IHE SPRINGTAIL, ^4^ 



Genus II. — Tcdura. The Spritigtaih 



1 HERE are above a dozen of different kinds of the fpring- 

 tail ; they derive their EngVi/h name from their habit of 

 bounding from the ground ; an exertion which is per- 

 formed by means of the forked elaftic tail which bends 

 under the body, and a£ls like a fprlng. The antennae of 

 the fpringtails are long and fetaceous ; their fix feet are 

 formed for running ; and their eyes are compofed each of 

 eight facets f. 



Podtira 'uillofa, the rcugh fpringtail, is a Britijh infeft, 

 and the largell of the tribe known to us. The ground- 

 colour is dark brown, mixed with a fliade of yellow, and 

 variegated all over with ftreaks of black. The abdomen 

 of this infc6l alone is fmocth, the head being very much 

 covered wllh hairs, which are fo deciduous, that they 

 flick to the fingers en handling the animal; the antennae, 

 in the fubjedl we faw, confilled of four articulations, and 

 were nearly as long as the body. 



This lepifma js generally found below flones ; but 

 there arc others of the genus thatfeem purely aquatic,and 

 able to walk and fkip upon the furfacc with apparent eafe. 

 It is this fpecies that W'e ir.ay obferve in the mornings 

 aflTembling in pretty numerous tribes upon the banks of 

 llagnated pools. Other fpecies refide among rotten bark, 

 pr decayed leaves ; and in Sweden there is a fpecies which 



run? 



I "Vi^e Syft. Nat. p. I013, 



