THE ANIMAL LIFE OE THE GROUP. 407 



but at night they become active and race about rapidl,\' in search of i'lxxl. 

 They are most troublesome in houses during tlie long wet spells, for, while the\' 

 naturally prefer moist situations, they come out of the gi-ouiid and enter 

 dwellings and outhouses when their ordinary hiding-places become water- 

 soaked. 



Centipedes five inches or more in length are not uncommon, jind larger 

 specimens are occasionally seen. The large species was introduced as early as 

 1836, and there has been at least one other small species introduced since. 



The young centipedes have a curious habit of clinging to their mother's 

 side when alarmed. The female lays her eggs in clusters on the damp ground 

 in some obscure place, and, coiling herself round them, remains iinmovabJe 

 until the young have hatched. 



The largest centipedes known come from the East Indies, where they 

 grow to be a foot in length. The centipedes i-- of the Hawaiian Islands have 

 not been exhaustively studied as yet, but all of the species so far recorded 

 belong to genera that occur elsewhere. Four species belonging to three fami- 

 lies were collected in the Hawaiian mountains by Dr. Perkins, three of which 

 are described as new in the Fauna Hawaiiensis. 



Scorpions. 



At least one introduced species of scorpion ^-^ is quite common in Hawaii, 

 where specimens frequently attain a length of three inches. The large species 

 of the order 1--^ occurs in tropical Africa and southern India, where a certain 

 big black scorpion may attain a length of eight or nine inches. The poison 

 sting- is located in the tip of the long slender tail, which is carried curled in a 

 menacing fashion over the back. 



AVhen the scorpion comes in contact with any creature suited to its taste as 

 food it will seize it in the vise-like gri]) of th(^ pincer claw. The tail is brought 

 into use and the sting on its tij) is plunged into its prey. Small anini.-ils, 

 insects and the like as a rule quickl}' succumb to the paralyzing effect of the 

 poison. As the scori)ion has no anteniuv to use as feelers, it always carries its 

 pincers well to the front. 



Scorpions are night feeders and are exclusively carnivorous, feeding 

 mainly on small insects; silverfish, moths and caterpillars ])eing among tlieir 

 favorite food. Unlike the centipede, they prefer dry, dai-k jilaces. and for Ihat 



''^-'■^ Chilopodd. ^-''^ Jsometrus maciilattis. ^-^ Scoi-i/ionida. 



Description of Plati . 



1. Chalcolepidius erytJiruloina. 2. Illmhdocncmis ^=^ {Sylicnophorus) ohscurus. .3. Adon- 

 tus ienuimacidatus. 4. Epitragus dircmphus. 5. Aramigus fulleri. 6. Bostrichm miffra- 

 tor. 7. Cli/tiifi crinicornin. 8. Cryptorphynchus manr/ifcrcF. 9. Coptops (rdfficator. 10. 

 Xysirocera globosa. 11. S'nnodaciylus cinnamomcus. 12. JEgoRoma reffe.ni.m. 1.3. KcJitliro- 

 ■morplia mandipennis. 14. Pelopaus ccrmcntarius. 15. Policies hcbriviis. 1(5. Odynerus ni- 

 gripcnnift. 17. Apis mellifjca. IS. Xylocopa brazdienfiis. 19. Ch(Ftog(Fdla monticola. 20. 

 Vohicflla obesa. 21. Daciis encurbita'. 22. GnstrnjdiHus eqni. 23. Sarcophiiga barbnia. 

 24. CUdliplinra dux. 2.'). Lucdui scricdUi. 2(i. LiiciHn ca'sar. 27. Anihoniyia sp. 2S. 

 Megachdc ddigens. 29. Ccratitis capitata. 30. Canijionofus wnndniiis. 



