100 OBSERVATIONS ON PERIPATL S, 



It is rather interesting to observe the behaviour of wood lice, 

 the creatures with which I have most frequently fed my Peripati, 

 when dropped into the vivarium. At first they scramble under 

 the little pieces of rotten wood, under which the Peripati are 

 lurking, but they very quickly appear to recognise the presence of 

 an enemy and crawl out again, finally clustering together as far 

 as they can get from their foes. Wood lice eat any sort of 

 organic matter, vegetable or animal, and I have seen one biting 

 and nibbling at a sickly Peripatus which was too weak to defend 

 itself. 



I have never observed Peripati eat one another; even when, 

 kept without food they do not attack each other or the young. 



When feeding the movements of the animal are very graceful and 

 deliberate. The antennae {ire endowed with a high degree of 

 sensitiveness, and are used by cautiously touching the insect, 

 when so occupied being carried somewhat erect with the tips 

 curved downwards. From the manner of using them sometimes, 

 by bending them round and over an object which is being 

 examined, without touching it I think it is highly probable the 

 antennae are the medium of a sense analogous to that of smell. 



In securing its prey Peripatus does not always use the slime 

 secretion, but appears to resort thereto only when the insect which 

 it is endeavouring to secure appears likely to escape, or when it 

 struggles violently, or again when the animal is liungry and wants 

 to make certain of the capture. It then becomes animated, raises 

 the front part of its body and ejects the viscid fluid from both 

 papillae simultaneously. The secretion is ejected witli sufficient 

 force to project it several inches. The slime appears to be of an 

 albuminous nature. It is not at all acid or acrid, but is merely 

 useful mechanically, through its tenacious stickiness. When 

 freshly emitted it is rather liquid, but quickly toughens in the 

 air. It is tasteless and has no effect when applied to a sensitive 

 mucous surface of the human body. It mixes with water, but is 

 at once coagulated and rendered insoluble by alcohol. 



When the creature is alarmed by sudden exposure to light, the 

 slime is often discharged, the object obviously being self-defence. 



