558 



THE GREAT CENTIPEDE. 



mud at the distance of a few feet from eacli other. These sticks, after 

 remaining some time, are taken up, and generally with an animal 

 adhering to each. They are gently drawn out, and a basket is put 

 under to receive the animals, which drop off when brought to the surface. 



THE CENTIPEDE AND MTIXEFKDE. 



.- THE GREAT CENTIPEDE. 



The Great Centipedes vary much both in size and color. Some of 

 them are of a deep reddish brown, others of a yellow ochre c-ilorj 

 Avid yellow, or tinged with red ; and they are sometimes seen more 

 than a foot in length. Their legs terminate in very sharp hooks, or 

 nails of a shining black color. 



None of the insect tribe, the Scorpions excepted, are so formidable 

 in appearance as 

 the Centipede. 

 It is found in 

 the East and 

 West Indies, and 

 in various parts 

 of Africa, inhab- 

 iting chiefly the 

 woods, where it 

 is preyed upon 

 by the different 

 species of snakes. 

 It is, however, 

 sometimes found 



in houses, and is said to be so common in particular districts, that the 

 inhabitants are obliged to have the feet of their beds placed in vessels 

 of water, in order to prevent their being annoyed during the night by 

 these horrible reptiles, 



Gronovius soys, that all the legs of this animal are venomous ; but 

 its most formidable weapons are the two sharp and hooked instru- 

 ments, that are placed under the mouth, with which it destroys its 

 prey. At the extremity of each of these there is a small opening, 

 through which it is supposed the Centipede emits the poisonous fluid 

 into the wound inflicted by the fangs. 



Leeuwenhoek, desirous of ascertaining some facts relative to the 

 poison emitted by the Centipede, placed a large fly within the reach 

 of one of these animals. He seized it between a pair of the middle 

 feet, then passed it from one pair to the next, till it was brought urder 

 the fangs ; which were plunged into its body, and it died instantly. 

 M. St. Piere says, that, in the Isle of France, his dog was bitten by a 

 Centipede upwards of six inches in length, and that the wound became 

 ulcerous, and was three weeks in healing. lie was highly diverted 

 in observing one of these animals overcome by a vast number of Ants, 

 that attacked it in conjunction, and, after having seized it by all its 

 legs, bore it alung, as workmen would have done a large jnece of 

 timber. The poison of the Centipede is not more injurious than thai 

 of the S<Jorpion, and seldom proves fatal to the larger animals. 



