494 0NISC1D.E. 



under a strong magnifying power the rudiments of two 

 very minute terminal joints are to be perceived, as well 

 as several short tliickisli spines. The large outer antennas 

 are seven-jointed, the second joint roundly dilated at its 

 outer edge at the tip, the fifth joint long, the seventh the 

 slenderest, with a minute distinct seta at the tip. 



The third segment of the tail is laterally continuous 

 with the edge of the seventh segment of the body, the 

 two basal segments of the former, although quite dis- 

 tinct, being short and greatly abbreviated at the sides. 

 The hind margin of the fifth segment is semicircular, 

 the emargination being filled in by the small triangular 

 sixth segment, of which the apex is obtuse, and by the 

 flattened and truncated outer division of the first pair of 

 false legs, the inner division being small, flattened, and 

 ovate. The five anterior pairs of appendages of the tail 

 differ considerably in form, the first pair being composed 

 of two flattened, somewhat triangular, plates ; the second 

 pair in the male is nearly similar in form, but is provided 

 with a large pair of elongated horny lobes, slightly 

 curved at the tips ; the third pair in the male is more 

 sabre-shaped, with a slender horny appendage, having the 

 tip bent and acute; the fourth, fifth, and sixth pairs have 

 the plates triangular-shaped. 



The general colour is leaden, or dark steel-grey, with 

 spots and patches of dull buff or whitish : it varies, 

 however, to brownish testaceous. It inhabits rather dry 

 places under stones, decaying timber, and among herbage, 

 and is often seen running about foot-paths, rolling itself 

 up into a ball at the least alarm. This has gained for it 

 the name of Pill millepede, and in " former times it was 

 highly reputed for its supposed medicinal virtues, the 

 old books of Materia Medica informing us that when 

 dried and pulverized they have a faint disagreeable 



