LEPISMA, 54y 



Genus I. — Lepifma, 



jL he infe^ls of this genus are dillinguiftied by pofTefling 

 fix feet formed for running ; a mouth furniflied with four 

 palpi ; two of which are fetaceous, and two capitated. 

 T e body is covered with imbricated fcales ; and the tail 

 is terminated by briftly appendices f . 



The refidence of the lepifma is commonly in gardens 

 and damp houfes. In the former, they retreat under 

 mouldy boards or flag-ftones ; and in the latter, they are 

 feen about window falhes, and old boxes that have re- 

 mained for fome time in a humid fituation. When their 

 haunts are diflurbed, they make off with fo great veloci- 

 ty, that they are but feidom caught ; and when that hap- 

 pens, they are often deflroyed, being, from their foftnefs, 

 ealily cruflied. 



Lepifma fa ccharmaX' The colour of this infe6l is a 

 Ihadeoflead, brightening into iilver : Its moll confpicu- 

 ous member is the tail, which confifts of three long 

 threads, flender and fine ; but if viewed with a microfcope, 

 are covered with tufts of hair. The antennae of this le- 

 pifma are long and filiform ; in fome, they are nearly 

 equal to the length of the body ; The feet are fix in num- 

 ber, prefenting a fliort and truncated appearance at their 

 infertion : They are received into a groove in the body 



3 Z 2 o£ 



t Syft. Nat. Ord. VII. Gen. i. \ Syft. Nat. ubi fupra. 



