398 



MUSEUM OF ANIAIATED NATURE. 



[Myriapoda. 



have been found, and the whole of the combs 

 reduced to rrai^menls. intermingled with dirt and 

 weba. In various pajl of Suffolk the ravaijes of 

 the ' miller," as the caterpillar is calU-a, are well 

 known. 



When full ffrown, the caterpillar constructs in its 

 tube or (,'allerj' a cocoon of strong and cIo»tly -woven 

 8ilk, havin;; the appearance of leather, and there 

 changes into a reddish brown chrysalis. 



In America an allied species displays the same 

 habits, and is one of the pests of the bee-keeper. 



The perfect insect appears first in April, and a 

 second flight takes place in July. It is common on 

 the Continent. This moth makes but little use of 

 its wines, and rests during the day on the walls of 

 buildings, or upon the covering of the bee-hives, 

 which the female enters in order to deposit her 

 eggs. 



The male and female ditfer considerably in 

 colouring, the wings in the latter being darker than 

 on the former. The anterior wings are giiseous, 

 palish at the base, and darkest on the hinder mar- 

 gin. Near the inner margin are some purple 

 brown streaks ; the posterior wings are bright 

 ashy grey, with the nervures and hinder margin 

 dusky. 



The caterpillar is flesh-coloured, with a chestnut 

 brown head, and a palish line on the back. 



The small Ermine Moth (Yponomeuta evony- 

 mella). In passing along the lanes or through the : 

 fields, we may often see the hedges for yards com- | 

 pletely stripped of foliage bv the ravages of the 

 caterpillar of this species, which lives in troops of 

 hundreds, all crowded together under a common 

 tent, the tissue of which resembles crape ; the troop 

 having devoured the leaves at one station, move 

 on to another, and spin a fresh tent ; having stripped 

 the foliage, they again move forwards, and repeat 

 their movements at due intervals. Hence, though 

 the hedges to a great extent are rendered leafless, 

 they are crowded with filmy webs. 



The perfect insect appears in July and August. 

 The anterior wings are snow-white, with about four 

 longitudinal rows of minute black dots; the pos- 

 terior wings are brownish. 



The caterpillar is ochre-yellow, with ten black 

 dots on each side, and a brown head. 



The dark Six-cleft-Plume moth (Alucita he\a- 

 dactyla). This species is very common in gardens, 

 the caterpillar living upon various species of honey- 

 suckle. The wings on the moths of the present 

 genus are remarkable for their beautiful structure, 

 being composed each of six nearly equal plumes, 

 consisting of a shalt fringed with fine cilia-like 

 feathers. 



This elegant moth deposits a single egg, or at 

 most two, on the undeveloped flower of the honey- 

 suckle, and in a short time a little flesh-coloured 

 naked caterpillar is produced, which introduces 

 itself into the calyx, and devours all the internal 

 parts, still green ; when one flower is thus destroyed 

 it seeks a second, and so on, till at length it spins a 

 white transparent cocoon, in which it undergoes its 

 change. 



The perfect insect appears in Tune. The wings 

 are ashy grey, with irregular markings of brown ; 

 the tip of each plume has a dot of black. 



Linnaeiis' moth (Qicophora Linneella ; Glyphi- 

 pteryx Linneella, Hubner). This species is common 

 on the lime-trees in the vicinity of London, and 

 appears to be local in its distribution. The cater- 

 pillar is not described. The anterior wings are 

 orange-tawny, with the base and apex black, and 

 three silvery dots placed in a triangle. The pos- 

 terior wings are dusky, with a very slight metallic 

 violet tinge. The habits of this little species are 

 unknown. 



The Silver-spotted moth (Argyrolepia Lathoni- 

 ana). This species is so rare that one or two 

 specimens only exist in the cabinets of entomolo- 

 gists. Mr. Stephens's words respecting this moth 

 are as follow : — " Mr. llawworth states that he has 

 seen a single specimen of this fine insect, of which 

 I believe a pair were taken near Tunbridge Wells, 

 in July, 183L" 



The anterior wings dusky gold colour, with a 

 broad central fascia, two spots and some marginal 

 dots of a pearly whi-te or silvery hue. Posterior 

 wings ash-coloured. Habits unknown. 



Fig. 373.5 represents an encampment of the 

 larva- of the small ermine moth on a fruit-tree. 



Fig. 3736 represents the ravages of the cater- 

 pillars of the Buff-tip moth (I'ygsera bucepliala) — 

 a, the full-grown caterpillar ; i, the moth ; c c, a 

 legion of young caterpillars advancing along a 

 leaf and devouring it half through as they march ; 

 d, the eggs. 



Fig. 3737 shows the females of the Crown and 

 Golden-tailed moths (Porthesia auriflua, and P. 

 chrysorrhaea). 



Fig. 3738 shows the destructive ravages of two 

 species of Galleria, n a, galleries of the cell boring 

 caterpillar 5 b, the female molh ; c, the male moth 



of Gaileria alvearia ; d dd, galleries of the wax- 

 eating caterpillar, seen at the entrance ; e, f, the 

 same exposed ; g, the cocoon ; h, the moth of Gai- 

 leria cereana. 



