Mr, Xkwi'ort on the Class Myriapoda. Order ( 'hiloj>o(]a. Ml 



appendages. In the female the anal segment is divided by a median salens, 

 and is armed on eacli side with a pair of forceps. 



The species of this family are exceedingly common, and reside hencath the 

 rotten bark of trees, under stones, and in crevices in the earth. Thev shun 

 the light, and run with great rapidity. Like the (\rmatii<l<r they are of car- 

 nivorous habits, although Mr. West wood* and some other naturalists believe 

 that they feed partly on vegetable matter. Hut this mod certainly i> a mis- 

 take, and probably has arisen from their being found amongst decaying I 

 tables. Their presence there is to be attributed to their habit of preyie 

 vegetable-feeding larvae found in such localities, and not to their own predi- 

 lection for vegetable food. The decidedly carnivorous form of their organ-* of 

 nutrition, the forcipated structure of the mandibles, and the strongly denticu- 

 lated labium distinctly indicate their kind of food (Tab. XXXIII. fig. i's toSS.), 

 which consists of soft-bodied larvae, small earth-worms and Onisri. I have 

 seen a LWiobius Leachii, that had been confined for some weeks without food, 

 attack with great ferocity a living earth-worm, that was more than twice its 

 own length, the instant it was within its reach. It seized its prey transversely 

 with its powerful mandibles, and notwithstanding the writhings and contor- 

 tions of the worm, which coiled around its body, the Liikobita did not appear 

 to be at all incommoded, but held securely on, and seemed only to increase tin- 

 energy of its gripe. It persevered in its attack for several hours, until the 

 worm became exhausted. The Lithobius then succeeded in biting off a por- 

 tion of one end of the worm, and fed upon this to repletion, retaining it con- 

 stantly between its mandibles; and, like the ArachniiUu appeared to squeeze 

 and to suck out the juices. Being accidentally disturbed, the Lithobius dropped 

 its prey and attempted to escape; but as soon as its alarm had subsided it 

 began again to search for it, using its antennae as explorers, and the instant it 

 was discovered darted on it as at first. When several specimens of Lithobii 

 are confined in the same vessel without food, they attack and destroy each 

 other, more especially the very young specimens ; but this is only when urged 

 by hunger. However much the Lithobii may suffer from want of food, they 

 will not attack the Geophili. When much pressed for nourishment, they will 

 sometimes prey on the cooked flesh of Fertebrata, but this is almost invariably 



* Entomologist's Compendium. 

 3 B 2 



