MYRIAPODA. 



XTBIGAQKA 



they pom more complete eye* than any of the Vermiform tribe*, 

 and their respiratory apparatus and the parU of their organisation are 

 more nearly allied to Insects. Their covering U firm, and of a horny 

 character. 



The divUion into segment* U very distinct, a flexible membrane 

 being interpoeed between each pair of firm ring* or plate*. The legi 

 and other appendage* are inclosed in the same kind of integument, 

 and their joints are formed in the tame manner a* thoee of the body. 

 We find in thi* clau however two diitinct type* of conformation, of 

 which one approximate* most nearly to the Vermiform tribes, and 

 the other to that of the higher A nieulala ; in the former of which the 

 /ultu (Gaily- Worm) may be taken a* an example. The body is gene- 

 rally cylindrical, or nearly so ; the number of segments is considerable, 

 and most of them bear two pairs of thread-like legs, so that the 

 number of these members sometimes amounts to 160 pairs. The legs 

 are very imperfectly developed, being scarcely large or strong enough 

 to sustain the weight of the body, and their articulations being 

 indistinct ; and the animal seems rather to glide or crawl with their 

 assistance, like a serpent or a worm, than to use them as its proper 

 instrument* of locomotion. This kind of movement is facilitated in 

 some species by the incomplete inclosure of the body in the consoli- 

 dated integument, for this merely forms plates above and below, which 

 are connected at the sides by soft membrane ; so that the trunk can 

 be easily placed in any direction. When at rest the body is rolled 

 up in a spiral form ; so that the legs, concealed in the concavity of 

 the spire, are protected from injury. The animals do not move with 

 rapidity, and they chiefly feed upon decomposing organic matter. In 

 the higher division, on the other hand, of which the Scolopendra 

 (Centipede) may be taken as the type, the body is flattened, and each 

 segment is completely inclosed in its horny envelope ; the number 

 of segment* is not very great, never exceeding 22, and being some- 

 times as low as 12; and each segment bears a single pair of well- 

 developed legs, on which these animals can run with considerable 

 rapidity. Still their bodies are possessed of considerable flexibility ; 

 and they are thus enabled to wind their way with facility through 

 very narrow and tortuous passages, in search of the insects, &c., which 

 constitute their food. In both orders, the first segment, or head, is 

 furnished with numerous eyes on each side, and also with a pair of 

 jointed antenna: ; the mouth is adapted for mastication, being furnished 

 with a pair of powerful cutting jaws ; and it is also provided, in the 

 Centipede and its allies, with a pair of appendages, formed by a 

 metamorphosis of the legs of the first segment of the body, which are 

 adapted not merely to hold and to tear the prey, but to convey poison 

 into the wounds thus made, this poison being ejected through a 

 minute aperture near their points. (Carpenter.) 



The alimentary canal is mostly divided into gullet, stomach, and 

 intestine. The stomach usually presents distinct muscular walls. 

 The circulatory organs consist of a dorsal vessel, which propels a 

 current of blood from behind forwards, which is distributed to the 

 body and respiratory organs. In the higher forms respiration is 

 effected by means of trachea;, which convey air into the interior of 

 the body as in Insect*. The nervous system is arranged in a double 

 series of ganglia, as in most of the Articulated Tribes. They possess 

 cephalic ganglia, which meet above the ossophagus, and form a two- 

 lobed mass, from which nerves proceed to the eyes and antenna?. In 

 many part* of the double series of cords the ganglia of either side 

 unite. The muscular apparatus is very complicated, consisting of a series 

 of distinct muscles for the movements of the segments and legs. The 

 exec are separate. The embryo at the period of hatching consist* of 

 but few segments, but these increase in number till it is fully grown 

 by the subdivision of the penultimate segment. The first number of 

 segment* is eight or nine, and these go on increasing in number till 

 there are sixty or seventy. The larva has no legs, these organs 

 making their appearance after the first moult During their growth 

 these animals have a considerable power of regenerating lost portions 

 of tieir body as the legs and antennas, but this power in lost when 

 they cease to develop. 



Mr. Newport divides the J/uriapoda into two orders Chilojxxla 

 and t'kilogna&a. [CuiLOPuDA ; CHILOOHATHA.] The following synopsis 

 of the genera of these two orders U drawn up from the list of the speci- 

 mens of liyriapwla in the collection of the British Museum (1844) : 



Order I. Chilopoda. 



Family 1. Cermaliada. 



1. C'ermaliii, Illiger. 9 specie*. 



Family 2. LMobiida. 



1. /.ithobiut, Leach. 9 species. 



2. J/enicopt, Newport 1 specie*. 



Family 3. Seolopendridae. 



1. Scoloptndra, Linntens. 38 species. 



2. C'ormocepkalut, Newport 8 species. 



3. XliombotcjMw, Newport. 2 specie > 



4. Jtettrottoma, Newport 7 species, 

 fi. Tluatopi, Newport 1 species. 



. Scolopocryplopi, Newport 1 specie-. 

 7. Cryptopt, Leach. 6 species. 



Family 4. OeopMilida. 