Fig. 3739 represents the transformations of the 

 Tabby moth (Aglossa pinguinaiis), the caterpillar 

 of which feeds on butter, on leather, and. other 

 similar materials : a, the caterpillar feeding on 

 butter ; i, c, t/, the same feeding on leather, con- 

 cealed under a web ; e, the moth with its down 

 rubbed oft;y, the same in perfect plumage. 



DiPTKEA. — Two winged insects, with a proboscis 

 very variously modified, and with variable antenna; ; 

 the wings are membranous, veined, and transparent, 

 and besides these there are halterers or balancers, 

 and alulae, which we have already described. As 

 examples we may cite the common fly, the blue- 

 bottle, the gnat, the crane flies, and others. As 

 illustrations, we select two species of crane-fly. Fig. 

 37-40— a, Ctenophora flaveolata ; b, Ctenophora 

 ornata. Some Diptera -are parasitic, as the Hippo- 

 boscidse, termed Spider flies by Reaumur, and which 

 are stated to be viviparous, the parents producing 

 pupae instead of eggs or larvae. Hence Latieille's 

 terms of " Pupipara." These pupae are of consi- 

 derable size, and at first very soft, but the skin 

 soon hardens into a solid crust, at first brown, then 

 black, roundish, and notched at one extremity, 

 where a glossy operculum is jjresenfed which will 

 become thrown off like a hood at the last meta- 

 morphosis. This crust or case has no rines, as in 

 the pupa of the other Diptera. Fig. 3741 repre- 

 sents the Hippobosca Hiiundinis, Linn. (Ornitho- 

 myia avicularia?), and the Hippobosca equina. 

 The former, with very narrow sickle-like wings, 

 deposits its young in the nest of the swallow, and 

 the perfect insect lives by sucking the blood of its 

 feathered partners of the nest, whose warmth has 

 contributed to its development. The Hippobosca 

 equina, or Forest-fly, is notorious for its incessant 

 attacks upon horses, and in some districts appears 

 in great numbers. Another species, Hippobosca 

 (Melophila) ovina, conceals itself in the wool of 

 sheep, from the skin of which animals it derives its 

 food. There are other species which have only the 

 rudiments of wings. In the genus Nycteribia (the 

 Batlice) there are no wings. Fig 3742 represents 

 a curious dipterous fly (Uiopsis Sykesii), a native 

 of India, remarkable lor the eyes being seated at 

 the extremity of long footstalks, the antennae 

 being seated close to the eyes: — «, the natural 

 size. See Mr. Westwood in ' Linn. Trans.' vol. 

 xvii. pi. 2, p. 283 ; and pi. 4, p. 543. The species 

 are numerous. 



We will conclude our cursory review of insects 

 by calling the attention of the young entomologist 

 to the apparatus required for carrying on his active 

 operations. Fig. 3743, a breeding-cage for rearing 

 larvai, with gauze doors and glass sides. Fig. 3744 

 — n, a larva-box ; 6, a pocket collecting-box. Fig. 

 3745, a water-net. Fig 3746, a butterfly-net. Fig. 

 3747, a clap-net. Fig. 3748, a ring-net and pair of 

 net-forceps. Fig. 3749 — a, French beetle-forceps ; i, 

 pliers. Fig. 3750, digger for the bark of trees in the 

 earth. Fig. 3751, a chip collectinsr-box with cork 

 lining. Fig. 3752 — a, the mode of setting out a 

 butterfly ; b, wasp ; t, beetle, setting-needles, and 

 brush. Fig. 3753, method of mounting small in- 

 sects with gum on slips of cardboard. Fig. 3754, a 

 setting-board frame, in which to expose the in- 

 sects to free ventilation till dry, and at the same 

 time secure them from spiders, or Tineae. 



CLASS MYRIAPODA. 



This class comprehends the Centipedes and Mille- 

 pedes, creeping things which lurk during the day 

 in obscure retreats, coming abroad in search of food 

 during the darkness of night, and retiring with the 

 dawn of day. These animals constitute a group 

 termed by naturalists Myriapoda, the first order of 

 insects according to M. Latreille, but really forming 

 a distinct section or class of the subkingdom Arti- 

 culata, and displaying aflSnities to the Crustacea, 

 scorpions, and insects, yet distinguished by charac- 

 ters «f their own. They are composed of a series 

 of distinct segments, and to every segment is ap- 

 propriated one pair of limbs ; sometimes indeed 

 two pairs. 



The head is furnished with jaws, antennae, which 

 are regarded as feelers, and eyes either simple or 

 compound. Respiration is effected through spiracles, 

 as in insects, whence air-tubes ramit'y over the 

 internal viscera. Like insects, they undergo a 

 metamorphosis, or rather several changes, before 

 acquiring their perfect form; and the sexes are 

 distinct. 



