( xcvi ) 



sibilities. It was nice to be able to go as one pleased with 

 just one's own kit. We had (1 went with the Political Officer) 

 very fine sunny weather, but now the rains have just begun, 

 and go on until about June or end of May. They say that 

 now it means we can't finish off the bodies (who are around 

 Mahenge) until August, as the country is impossible in the 

 rains down there. 



" Well, now, I will look through my journal for notes on 

 any of the insects I send — they are not all butterflies ; some 

 are Asilids with prey. 



" To begin with — a Millipede, a giant black species about 

 6 inches long, I should think, brown-legged, really very 

 handsome. On Dec. 26, before breakfast, I saw one walking 

 along, and I picked it up. Millipedes when picked up coil 

 up in a ring and ' lie low,' but this didn't. He was of an 

 original temperament, for he wriggled violently, and when I 

 dropped him, lay on his back and writhed in such a serpentine 

 maimer — actually making progress thus -that it was quite 

 terrifying ! Subsequently, as he walked along, I irritated 

 him with my stick, and he turned over on his back and writhed 

 again in serpentine manner. I doubt if any native who was 

 not familiar with these common creatures would have gone 

 near it. I was much interested because I have seen and 

 handled a great many of these handsome armour-clads (they 

 were very abundant on the islands, though I think this was 

 the biggest I have seen), and since then have tried to make 

 others of the same size and appearance perform in the same 

 manner on three occasions, but 1 have never met with another 

 performer. Perchance, in half-light, it might save one from 

 being eaten. Some animal does eat them. 1 fancy perhaps 

 jackal or mongoose, for one finds their ring3 in old dried-up 

 droppings." 



[Capt. Carpenter wrote in a letter of June 20, 1 '- » 1 7 : " Re 

 the Millipede — I fancy it writhed on its bach because the 

 movements were so lusty that the delicate legs might have 

 interfered with the freedom of the movement or even been 

 damaged by it. 1 tried several others of the same species 

 afterwards, but never got another individual to writhe in 

 t he same serpentine manner."] 



