800 MYRIAPODA— SCOLOPENDRA...G ALLY- WORM. 



vegetable or animal substances. Latreille divides the class of Myriapoda into 

 two orders, viz. 



Order I. Chilognatha. — Antenna; filiform, of seven joints; mouth com 

 posed of two mandibles, and a lip divided by sutures ; two or four anterior 

 feet united at the base. 



Order II. Chilopoda. — Antennae setaceous, of fourteen joints and up- 

 wards ; mouth composed of two mandibles, a multifid tip, two palpiform 

 feet, and a second pair of feet united at their base, with a perforated hook. 



THE SCOLOPENDRA,* AND GALLY-WORM. 



Of these hideous and angry insects we know little, except the figure and 

 the noxious qualities. Though with us there are insects somewhat resem- 

 bling them in form, we are placed at a happy distance from such as are 

 really formidable. With us they seldom grow above an inch long; in the 

 tropical climates they are often found above a quarter of a yard. 



The scolopendra is otherwise called the centipes, from the number of its 

 feet; and it is very common in many parts of the world, especially between 

 the tropics. Those of the East Indies, where they grow to the largest size, 

 and are sometimes more than a foot in length, are of a ruddy color, and as 

 thick as a man's finger; they consist of many joints, and from each joint is 

 a leg on each side ; they are covered with hair, and seem to have no eyes 

 but there are two feelers on the head, which they make use of to find ou! 

 the way they are to pass ; the head is very round, with two small, sharp 

 teeth, with which they inflict wounds that are very painful and dangerous. 

 A sailor that was bit by one on board a ship, felt an excessive pain, and his 

 life was supposed to be in danger; however, he recovered by the application 

 of three roasted onions to the part, and was soon quite well. Of this animal 

 there are different kinds ; some living, like worms, in holes in the earth ; 

 others under stones, and among rotten wood ; so that nothing is more dan- 

 gerous than removing those substances in the places where they breed. 



The gally-worm 2 differs from the scolopendra, in having double the 

 number of feet ; there being two on each side, to every joint of the body. 

 Some of these are smooth, and others hairy ; some are yellow, some black, 

 and some brown. They are found among decayed trees, between the wood 

 and the bark ; as also among stones that are covered with moss. They all, 

 when touched, contract themselves, rolling themselves up into a circle. 

 Whatever may be their qualities in the tropical parts of the world, in 

 Europe they are perfectly harmless ; having been often handled and irritated, 

 without aDy vindictive consequences. 



1 Scolopcndi-a morsitans, Lin. 2 Julus, 



