68o 



The Living Animals of the World 



in shape and appearance that they might 

 easily be mistaken for them, and they exhibit 

 the same habit of rolling themselves up into 

 a ball. One species is not uncommon in 

 England. 



A curious genus, generally placed in a 

 distinct class by itself, includes a few species 

 which may be called SLIMY MILLIPEDES. 

 The species are found in widely separated 

 parts of the world, chiefly in the most southern 

 regions, such as South America, South Africa, 

 Australia, and New Zealand, though one or 

 two are known from Ceylon and the West 

 Indies. They resemble slimy caterpillars, with 

 conspicuous antennae, and from thirteen to 

 forty pairs of legs. The body is not dis- 

 tinctly divided into segments, and it exudes 

 a very viscous slime, which acts like bird-lime 

 in capturing the small insects which form at 

 least a part of the food of these creatures, but 

 which will not adhere to their own bodies. 

 These creatures are found among decaying 

 vegetable matter. 



INJURIOUS CREATURES. 



We are sometimes inclined to complain 

 of our English climate, but we have cause 

 to congratulate ourselves that it is far less 

 prolific of noxious creatures than many others. 

 We have no venomous scorpions or centi- 

 pedes, and are not obliged to shake such intruders out of our boots before we can venture to 

 put them on. Since the country has been so well drained, we are very little troubled with 

 gnats, which breed in standing water, and are equally troublesome in cold countries like 

 Lapland, and warm countries like South America. Nevertheless, several very troublesome 

 creatures, not native to this country, have taken up their abode with us permanently, and 

 more care should perhaps be exercised in preventing the possible introduction of others. 

 Among the most troublesome of our household insects are bugs, cockroaches, and house-ants, all 

 of which have been introduced from abroad. Among field- and garden-pests, the American Blight 

 (which destroys our apple- and pear-trees) and the Hessian Fly are probably invaders from 

 abroad ; but the latter does not seem to have committed great ravages in this country. 

 Among pests which have not succeeded in establishing themselves here, but which we should 

 be specially on our guard against, are the White Ants, which are found as far north as 

 Bordeaux, and are terribly destructive to woodwork, wherever they are met with; the Gypsy- 

 moth, very destructive on the Continent and in North America, but extinct as a British species, 

 perhaps because there is something inimical to its constitution in our climate ; and the 

 Colorado Potato-beetle, which is only kept out of Europe by incessant vigilance. But apart 

 from actually injurious insects, it is remarkable how many species which are common every- 

 where on the Continent are either absent from Britain, or are only met with in very restricted 

 localities. Let us hope that we may long enjoy our comparative immunity from noxious insects 

 in Britain. 



I 





fhoto by W. P. Dando, F.Z.S.] 



GIANT MILLIPEDE. 



[Regent's Park. 



Shows the absence of jaws, which distinguishes these creatures from the 

 predatory centipedes. 



