Annelida.] 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



399 



in which the eyes are apparent, Dr. Leach j^ave the 

 name of Craspedosonia. The I'olydesmus conipla- 

 natus (Jiilus complanatus, Linn.) is by no means 

 unconamon in gardens. It is more active in its 

 movements than the common millepede, and is 

 capable of rolling itself up. 



Another genus is termed Glomeris by Latreille. 

 The species have much resemblance to the wood- 

 louse (Oniscus), or rather the Armadillo Woodlouse 

 (Armadillo, Latr.) ; they are oval in figure, and 

 have the power of rolling themselves up into a ball, 

 like the Armadillo, with which indeed they are often 

 confounded by superficial observers ; insomuch 

 that from the comparison of actual specimens, we 

 have drawn out the most palpable differences, to 

 serve as a guide to young inquirers. In Glomeris, 

 takmg the Pill Millepede as our example, the limbs 

 are small, and arise from a median abdominal line ; 

 they are short and numerous, and do not appear 

 laterally beyond the jointed carapace or backplate. 



In Armadillo (an Isopodous crustacean, as is also 

 the common Woodlouse) the limbs are large, pro- 

 ceed from the sides of the abdomen, and extend 

 beyond the back plate, excepting the hind pair. In 

 the Pill Millepede (Glomeris) the head is larger and 

 more concealed, the antennae are short, and end 

 club-shaped. 



In the Armadillo Woodlouse the antennae are 

 longer and filiform or pointed. 



In the Pill Millepede the shelly covering is firm ; 

 in the Armadillo much softer, as in Oniscus. The 

 terminal segment of Glomeris is large, of Armadillo 

 small and triangular. In the latter the lateral edge 

 of the dorsal armour along each side is serrated, 

 in the former continuous. 



The Glomeris, or Pill Millepede, is black, with 

 yellow margins to the rings or segments. Armadillo 

 is yellowish grey clouded with brown, or brown 

 with yellow blotches; it exceeds the Pill Millepede 

 in size. Both are common, and roll themselves up 

 in the form of balls, and were formerly used in 

 medicine. A species of Armadillo from Italy (A. 

 officinalis) was employed on the Continent. The 

 Jill Millepede, Glomeris marginata. Leach (Julus 

 ovalis, Linnit'us), is found under stones and amongst 

 moss, and in the same situations as the common 

 Millepede. Both the Pill Millepede and the Ar- 

 madillo Woodlouse are abundant in the writer's gar- 

 den : they feed on decomposed vegetable matters. 



There is a singular little creature, the .lule h. 

 queue en pinceau, found in hothouses, under frames, 

 under the bark of aged trees, and in the fissures of 

 walls, which was placed by Linnaeus in the genus 

 Scolopendra; it belongs, however, to the present 

 section, and constitutes the genus Polyxenus of 

 Latreille. At first sight it appears very like the larva 

 of that beetle well known from its destructive habits 

 in museums, viz. the Anthremis Musaeorum : it is 

 oblong in form, with tufts of little scales along the 

 sides, and a pencil of hairs at the tail. There are 

 twelve pairs of limbs. It is the only known species, 

 and was termed Scolopendra lagura by the older 

 writers. It varies in size from a line to two lines 

 and a quarter in len^'th ; the body is brown ; the 

 head black ; the caudal pencil of hairs white. Like 

 the Jule, in general it feeds on decomposed vege- 

 table substances. Jn one important point, however, 

 it difters from the true Millepedes: the body is not 

 invested with firm shelly plates, but is soft, and 

 covered by a membranous investment. Like the 

 Woodlouse, it is gregarious, numbers collecting 

 together in the same hiding-place. We may here 

 observe that the common Millepede and Pill Mille- 

 pede are gregarious ; but as far as our own observa- 

 tions go, not the Polydesraus complanatus, or flat- 

 backed Millepede, which in some respects ap- 

 proaches in its manners, as it does in its appearance, 

 to the predatory Centipedes, which are solitary, like 

 carnivorous beings in general. 



The second family of Myriapods (Chilopoda, 

 Latreille) comprehends the Centipedes, &c. 



Of these voracious creatures several species are 

 well known in our island, but it is in the hotter 

 regions of the earth that they are the most numerous 

 and attain to the largest dimensions. 



In the Centipedes, or Scolopendrae, the body is 

 long and flattened, and covered above by a series 

 of dorsal plates, and below by a separate series, the 

 sides being simply membranous. This provision 

 admits of a snake-like flexibility and of Ihat rapidity 

 of motion for whic-h these Centipedes are so noto- 

 rious. They are in fact daring and active car- 

 nivorous animals, preying upon insects and worms. 

 Niglit is their season of activity ; during the day 

 they lie concealed under stones, beams of timber, 

 in holes amidst brickwork, or even in the ground. 

