306 



GARDEN FOES. 



ill leiigtli, lias a very slender, ochreous-colouied body, fur- 

 nished with fifty-one to fifty-five pairs of legs. The ani- 

 mal moves with a waving motion from right to left, and 

 leaves behind a thin line of phosphoric fluid, which can 

 be clearly seen in the dark. This creature is one of 

 Nature's scavengers, feeding on decayed roots and seeds, 

 and never at any time does any harm to plants. We have 

 often met with it in the soil and drainage of pot plants. 

 Spare him likewise. 



CE^'TIPEDES. 



Fig. 1, H<»ad and antenna of Snake Ctentipede ; Fig. 2 is the Common Centi- 

 pede (Lithotius centipatus), and the other (Fig. 3) the Snake Centipede (Geophi. 

 lua longicornis). Both are garden friends, and are publiehed to show the 

 distinction between them and the Millepedes, Avhich are more or less injurioue. 



Devil's Coach-Horse Beetle (Ocypus olens).— 

 This beetle is fairly well known from its habit when inter- 

 fered with of raising the hinder part of its body. It has 

 a long, narrow black body, and is of a pugnacious nature, 

 immediately resenting any interference with it when 

 wandering about the borders and paths. It feeds on 

 soil grubs, and should therefore not be killed when met 

 Avith. 



Frog:s and Toads. — These should be encouraged in 

 every garden, as they are really valuable allies. Both 

 feed on slugs, beetles, and grubs, and will devour an 

 immense number of these pests if unmolested. The 



