164 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Of various sizes and colours. 



liar form, has certainly extremely well defended, 

 and concealed, as it were in a mask, this insect 

 from birds and its other diminutive foes ; in all 

 probability with a view to its preservation, and 

 to employ it for some important, but unknown, 

 office in the system of economy. 



THE CENTIPEDE. 



THIS is the most formidable in appearance 

 of all the insect tribe, scorpions excepted. It is 

 found in the East and West Indies, and in vari- 

 ous parts of Africa, inhabiting chiefly the woods, 

 where it is preyed upon by the different species 

 of snakes. It i sometimes found in houses, and 

 is said to be so common in particular districts 

 that the inhabitants are obliged to have the feet 

 of their beds placed in vessels of water, to pre- 

 vent their being annoyed during the night by 

 these horrible reptiles. 



They vary greatly both in size and colour. 

 Some of them are of a deep reddish brown, others 

 of a yellow ochre colour, livid yellow, or tinged 

 with red; and they are sometimes seen above a 

 foot in length; they are, however, generally 

 much less. Their legs, which are numerous, ac- 

 cording to their name, terminate in very sharp 

 hooks or nails of a shining black colour ; and all 

 the other legs are furnished with smaller ones of 

 the same kind. They have eight very small 



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