ORDER MYRIAPODA. 133 



organs of respiration are composed either wholly or in part 

 of tubular tracheae. 



These animals run very fast, are carnassial, avoid light, 

 and conceal themselves imder stones, old beams of wood, 

 bark of trees, in earth, dung, &c. The inhabitants of 

 warm climates dread them greatly, the species which are 

 found there being very large, and their poison probably more 

 active. The scolopendra morsitans is designated in the 

 Antilles, by the epithet maleficent. Some are known to 

 possess a phosphoric property. 



The sexual organs are interior, and situated at the posterior 

 extremity of the body, as in the majority of the following 

 insects. The stigmata are more sensible than in the pre- 

 ceding family, and are either lateral or dorsal. 



This family, which in the method of Dr. Leach forms his 

 order sygnatha, may, according to these last mentioned cha- 

 racters, the nature of the respiratory organs, and the feet, be 

 thus divided. Some have but fifteen pairs of feet,* and their 

 body seen above, exhibits fewer segments than below — 



The Scutigera (Scutigera, Lam. Cermatla, II.), 



Which have the body covered with eight plates in the form 

 of shields, under each of which M. Marcel de Serres, has 

 observed two pneumatic pouches, or vesicular tracheae, re- 

 ceiving the air, and communicating with the lateral and lower 

 tubular tracheae. The under part of the body is divided 

 into fifteen semi-rings, having each a pair of feet terminated 

 by a very long tarsus, narrow, and very much articulated. 

 The last pairs are more elongated. The eyes are large, and 

 with facets. 



The}' have slender and tolerably long antennae. The two 



* Dr. Leach counts two pair more, because he comprehends in this 

 number the palpi, and crotchet-formed feet of ihe head. 



