BRANCH AR THRU POD A ; CLASS M YRIAPODA : M YRIAPODS 227 



are nearly uniform in character with the exception of the 



head, which, as in the insects, bears the mouth-parts and 



antennae. There is no grouping of the body-segments 



into regions except as the head is opposed to the rest of 



the body. (In a few myriapods there are indications of 



a division of the hind body into thorax and abdomen.) 



The presence of true legs on all the 



segments of the hinder region of the 



body and the lack of the three-region 



division of the body are the principal 



external structural characteristics which 



distinguish myriapods from insects. The 



internal anatomy corresponds in general 



character with that of insects. 



The most familiar myriapods are the 



millipeds, and the lithobians and centi- 



peds. The millipeds are cylindrical in 



shape, have two pairs of legs on most 



of the body-segments and are vegetable 



feeders, though some may feed on dead 



animal matter. The galley-worms 



{Julus) (fig. 86), large, blackish, cylin- 

 drical millipeds found under stones and 



logs and leaves and in loose soil, are 



familiar forms. They crawl slowly and when disturbed 



curl up and emit a malodorous fluid. They can easily be 

 kept alive in shallow glass vessels with a layer of earth in 

 the bottom, and their habits and life-history may thus be 

 studied. They should be fed sliced apples, green leaves, 

 grass, strawberries, fresh ears of corn, etc. They are not 

 poisonous and may be handled with impunity. They lay 

 their eggs in little spherical cells or nests in the ground. 

 An English species of which the life-history has been 

 studied lays from 60 to 100 eggs at a time. The eggs 

 of this species hatch in about twelve days. 



FIG. 86. A galley- 

 worm (milliped), 

 Julits sp. (From 

 specimen.) 



