392 BULI.13TIN 83 



the slightest injury on the human skin. They secrete an ill-smelling 

 fluid for protection when handled. Locally, we have some very 

 large representatives of the group, as long and thick as a lead pencil 

 when they are fully extended. They commonly curl up into a tight 

 coil when disturbed. It may be said in closing that "thousand 

 legs" is no more accurate for these than "hundred legs" for centi- 

 pedes, yet the larger ones do have a number so great that the 

 average person does not think of counting them, and one wonders 

 what kind of a poem might have resulted had these instead of centi- 

 pedes been the object of investigation in tlie following instance. 

 Professor E. Ray Lankester, an eminent English zoologist, some 

 years ago attempted "to study the order in A\hich the legs of Centi- 

 pedes moved, and came to the conclusion that if the animal had to 

 stud}- the question itself, it would not get on at all. He finishes 

 with the following verses : 



"A Centipede was hajjpy (|uite 

 Until a toad in fun 



Said, 'Pray Avhich leg moves after which?' 

 This raised her doubts to such a pitch, 

 She fell exhausted in the ditch. 

 Not knowing how to run." 



