THE GALEODES 301 



a box. Immediately a furious battle ensued — one against all, 

 all against one — and in an hour's time scarcely one of the 

 combatants survived the conflict. 



The bite of the galeodes — a tropical insect closely related to 

 the scorpion (and resembling it in form), but without a sting — is 

 said to be fatal to man and beast. Captain Hutton, who has 



1 described the Galeodes vorax of India,* once threw a lizard, 

 six inches long, before this insect. The galeodes immediately 

 sprang upon the reptile, fastening upon its shoulders ; and 



.though at first the poor lizard defended itself valiantly, roll- 

 ing about in all directions, and endeavouring to shake off 

 its tormentor, the galeodes held fast, gnawing deeper and deeper 

 until it reached the vitals of its victim, which it finally devoured, 

 leaving nothing but skin and bone behind. A young sparrow 

 confined under a glass bell with a galeodes was also killed ; the 

 insect, however, did not devour the bird, or any part of it, but 

 seemed satisfied with having killed it. 



The poison of the scorpion is lodged in its tail, but that of 

 the centipede is in its jaws. These are likewise among the pests 

 of tropical climates; for, although several are found in Europe, or 

 even in Britain, yet, from their small size, they are harmless to 

 man. Those of India and South America, on the other 

 hand, are enormous, frequently six or seven inches long, 

 and their sting is no less painful and virulent than that 

 of the dreaded scorpion itself. 



Several of these creatures are phosphorescent; and 

 the elegant colouring of some of the large tropical 

 species would no doubt be admired if their noxious 

 qualities, their strange form, and their resemblance to 

 caterpillars and worms, did not inspire a disgust which 



it is difficult to surmount. centipede. 



* " Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal," No. 45. 