1. Scolopatdrtlla, Gervai*. 1 species. 



2. Mtcutocfptialtu, Newport 3 species. 



3. \ccropkkeophagui, Newport 3 specie*. 



4. Qvnitirtgmatiu, Newport 1 species. 



5. Geopkilut, Leach. species. 



Order II. CkUognatha. 



Family 1. (ilomeriilie. 



1. Olomaru, Latreille. 4 species. 



2. Zephronia, Gray. 6 specie*. 



3. Spturrotkerium, Brandt 2 species. 

 Family 2. I'olyxenidcc. 



1. Potyxenut, Latreille. 1 species. 

 Famil 8. Polydamida. 



1. Fontaria, Gray. 3 specie*. 



2. Polydetamt, Latreille. 12 specie*. 



3. Stronyylotoma, Brandt 2 species. 



4. Cratptrlotoma, Leach. 2 species. 



5. Cambala, Gray. 1 specie*. 



Tim 4. Julidtt. 



1. Platopt, Newport. 5 species. 



2. luJue, Linnieus. 12 species. 



3. Jllaniuliu, Gervaia. 1 species. 



4. Spirobolia, Brandt 9 species. 



5. Sfirotlreptut, Brandt. 15 species. 

 (Monograph of the Clau Ifyriapoda, Order Chilopoda, by George 



Newport; Linnaan Traruactioni, vol. xix. ; Carpenter, Principle* of 

 Comparative Phyiiology.) 



MYRICA (the Greek Mup.'<nj), a genus of Plants the type of the 

 natural order Afyricaceie. It has its flowers in catkins, which are com- 

 posed of concave scales ; 4 to 8 stamens. The fruit a 1 -celled 1 -seeded 

 drupe, and no perianth. There are several species of this genus, which 

 are shrubs or small trees. 



M. Quit, the Sweet Gale, or Box-Myrtle, is a native of Great Britain. 

 It has lanceolate serrate leaves, broader upwards, with a shrubby stum. 

 It is a bushy plant, about 4 feet in height ; the catkins are sessile and 

 erect ; the fruit is covered with resinous glands, and the leaves are 

 fragrant when bruised. This plant is found on the continent of 

 Europe, and also in North America, under the same circumstances as 

 in Great Britain. The leaves, on distillation, yield a yellow ethereal 

 oil, of a feeble odour, and mild taste, which after a little time becomes 

 slightly warui. The leaves were formerly used as a remedy against 

 the itch, and when bruised are placed amongst furs for the destruction 

 of the moth. In decoction they are employed for the destruction of 

 bugs and other vermin. In Sweden they are used as a substitute for 

 hops in brewing. 



if. cerifera, Wax-Myrtle, or Bay-Tree, has cuncate-lanceolato leaves, 

 sometimes entire, but more frequently toothed, particularly towards 

 the end, somewhat pubescent, a little paler beneath, and generally 

 twisted or revolute in their mode of growth ; has a branching half- 

 evergreen stem, from 1 to 12 feet high. The small flower is formed 

 by a concave rhomboidal scale, containing three or four pairs of 

 roundish anthers, on a branched footstalk. The pUtiliferous catkins 

 which grow on a different shrub are less than half the size of the 

 staminiferous ones, and consist of narrower scales, with each an ovate 

 ovary, and two filiform styles. To these catkins succeed clusters or 

 aggregations of small globular fruits, which are at first green, but 

 finally become nearly white. They consist of a hard stony covering, 

 which incloses a dicotyledonous seed. The hard covering is studded 

 ou its outside with small black grains, and over these is a coating of 

 hard white wax, fitted to the grains, and giving to the surface of the 

 fruit a granulated appearance. This plant is a native of woods in 

 the United States of America. The bark of the root of this plant is 

 acid and astringent ; in large doses it produces vomiting, accompanied 

 by a burning sensation in the throat It is used as a stimulant and 

 astringent The wax of the fruit is collected and purified, and used 

 for many of the purposes for which bees'-wax and candles are employed. 

 The wax has been occasionally used in pharmacy in the same way as 

 common bees'-wax. 



The fruit of M. tapida, a native of Nepaul, is about the size of a 

 cherry, and is pleasantly acid and eatable. 



(Lindley, Flora Mtdica ; Lindley, Yeyetablc Kinydon ; Babingtou, 

 Manual of Jirituh Botany.) 



MYHICA'CK.K, (iallicorli, arc plants constituting a very small 

 natural order of apetalous Kxogens, with separate sexes. The most 

 essential part of their character is expressed by Eudlicher in the 

 Following terms : " Flowers unisexual. Males Bractlets, 2 ; calyx, 0. 

 Females Hypogynous scales from 2 to 6 ; ovary 1 celled, with 2 

 styles; ovule 1, erect, ortbotropous ; drupe 1 -seeded ; seed erect; 

 embryo without albumen ; radicle superior." In general their flowers 

 are arranged in a manner similar to those of llctulaccte ami >'(/ 

 with which hitter however they seem to have no real affinity. !', m 

 Caiuaracea, curious Australian trees, with jointed leafless stems, 

 like those of Ei/uitctum, they are only distinguished by their 

 ovule and orthotropous seeds. They are common in the temp, rutu 



