690 



THE SCOLOPENDRA. 



in this country, being found plentifully under stones and in similar localities. It is 

 a quick, active creature, of a canary-red color, and is of moderate dimensions, measuring 

 from an inch to an inch and a half in length. It has fifteen pairs of legs. 



WE now arrive at the true Scolopendrae, which, together with the allied genera, are 

 popularly known by the name of Centipedes. The genus Scolopendra is a very large 

 one, containing about sixty species, most of them inhabitants of the tropics, and many 

 attaining a large size. 



The great Scolopendrae are not only unpleasant and repulsive to the sight, but are 

 really formidable creatures, being armed with fangs scarcely less terrible than the sting of 

 the scorpion. These weapons are placed just below the mouth, and are formed from the 

 second pair of feet, which are modified into a pair of strong claws, set horizontally in a 



Scolopfadra formosa. (Lower figure.) 



Scolopeodra lutea, (Upper figure.) 



manner resembling the falces of ordinary spiders, and terminated by a strong and sharp 

 hook on each side. These hooks are perforated, and are traversed by a little channel 

 leading from a poison gland, like that of the scorpion, so that the venomous secretion is 

 forced into the wound by the very action of biting. These curious weapons cover the 

 first pair of feet and the gnawing organs of the mouth. All the members of the order 

 possess this remarkable modification of the feet, which has earned for them the title 

 of Chilopoda, a term composed of two Greek words, the former signifying a beak, and the 

 latter a foot. 



Both the species of Scolopendra figured on the engraving are exotic, and of rather 

 large dimensions. The Scolopendra formosa is well deserving of its specific title, which 

 signifies beautiful, on account of the splendid coloring with which it is adorned while 

 living, the feet being orange, with black teeth, and the edges of each segment being 

 bright green. It is a native of the East Indies, and is about four inches in length. The 

 second species is, as its name imports, of a yellowish color, with a deep orange-colored 

 head and appendages. This is a native of the Caribbean Islands, and is of the same 

 length as the preceding species. 



