8 Dr. & the Rev. S. Graham Brade-Birks— 
familiar when he wrote his work on Chilopoda (12). Gazag- 
naire, who mentions the publications of a number of earlier 
authors asks two questions: Among Geophilide which 
produce light, is it possible to determine more or less 
precisely a special time at which luminosity occurs? Can 
we discover something of a physiological process in connec- 
tion with its production ? 
Gazagnaire dwells upon the difficulty of the whole subject, 
and tabulates a number of observations to show that 
Geophilomorphs have been seen in a lighting condition by 
various European observers between the end of September 
and the first fortnight of November, and on the strength of 
these observations he concludes that ‘‘ among the photogenic 
Geophilide, the property of emitting light only manifests itself 
at a definite period of their existence, a period which, for our 
European species, can be limited between the end of ae 
and the first fortnight of November.’’ 
Gazagnaire goes on to comment upon the fact tus 
luminous centipedes have often been noticed two or more 
near together, and when these have been determined they 
have seldom been found to be all of one sex. He states 
that Geophilide, like other Chilopods, generally have an 
antipathy for one another, but he suggests that at the 
breeding-season this love of isolation breaks down and 
numbers of individuals gather together at the time when the 
genital organs become functional, and, as phosphorescence 
shows itself at the same time, it is natural to conclude that 
“the property of emitting light among the photogenic Geophi- 
lide is intimately connected with the genital function.” 
Dealing: with the researches of Fabre in a passage we 
have translated: as follows, Gazagnaire says :— 
“The demonstration of this conclusion becomes more 
evident still if we make an appeal to the data which we 
possess concerning the probable mode of fertilization in 
these animals. We owe them to Fabre, our great ento- 
mologist. 
“For two whole years Fabre followed up his researches 
on Geophilide. He never verified coitus. I do not know 
that anyone since has been more successful than he. The 
discharge of spermatophores, discovered by Fabre, seems to 
comfirm the fact that among Geophilide there is no coitus, 
which is contrary to the belief of G. Newport, expressed in 
1840. At the end of September, on examining some Geo- 
philus convolvens* kept in captivity, Fabre noticed, in the 
* {We do not know this specific name.—H. K. B.-B., 8. G. B.-B.) 
