b\2 
INSECTS. 
largest; with eight eyes, having four on each side of the head ; 
arranged rhomboidally. 
Scolopendra morsitans. — The Deadly Scolopendra. 
Plate XCVII. fig. 5. 
Body brown ; provided with forty-two feet, the last two with 
a spinous first joint. Inhabits India. 
CLASS IX.—INSECTS. 
Articulated animals with six legs, and respiring by means of 
tracheae; head distinct from the thorax, and provided with two 
antennae. 
The animals composing this very extensive class have articu¬ 
lated feet, a dorsal vessel, supposed by some naturalists to be 
the heart, but devoid of any branches for circulation ; they re¬ 
spire by means of two tracheae, which lie parallel to each other, 
and extend through the whole inner cavity of the body. These 
have bronchi at intervals, from which emanate a number of 
branches, and correspond to the external stigmata, for the en¬ 
trance of air. 
They have all a distinct head, furnished with two antennae. 
The nervous system of the greater number of insects, usually 
consists of a brain, formed of two opposite ganglia, whose bases 
are united, furnishing but eight pairs of nerves, two solitary 
nerves, and twelve ganglia. To which, however, several lamelli- 
corneous coleopterous insects, in a perfect state, form an excep¬ 
tion. The nervous system and digestive organs, however, un¬ 
dergo remarkable changes, in different stages of their existence. 
Cuvier and Scarpa are of opinion, that the seat of hearing in 
insects is near the origin of the antennae. The former says, 
“ in some lepidopterous insects I have observed two small 
holes situated near the eyes, and which, perhaps, are auditory 
conduits.” 
In the bead are situated the antennae, the eyes, and the 
mouth. 
The eyes are either complicated or smooth; they are formed 
