I 277 ) 



THE SCOLOPENDRA AND GALLY-VVORM* 



THE ScoLOPENDRA, OF Centipes, having many feet, is very com- 

 mon in many parts of the world, efpccially between the tropics,. 

 In the Eaft-Indies they grow to fix inches long (ours are but one inch), 

 of a ruddy colour, as thick as a man's finger : they confift of many 

 joints, and from each joint a leg on each fide : they are hairy, and feem 

 to have no eyes, but two feelers on the head, by which they find out their 

 way. The head is very round, with two fmall (harp teeth, with which 

 they inflifl wounds that are very painful and dangerous. Of this animal 

 there a/c different kinds ; fome living, like worms, in holes in the earth ; 

 others under ftones and among rotten wood ; fo that nothing is more 

 dangerous than removing thofe fubftances, in places where they breed. 



The Gally-Worm differs from the Scoiopendra in having double 

 the number of feet, there being two on each fide to every joint of the 

 body^ Some are fmooth, and others hairy j fome yellow, fome black, 

 and fome brown. Are found among decayed trees, between the wood 

 and the bark; alfo among ftones covered with mofs. When touched, 

 contraft themfelves, rolling themfclves up like a ball. Whatever be 

 their qualities in the tropical parts of the world, in Europe they are per- 

 fectly harmlefs. Thefe are fuppofed to be produced perfect from the 

 parent or the egg. They are feen of all fizes ; and this is fufficient in- 

 ducement to fuppofe that they preferve their firft appearance. It is pro- 

 bable, however, that, like moft of this clafs, they often change their 

 ikinsj but of this we have no certain information. 



3 A £ Oi 



