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common to-day in that region than formerly. They are reported as rather 

 common in the Cimarron valley; and thence through the southwestern ter- 

 ritory and Mexico, they are a characteristic feature of the fauna, a con- 

 stant bugbear to the inhabitants of adobes and dug-outs. 



The species is extremely variable. 



Scolopendra heros, Grd., var. castaiieiceps, AVood. This beautiful va- 

 riety of heros, deep-shining green with orange-colored head, is not uncom- 

 mon in Barber Co., where I obtained several specimens from beneath blocks 

 of gypsum. I have seen a single specimen over six inches in length. 



Scolopeiidra heros, Grd., var. nov. prismatica. Under this name may 

 be recorded an interesting variety of this species from the vicinity of Medi- 

 cine Lodge, contributed to the survey by Mr. G. L. Johnston. It is re- 

 markable for its strongly bicarinate scuta. The superior surface of each 

 scutum, except the first and last, may be said to be bounded by three planes, 

 one horizontal and two sloping from either side of the same and making 

 with it a clearly-cut angle, giving the appearance of a double bevel. The 

 general color of the specimen in alcohol is deep purplish-black, in sharp 

 contrast with the bright orange-brown of the head and first body segment; 

 feet greenish-yellow, the hist pair concolorous with the body, and a little 

 stouter than in the typical species. 



Scolopeiidra polymorpha, AVood. llice, Finney, and Barber Cos., in 

 the last named county, common in the debris of the gypsum rock. Mrs. 

 J. K. Pitts has contributed a specimen whose exact locality is now lost, 

 but was probably in the vicinity of Topeka. 



This is the common Scolopendra of Kansas. The largest specimens 

 exceed four inches in length. One specimen has the joints of the antenna,* 

 30, 29; another, 30, 28 in number. 



Scolopendra morsitans, Linn., var. nov. coerulesceiis. A centipede with 

 antennae 20-jointed, I refer here provisionally, though it differs in some 

 respects from the characters given by Newport and Wood for this species, 

 and though the latter author has expressed his belief that 8. morsitanx is 

 not an inhabitant of the United States. The color is a uniform light blue, 

 or greenish blue, pale, almost to translucence, the legs being nearly color- 

 less and transparent. The mandibles are dark green, in sharp contrast 

 with the light-bluish hue of the other mouth-parts, which are concolorous 

 with the head and body. The entire animal is of a more delicate structure 

 than is usually seen even in small specimens of the genus. The reflexed 

 antennae co v er about four segments of the body. The length is a little 

 over an inch. These characters will suffice to distinguish this variety of 

 morsitans, if I am right in referring it to that species; but I shall elsewhere 

 give the details of its form and armature. 



Newport states that the range of S. morsitans includes the tropical and 

 subtropical portions of the New World, arid an unknown portion of China. 

 In view of the many subtropical features in the fauna of southern Kansas 

 that have already come to light, the discovery of this species in that region 

 need be hardly a matter of surprise. Our specimen was found under a 

 stone on the summit of a high hill in Barber Co., about 500 feet above the 

 Medicine River at Medicine Lodge. 



