ZOOLOGY. 125 
coast.” It is doubtless the same species which distresses 
_the dogs so much. The Chigre, (P. penetrans), so well- 
known in the West Indies, is also common in Bermuda, 
and many are the tales related of its dangerous attacks. 
Centipedes (Scolopendre) are fortunately not common in 
the Bermudas, and those that do exist frequent particular 
spots where they are seldom disturbed, such as lumber 
heaps, roots of old cedar trees, and other like places. 
Specimens have been taken of great size; one captured at 
St. George’s was kindly presented to us by Mr. Attwood, 
and measured about six inches in length, including antene 
and hind legs; but this is small in comparison to some, 
which, from their venomous character and formidable 
appearance, are much dreaded by the inhabitants. 
Small species of the Millipedes, (Julus,) are frequently 
met with, and are locally termed “forty claws.” 
ARACHNIDA (Spiers, Erc.) 
Five species of spider came under our notice, of which 
the “silk spider” (petra clavipes) is the best known and 
most attractive. This wonderful web-architect is extremely 
common, and its strong and extensive web spreads from 
tree to tree in all parts of the islands. It appears to 
have been noticed by travellers as early as the seventeenth 
century, at which period some remarks of its habits 
appeared in the “ Philosophical Transactions,” stating that 
“they spin their webs betwixt trees standing seven or 
eight fathoms asunder ; and they do their work by spinning 
their web into the air when the wind carries it from tree 
to tree. The web when finished will snare a bird as big as 
a thrush.” Now we think this statement to be an exaggera- 
