MYRIAPODA : LITHOBIID^E. 459 



rings, but the number increases with age till there are 

 in some cases many times that number. They may be 

 divided into Chilognatha and Chilopoda ; the former 

 embracing those which have a large number of rings, 

 each of which bears two pairs of legs, and short and 

 few-jointed antennae, and feed mainly on decomposing 

 vegetable substances ; the latter, those which have the 

 body flattened, with a smaller number of rings, each 

 of which has a single pair of legs, of which the last 

 pair is largest and extended behind, the antennae long 

 and with numerous joints, and the jaws strong, and 

 which are carnivorous in their habits. 



GLOMERID^E, Leach. This Family contains chilo- 

 gnaths which have an oval form and few segments, and 

 which have the habit of rolling themselves into a ball. 



IULID.E, Leach. This Family contains chilognaths 

 which are long, cylindrical, and hard, with numerous 

 short and weak feet, and which crawl rather slowly, and 

 coil the body when at rest. The Genus luhis contains 

 the species. The species of temperate regions are sel- 

 dom more than one or two inches long; but tropical 

 species are six or seven inches in length. 



POLYDESMID^E, Leach. This Family embraces chilo- 

 gnaths which are closely related to lulidae in F i g . 359. 

 structure and habits, but have the body much 

 flattened. 



LITHOBIID^E, Newport. This Family em- 

 braces chilopods, which are well represented 

 by the Genus LitJwbius, found everywhere 

 under rubbish, and distinguished by the or- 

 bicular head, long forty-jointed antennae, and 

 sixteen rings. They feed upon insects and 

 worms, and run rapidly. They are called 

 Earwigs in this country, but the writer is not 



11 i American Earwig, 



aware that they ever enter people s ears. 



