80 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1881. 



the most forcible manner, an affiliation with Scolopendrella. 

 This is most strongly indicated in the mouth parts, legs, varia- 

 bility in the nuHiber of antcnnal joints and habits of life in all of 

 which Scolopendrella exhibits the strongest resemblances to the 

 Thysanura^ with very marked affinities to the Myriapods as well. 

 The position of the ovary is that in Geophilus, hut spinning organs 

 are also characteristic of the male Geophilus and Polydesmus ; a 

 female specimen of the latter, while being kept in confinement, 

 spun a web about its eggs in a jar in which I had confined it. I 

 never noticed that any American female Geojjhilas spun webs 

 about their nests, though I have frequently encountered masses 

 of their beautiful amethystine-colored eggs, over which they kept 

 faithful watch. 



Whether the proposed order Symphyla is sufficiently well 

 characterized may be a matter of doubt ; this can only be decided 

 by a more elaborate investigation of its anatomy, which the writer 

 hopes to be able to carry out at no distant day. 



