ORDER CII1LOGNATHA ; MILLEPEDE, ETC. 289 



a length of from twelve to fifteen inches ; and it is stated by 

 Ulloa, that they have been seen at Carthagena exceeding a yard 

 in length and five inches in breadth, and that the bite of these is 

 mortal. It is doubtful, however, whether this statement can be 

 fully relied on. 



ORDKR II. CHILOGNATHA. 



824. This Order, consisting of animals having a general resem- 

 blance to the lulus or common Millepede, is the one most nearly 

 allied to the Annelida, not merely in external form, and in 

 the imperfect development of the legs, but also in the structure 

 of the internal organs. The body of the lulus (of which one of 

 the commonest species is known as the Gaily- worm) is long and 

 cylindrical ; its number of segments is between forty and fifty ; 

 and many of these bear two pairs of almost thread-like legs, 

 which arise close to the middle line, along the inferior surface of 



FIG. 511. IULUS. 



the body. These are scarcely large or strong enough to support 

 its weight ; so that the animal moves but slowly, and seems 

 rather to glide or crawl, like a serpent or a worm, than to walk. 

 When at rest, the body is rolled up in a spiral form ; so that the 

 feet, being concealed in the concavity 

 of the spire, are protected from injury; 

 whilst the firmness of the rings of the 

 body enables them to resist consider- 

 able pressure. The mouth of the 

 lulidcB strongly resembles that of the 

 Larvae of many Insects, being fur- 

 nished with a pair of stout horny 

 mandibles, with sharp toothed edges ; 

 and by means of these, they are enabled to divide with facility 



Fro. 512. IULUS, with the body 

 coiled up, and the front of the 

 body unrolled, with the an- 

 tennae magnified. 



