ELECTRIC CENTIPEDE. 297 



These two individuals I kept alive in a small box 

 with damp earth at the bottom, for several months ; 

 but I never observed them to shine once after they 

 were taken.* 



The luminosity of this insect is remarkable for 

 diffusing itself over the ground, or the fingers of 

 those who attempt to handle the individual from 

 which it emanates, in like manner as when pure 

 phosphorus is handled. I am not aware that this is 

 ever the case with the real glow-worm. 



* I was not then aware of the observations of Mr. Gosse, who 

 states that he found the light might be immediately reproduced 

 by breathing upon the centipede : the experiment fails (it is said) 

 if repeated too often at once, though after the lapse of a day and 

 night it will produce the same results as at first. See The 

 Zoologist, p. 160. 



