CLASS MYRIAPODA. 4I 



Little need be said as to tlie internal anatomy of Litho- 

 bius. The digestive tube is well developed, and is fur- 

 nished with large salivary glands, and a rudimentary liver, 

 together with certain tubes which represent the kidneys. 

 The heart is in the form of a long, simple tube, placed 

 along the middle of the back. The breathing-organs are 

 in the form of delicate membranous tubes, the walls of 

 which are strengthened by a s^iirally-coiled filament or 

 fibre of horn. These tubes commence at the surface in 

 little rounded apertures, one of which is placed on each 

 side of each alternate segment, and they branch frequently 

 as they proceed inwards amongst the various tissues of the 

 body. The nervous system, lastly, has the form of a chain 

 of pairs of little nervous masses, one pair being present in 

 each ring or segment ; these masses are united together so 

 as to form a doubly-knotted cord, placed along the lower 

 surface of the body. 



Lithohius forjicatus is a darkness-loving creature, and 

 haunts obscure crevices of walls and cellars, or lives hidden 

 under stones, or beneath the rotten bark of trees. It is 

 highly carnivorous, and lives upon the bodies of small 

 animals (such as earth-worms and caterpillars), which it 

 kills by the bite of its empoisoned "foot-jaws." When 

 captured, it will attempt to bite, but it is quite harmless, 

 as the jaws are not sufficiently powerful to pierce the skin. 

 Its general colour is brownish-red or ferruginous. 



Recapitulation of Essential Characters. — Head 

 distinct from the segments carrying the legs, and support- 

 ing a single pair of jointed feelers. Segments behind the 

 head numerous and distinct, but not separated into regions. 

 Legs numerous, usually from fifteen up to as many as one 

 hundred and sixty pairs, sometimes eleven pairs, but never 

 fewer than nine pairs. No wings. Breathing-organs in 

 the form of branching tubes, adapted for breathing air 

 directly. These characters distinguish the class of the 

 Myricqioda as a whole. 



