 

 of the ' Systema Naturae,' dated 1766, Holmiae, used by himself for reference, 

 and now in the Society's library, he refers to Brown's work, but says, " S. pe- 

 dibus utrinque xvVi. Habit, in America;" and adds, " sequente multo major, sed 

 simillima." Fabricius has exactly copied Linnaeus's description, so far as the 

 characters and locality of the species are concerned ; so that it is very probable 

 that neither of these two authorities even saw the species they have named. 

 It may be desirable in support of this opinion to compare Brown's obser- 

 vations with those of Linnaeus. He says, after his description : — " This 

 insect is sometimes found on the wharfs of Kingston, and commonly thought 

 to be brought there among the timbers and dye-woods imported from the 

 main. It is generally very large, and sometimes measures above ten inches 

 in length." 



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