MYRIAPODA 



With the exception of a few specimens collected by Mr. B. B. 

 Woodward at Walton-on-the-Naze, the Myriapoda recorded in the sub- 

 joined list were obtained by Mr. W. M. Webb, who at one time not 

 only paid special attention to collecting representatives of this neglected 

 group, but in addition stimulated to that end the interest of naturalists 

 in various parts of the county of Essex. As a result we have perhaps 

 as complete a knowledge of the Myriapoda of this county as of any 

 other county in Great Britain. 



Most of the specimens belong to species which have a wide distri- 

 bution in the south of England and in the adjacent countries of the 

 continent. None are peculiar to the county. On the other hand, 

 there are one or two noteworthy deficiencies in the fauna. Of these the 

 most noteworthy is the apparent absence of Lithobius variegatus, a rela- 

 tively large and striking form and one not likely to be overlooked by 

 collectors, a species too which is the most prevalent element in the 

 myriapod fauna of all the other counties of Great Britain where col- 

 lecting has been carried on to any extent. The absence of the species 

 from Essex gains in interest when it is remembered that the animal is, 

 so far as we know, restricted in its range to Great Britain and the 

 Channel Islands. The apparent absence too of Stigmatogaster subterraneus 

 is to be noted. Elsewhere in England this species is perhaps the com- 

 monest, as it is the largest, representative of the Geophilidz. It also 

 occurs in Denmark, Belgium, etc. Hence, as is probably the case with 

 other elsewhere common species, it may have been overlooked in Essex. 



Finally, it may be mentioned that a single specimen of Scutigera 

 coleoptrata, a species of Chilopod which is common in the south of 

 Europe and has already been recorded as an importation in Scotland by 

 Mr. Gibson Carmichael, was captured in a house in Colchester. Pre- 

 sumably, since no other specimens have come to hand from Essex, the 

 one discovered by Mr. Webb was artificially introduced. 



CHILOPODA 



Centipedes 

 LITHOBIIDiE 

 Short-bodied, swift-running centipedes, furnished with eyes and only fifteen pairs of legs. 



One of the smaller species, with long 

 antennae and peculiarly modified anal legs 

 in the male. Common in central Europe 

 and abundant throughout the south of Eng- 

 land. 



3. Lithobius crassipes, Koch. Die Myr.-Gatt. 



Lithobius, p. 71 (1862). 

 Brentwood. 



Common in England and central Europe. 

 A small species with short antennae. Gene- 

 rally mistaken by collectors for the young of 

 L. forficatui. 



1. Lithobius forjicatus, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 



to, P . 638(1758). 



Brentwood, Stock, Maldon, FinchingficlJ, 

 Warley, Colchester, West Horndon, 

 Dagenham, Ingrave, Rivenhall, Shocbury- 

 ness. 



Common throughout the whole of north 

 and central Europe, and abundant every- 

 where in England in the neighbourhood of 

 houses as well as in fields and woods. 



2. Lithobius calcaratus, Koch. Die Myr.-Gatt. 



Lithobius, p. 86 (1862). 

 Brentwood, Warley. 



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