250 LEP1SM&. 



more nearly related to cockroaches than to any 

 other form, but they do not in the least resemble 

 those most unattractive creatures, being much 

 smaller and of elegant shape, like slender little 

 fishes made of silver. The body of a Lepisma con- 

 sists of fourteen segments, the head being one, the 

 thorax three, and the abdomen ten. The silvery 

 scales which cover the body are so lightly attached, 

 that a touch will bring them off. These scales 

 have long been used as a test of power of micro- 

 scopic lenses, the delicate markings on the scale 

 being more or less visible according to the power 

 of the glasses. The name Bristle-tail is given 

 because of the seven caudal hairs which the 

 Lepisma possesses, three of which are much longer 

 than the rest. The Germans call these insects 

 Borstenschivarze and Silberfisclien (Bristle-tails and 

 Silver-fishes). 



Many insects seem to find wall paper an attrac- 

 tive diet, and the pair of Lepismce I used to watch 

 every night in the same place on the wall of my 

 bedroom were evidently enjoying their evening 

 meal, but as they lived in a dark corner and 

 no very perceptible damage was done I did not 