 Fitted for a life of rapine, they are very formidably 

 armed ; our British species indeed, though not very 

 pleasing in appearance, are at all events not to be 

 dreaded ; but when we go into warmer climates, 

 we find these creatures terrific from the wounds 

 they inflict. If we examine them, we see that the 

 mouth is not only provided with horny jaws as in 



insects, but with two terrible fangs jointed in the 

 middle, sharp at the points, and perforated near the 

 tip by a minute orifice through which a poisonous 

 fluid is instilled into the wound, and which, in some 

 species of large size tenanling India, South America, 

 &c., often produces the most severe consequences, 

 if not death. We have measured a specimen twelve 

 inches in length and one inch and a quarter across 

 the largest jjackplates ; but if Ulloa be not in- 

 dulging in extravagance, it was a pigmy to those of 

 which he talks, and which he says measured a yard 

 in length and five inches in breadth, inflicting a 

 mortal wound. Let not our reader suppose that we 

 give full credence to this statement ; but, be this as 

 it may, the annoyance which these creatures cause 

 to Europeans visiting intertropical climates is of no 

 trilling account. They creep into houses, lurk under 

 articles of furniture and behind wainscots, hide 

 themselves in drawers and similar places, and some- 

 times in beds, to the disgust and apprehension of all 

 not familiarized with their presence. In the south 

 of France, Spain, and Italy, a large species (Scolo- 

 pendra cingulata, Latr.) is very common. In our 

 country, among the species of small size which are 

 indigenous, the most common is the forked Cen- 

 tipede, Lithobius forficatus (Scolopendra forficata, 

 Linn.) ; it is found in the earth under stones, and is 

 quick and active in its movements. The limbs are 

 fifteen on each side. The general colour is tawny 

 red. Length about an inch and a quarter, some- 

 times more. 



A group of Centipedes, distinguished by the 

 generic title of Geophilus, presents us with several 

 species remarkable for their great length and slen- 

 derness, and the number of their limbs, which ex- 

 ceed forty-two on each side. They are tortuous in 

 their movements, and by no means so rapid as the 

 ordinary Centipedes ; they live in the earth, and 

 make their way through the minutest fissures or 

 apertures with the utmost facility. Of the slender 

 animals of this genus most, if not all, are phospho- 

 rescent, and gleam in the dark, though not so in- 

 tensely as the Glow-worm. The Geophilus elec- 

 tiicus may be often seen at night during the summer 

 months on the grass of lawns or on garden walks, 

 palely glistening like a luminous thread as it winds 

 its tortuous way. The long-homed Geophilus (G. 

 longicornis) is another species by no means un- 

 common ; it is larger than the G. electricus, and 

 broader in proportion. Under the genus Scuti- 

 gera are placed certain strange-looking Centipedes, 

 found in the south of France, in southern Eu- 

 rope, Madeira, &c., remarkable for the length of 

 their limbs. None have yet been found on our 

 island. The hack is plated with eight scales, 

 thickened behind and notched; the body beneath 

 is divided into fifteen semi-rings, each carrying a 

 pair of legs, with long and slender terminal joints; 

 the eyes are large and compound; the antennae 

 long. The European species, Scutigera coleoptrata, 

 is very active, running with great quickness ; it 

 conceals itself behind the beams and woodwork of 

 houses, emerging at night, and traversing the floors 

 in quest of food. India and America have their 

 respective species, and they are among those un- 

 welcome visitors which annoy the European, who 

 is not easily reconciled to the presence of Centi- 

 pedes, Scorpions, and Scutigerae in his apartments. 



The group at3755 represents— 1, the pill Millepede 

 (Glomeris marginata); 2, the common Millepede 

 (Julus terrestris) ; 3, the flat Millepede (Polydes- 

 mus complanatus) ; 4, the Polyxenus, or brush- 

 tailed Millepede — a, magnified ; b, the natural size ; 

 5, the long-horned Centipede (Geophilus longicor- 

 nis) ; 6, the common Centipede (Lithobius forfica- 

 tus) ; 7, the Scutigera coleoptrata. 



Fig. 37.56 represents the Electric centipede, shin- 

 ing at night. Fig. 3757 represents — a and b, Julus 

 terrestris, compared with c, the oil beetle, Proscara- 

 baeus vulgaris, and d, the wingless bat-louse (Nyc- 

 teribia Hermanni). 



CLASS ANNELIDA 



(Red-Blooded Worms, as the Common Worm, the 

 Leech, the Lug-worm, and other aquatic species). 



In the animals of this class we find the body of an 

 elongated form, with soft semi-cartilaginous annula- 

 tions at certain distances from each other, connected 

 together by longitudinal and oblique muscles, ena- 

 bling the animals to twist themselves in various di- 

 rections ; the whole is covered by a moist skin, in- 

 dicating, by segments more or less apparent, the 

 soft annuli. The first segment is furnished with a 

 mouth, and — where they exist — with eyes, tentacles, 

 &c. : the last segment is sometimes furnished with 

 bristle-like appendages ; or sometimes, as in the 

 leech, it is dilated into a sucker. Each segment 

 moreover is generally beset with short setae or 

 minute spines, of use in locomotion ; and in some 

 vascular tufts are present, constituting a respiratoiy 

 apparatus. The blood is red, and there is a double 

 system of veins and arteries. Each individual is 



bisexual. Most of these creature* are defenceless, 

 and seek safety from iheir numerous enemies by 

 retiring into holes which they bore in Ihe soft earth, 

 the mud, or sand. Some, as the Sabella and Tcre- 

 bella of the sea-shore, agglutinate around Ihem 

 particles of sand and the fragments of comminuted 

 shells, which form a case in which they dwell. 

