A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



843 



etc. during the day. The larger individuals are about six inches 

 long; color dark chestnut-brown, blending into dull verdigris-green 

 on the sides. Although its bite is venomous and somewhat painful, 

 as a member of my party experienced, it is scarcely more so than the 

 sting of a large wasp or hornet. 



Lithobius lapidicola Mein. 



This European species was recorded, with some doubt, by C. H. 

 Boll man, 1889, from Heilprin's collection. We found the same form 

 rather common under stones. 



House Centipede. {Scutig era, forceps Raf.= Cermatia forceps.) 



Figure 229. 

 Not uncommon in cellars, etc. It often gets into the water tanks. 

 This is a harmless and very useful species, for it devours large num- 

 bers of flies, cockroaches, and other household insects. It is nocturnal 

 in its habits, and runs with surprising agility at night. It is very 



229 



Figure 229. — House Centipede (Scutigera forceps) ; natural size ; from Webster's 

 International Dictionary ; after Marlatt. 



fond of moist places, like cellars and greenhouses. It is widely dis- 

 tributed and has become common in the seaports of southern New 

 England during the past twenty years. 



I found a specimen in one of the ancient water tanks at the ruined 

 forts on Castle Island, long uninhabited. This would indicate that 

 it was introduced here as long ago as the war of 1812. 



Mecistocephalus Guildingii Newport. 



A West Indian species recorded by Bollman, 1889. 



Thousand-legs; Galley-worm; Milliped. (Spirobolus Ileilprini 

 Bollman.) 



Described from Heilprin's Bermuda collection of 1S88. We 

 found it common under stones, etc. It is 2 to 2.5 inches long, round, 



