3178 



THE JOINTED ANIMALS 



MILLIPEDE, Polydesmus complanatus (much enlarged). 



migrate into temperate climes; while the lulidce reach their maximum development 

 in Europe and the United States, and are only sparsely represented in the Tropics. 

 The Cambalidce are remarkable for the presence of crests and tubercles on their 

 segments. , 



The suborder Polydesmoidea is almost as extensive as the luloidea, its members 

 being spread over the habitable world. The largest species belonging to the genus 

 Platyrrhachus, which reach a length of several inches, occur in tropical America 

 and the East Indies. In all, the number of segments is nineteen or twenty, or the 

 fewest among the Helminthomorpha. Eyes are wanting, and, as in the luloidea, 

 the segments form solid rings, owing to the fusion of the pleurae and pedal laminae 



with the terga. Secret- 

 ing pores are generally 

 present on most of the 

 segments, though some- 

 times absent in members 

 of the family Cryptodes- 

 midce. When present, 

 they are almost always 

 borne upon large plate- 

 like processes, springing 

 from the sides of the 

 segments. In distribu- 

 tion this suborder is cos- 

 mopolitan, the temperate forms being of small size, while some of the tropical species 

 are large and beautifully colore'd. 



In habits all millipedes seem to be very similar. Although m9Stly vegetarians, 

 feeding on soft roots, fruits, and succulent plants, one of the smaller kinds of lulidce 

 eats worms and decaying animal matter. They occur under stones, logs of wood, 

 or in rotten tree trunks in damp places,- and in tropical countries come out in 

 numbers after rain, when they may be seen crawling over the ground and climbing 

 bushes. Moisture is necessary for their existence, and in captivity they freely drink 

 water or milk. Most are slow in their movements, and never trust in speed to' 

 escape. When walking the body is kept fully extended, and propelled by the legs, 

 the movements of which resemble a series of waves passing up the body from behind 

 forward. As already stated, many forms are devoid of eyes; but even those possess- 

 ing well-developed visual organs appear scarcely able to do more than distinguish 

 light from darkness. As they crawl along, every inch of the road is first carefully 

 touched by the antennas, which are tipped with a sensory organ, and the creatures 

 appear to be unaware of the presence of an obstacle until the antennas have actually 

 come into contact with it. All millipedes are perfectly harmless, and may be 

 handled with impunity; but those species possessing odoriferous glands emit a dis- 

 agreeable odor, due to the secretion of a fluid containing prussic acid. This, no 

 doubt, serves as a protection against birds, ants, etc., to these otherwise defenseless 

 creatures. Some birds will, however, eat them; and in a hornbill's nest in the 

 British Museum the plaster used to block the entrance is largely composed of 