 The Serpula, however exudes a calcareous secre- 

 tion, which hardening, forms a long twisted shell 

 in which it resides, and from which it protrudes its 

 head and beautiful respiratory tufts. 



Cuvier divides the Annelida into three orders, 

 Abranchiata (with no branchial tutts), Dorsi- 

 branchiata (with branchial appendages on the 

 back), and Tubicolae f tube-makers). 



Of the Abranchiata the Earth-worm, the Nais, the 

 Leech, the Hair-worm, or Gordius aquations, are 

 examples. In these a series of minute pores, ranged 

 along each side of the body, lead tb delicate sac- 

 culi, over which is thrown a mesh of minute pul- 

 monary vessels in which the aiiration of the blood 

 is eff'ected. The worm, the nais, and others are 

 setigerous, but the leach and its allies are smooth, 

 and destitute of minute bristles. 



The Dorsibranchiate Annelides are all marine : 

 and of these the lug-worm (Areniciila piscatorum), 

 used as a bait by fishermen, is a familiar example. 

 It lives in the sand of low flat shores, and at- 

 tains to about a foot in length; it is of a red- 

 dish colour, and gives out a yellow fluid secretion 

 which stains the hand. The secreting organs of 

 the Dorsibranchiata consist of vascular tufts or 

 fringes, or fleshy crests, of which sometimes a pair 

 are affixed to every segment, as in Leodice anten- 

 nata, or only on the middle segments, as in Arenicola. 

 Besides these respiratory appendages, there are 

 others also of variable form and number, serving 

 the purpose of locomotion ; sometimes these re- 

 semble the jointed limbs of tlie Myriapodes, but are 

 retractile to a greater or less extent ; sometimes they 

 consist of setae or spines. In the sea-mouse (Aphro- 

 dita aculeata) found on our coast, the seta; are 

 remarkably developed and glisten with the richest 

 iridescence. 



The sea-mouse (Aphrodita aculeata), Fig. 3758, 

 is from five to seven inches in length, of an oblong 

 depressed figure. Its upper surface is covered by 

 a double row of broad membranous pla.tes over- 

 lapping each other, beneath which are the aerating 

 gills, like little fleshy crests. These plates are 

 covered by a sort of hair which springs from their 

 outer margin, and besides these the upper surface 

 is beset with bundles of iridescent bristles, brilliant 

 as the plumage of the humming-bird, and of which 

 metallic blue, green, and gold are the predominating 

 tints. Referring to Fig. 37-'J8, a is the underneath 

 view ; 6, a lateral view. In Nereis, the branchiae are 

 in the form of little laminae on which a network of 

 vessels ramifies ; the head is furnished with tentacu- 

 lar cirrhi ; and tufts of bristles, as well as tentacular 

 limbs, spring from each segment of the body. Fig. 

 3759 shows the Nereis (Syllis) phosphorescens, a 

 luminous species: a, the animal; 5, a magnified view 

 of the head. The mouth of the Dorsibranchiate An- 

 nelides is very remarkable, and consists of a muscular 

 proboscis, retracted when not in use, and capable of 

 being everted like the finger of a glove ; in this 

 manner protrusion is effected. In some this pro- 

 boscis is armed with sharp teeth, in others there 

 are none ; in Arenicola it is roughened with conical 

 papillae. 



The Tubicolse, instead of being fiee and wandering 

 for food, inhabit fixed residences, which serve at 

 once as a domicile and protection. They tenant 

 tubes of their own formation, but of varying mate- 

 rials according to the species : in no instance is 

 there any muscular connection between the annelide 

 and its case. Specimens of the Serpula contortu- 

 plicata are not uncommon in cabinets, and the 

 species is found on our shores; as is also a smaller 

 species, S. vermiculaiis. The tubes of these Ser- 

 pulae are generally intertwined with each other, and 

 with old shells and pebbles ; indeed they often wind 

 over shells or stones, and are cemented to them. 

 Fig. 37U0 shows the Seipula contortuplicata. Fig. 

 3761, Vermilia t-riquetra, of which the carinated tube 

 is fixed by its whole length. 



From the orifices of the tubes in virhich these an- 

 nelides live, they protrude the anterior part of the 

 body, in which the respiratory tufts are seated ; and 

 often also tentacular cirrhi. In Terebella the ten- 

 tacles are fililbrm, and capable of considerable ex- 

 tension ; the respiratory organs form tufts on each 

 side of the neck. 



In the Serpulidae there are two singular appen- 

 dages, of which one, the right or left inditterently, is 

 greatly enlarged, so as to form a stopper to the 

 mouth of the tube when the animal is withdrawn 

 within it. See Fig. 3760. In this group the respi- 

 ratory organs resemble two fan-like plumes of ex- 

 quisite delicacy and splendour. In Serpula contor- 

 tuplicata they are of a fine red, varied with orange 

 and violet ; in S. vermicularis of a rich blue. When 



