TIIR PAUROPUS HUXLEY I. 415 



sideration, but the powers of locomotion arc increased over those 

 of a simple insect larva, by the multiplication of the segments of 

 the body and their legs. There is no consolidation of the anterior 

 segments into a thorax, as is the case in insects, and instead of this 

 concentration during development, the reverse tal<es place, and the 

 growing Myriapod increases by the production of new rings. 



No metamorphosis takes place in the Myriapoda ; but the 

 absence of the distinct phases which characterise the phenomenon 

 is compensated for by a succession of changes of skin and acces- 

 sions of structures. 



Sir John Lubbock has described a curious little Myriapod, 

 which he has named Pauropus, and it was found by him amongst 

 dead leaves and in other accumulations of decaying organic sub- 

 stances, in company with species of Thysamira, mites, worms, and 

 other living things that frequent similar situations. Paiiropiis 

 Huxlcyi is a bustling, active, neat, and cleanly little creature, and 

 Sir John Lubbock says it has a look of cheerful intelligence 

 which forms a great contrast to the dull stupidity of the Julid(Z, 

 or the melancholy ferocity of most Chilopods. It lives through- 

 out the year among dead leaves, and is continually running about, 

 and it sometimes gives a rush of surprising velocity. He found 

 it during the winter in the warmer days, and he noticed that it 

 cleans its feet and antenna) with its mouth. 



The animal is tolerably transparent, and the digestive organs 

 are plainly visible, but there are no tracheae. Lubbock supposes 

 that it respires through its delicate skin, as no traces of respira- 

 tory organs were to be seen ; and, if this is the case, it forms a 

 separate family, for all the other Myriapods respire through 

 the agency of trachea;. The growth of these insects is very 

 remarkable. 



The smallest specimens observed by Lubbock were about Vr 

 of an inch in length, and possessed three pairs of legs only. The 

 first pair was attached to the third segment (the one which suc- 

 ceeds the head), the other two to the following one. Beyond the 

 legs were two other segments, making six in all, as seen from 

 above, and counting the head as two. The finst of the six-legged 

 insects was found in September, and they were in company with 

 their parents. They moult, and there appears to be great 