Their movements are winding and serpentine : 

 some are slow, gliding gently along; others, on the 

 contrary, are active and rapid in the extreme. They 

 feed on decayed vegetable and animal substances, 

 on fruits, roots, &c., and many on living pr^y. 



The Myriapoda resolve themselves info two 

 tribes, one represented by the Millipede, the other 



by the Centipede. The first, Chilognatha, Latreille. 

 \ the genus Julus of Linnteus, compnsing the Mille- 

 pedes, is characterized by the cylindrical form of the 

 whole body ; the antenna.' are composed of seven 

 joints; the first segment of the body, sometimes the 

 second, is the largest, and presents the appearance ot 

 a corslet or little buckler. It is not until the fourth 

 year in some, the fifth or sixth in others, that the 

 pair of limbs on the several segments become 

 doubled, and that maturity is attained. They live 

 upon decayed animal and vegetable substances, and 

 are found under stones, in the ground, at the foot of 

 old walls, in the fissures and under the bark of time- 

 worn trees. If we take the Millepede as an ex- 

 ample of this tribe, we observe it to be elongated and 

 cylindrical in form, divided into rings or segments, 

 and capable of rolling itself up sjjirally into a ball. 

 The segments are from forty to fifty in number, 

 smooth, horny, and convex above. Kach segment 

 in the perfect animal is furnished with two pairs of 

 short legs (certain segments excepted), by means of 

 which the animal appears to glide along without 

 any effort, the legs being almost invisible as we look 

 down upon the moving creature. The respiratory 

 orifices, or stigmata, are placed on the sternal (or 

 lower) aspect of each segment, and lead to a double 

 series of aerating sacculi, whence tubes emerge, to 

 be distributed on the internal organs. In addition 

 to these breathing orifices a series of pores runs 

 down each side of the body, exuding an acid 

 secretion of unpleasant odour. 



The mouth is furnished with two stout horny jaws, 

 one on each side, as we see in caterpillars, acting 

 against each other; their cutting eilges are ser- 

 rated, in order that they may be rendered eft'ective 

 in dividing the fibres of decayed Wood or the dead 

 roots of plants. 



The female millepede deposits her eggs, which 

 are very minute, in tiie earth or in the earihy powder 

 of decayed wood, which is in fact a rich vegetable 

 mould. We have said that the young undergo a 

 series of transmutations before arriving at their 

 perfect development. The progress of these changes 

 has been watched by De Geer, Savi, and other 

 zoologists, and are too remarkable to be passed by 

 unnoticed. The young when first hatched are very 

 minute, utterly destitute of limbs, quite smooth, and 

 of a kidney shape, but of course so minute as to 

 require a lens for examination. In the course of a 

 few days afterwards they undergo a sort of moult, 

 changing the skin, and then appear divided into 

 about eight segments ; a pair of simple eyes appear 

 on the head, which is furnished also with two an- 

 tennae: three segments following the head have 

 each a pair of limbs. In a few days a second moult 

 takes place, the body is enlarged, the member of 

 segments increased, and the number of limbs aug- 

 mented to seven pairs, one pair on each segment 

 succeeding the head. At the age of a month, or 

 thereabouts, a third change takes place, and the 

 millepede appears with twenty-two segments and 

 twenty-six pairs of feet, but of these the anterior 

 eighteen pairs are only used in progression. The 

 general form and aspect now approximate to that 

 of the adult. Some time now elapses before the 

 fourth moult, which gives thirty-six pairs of legs. 

 Subsequently the male acquires thirty-nine rings, 

 and the female sixty-four, with two pairs of limbs 

 to every segment. But after this, two years elapse 

 before the perfect development and maturity of the I 

 animal is completed. 



Such is a summary of the observations recorded, 

 to which it may be added, that the changes from 

 the fii-st to the fifth take place from the month of 

 March, the time when the eggs are hatched, to the 

 end of July or beginning of August. 



Whether these changes are as precise as stated, 

 we think a matter of doubt. At all events we have 

 recently examined and sketched a female Julus of 

 considerable size, with forty-six rings, and eighty- 

 two legs on each side. The first segment after the 

 head had a pair of limbs on each side, that is a 

 double pair altogether; between the firstand second 

 segment appeared a distinct orifice ; and then ap- 

 peared only one limb on each side ; to this succeeded 

 two limbs on each side for every segment, except- 

 ing the 1-hree caudal segments, which were destitute 

 of limbs. 



The common Millepede (Julus fcrrestris) is too 

 well known to need description : it lives in light 

 vegetable mould in gardens or plantations, under 

 old walls, stones, logs of wood, and the like ; it feeds 

 on vegetable matfore. Our European Millepedes 

 are all of small size ; there is, however, a species 

 found in Brazil, the Julus maximus, Linn., of the 

 length of seven inches. 



Certain millepedes are separated from the genus 

 .lulus in consequence of the form of the segments, 

 which are not only less convex, but their outer 

 margin is reflected up, and forms a projection with 

 a point at its posterior angle. They are of small * 

 size, and found in damp places in the earth: they 

 form the genus Polydesmus of Latreille. To those 



