522 THE GIANT CENTIPEDE. 



world, some being found even in comparatively cold countries. Several of them are very 

 prettily colored, such as the Variegated Lithobius {Lithobius variegatus), which has a doable 

 row of dark spots along its body, and the Black-eyed Lithobius {Lithobius melanops), which 

 is of a yellowish-green color, with an orange head, one joint of each leg of the same bright 

 hue, and twelve large black eyes on either side of the head. The Forked Lithobius (Lithobius 

 forficatus) is very common in this country, being found plentifully under stones and in simi- 

 lar localities. It is a quick, active creature, of a canary-red color, and is of moderate dimen- 

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



We now arrive at the true Scolopendra?, which, together with the allied genera, are 

 popularly known by the name of Centipedes. The genus Scolopendra is a very large one, con- 

 taining about sixty species, most of them inhabitants of the tropics, and many attaining a 

 large size. 



The great Scolopendra? 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 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. 



Cur next example is the Giaxt Centipede, a creature that well deserves its name, some- 

 times attaining a foot or rather more in length. 



This truly formidable being is a native of Venezuela, and possesses a pair of such power- 

 ful venom-fangs that its bite is nearly, if not quire, as dangerous as that of the viper. 



As an example of the effects of the poisoned wound inflicted by these large centipedes, I 

 may cite a passage from Williamson's valuable work on "Oriental Field Sports": — "Centi- 

 pedes grow to nearly a foot long, and as thick as a man's little finger; their form is, indeed, 

 flatter, or like tape. When young they are of a clay color, but become darker with age. They 

 bite by means of a pair of strong forceps placed horizontally at their mouth, nearly as large 

 as the hooked thorns on a blackberry bramble, causing much pain and inflammation, and 

 often occasioning fever. Being from their shape so peculiarly capable of secreting themselves, 

 they sometimes occasion very ludicrous accidents. I once saw a friend apply a flute to his 

 mouth to play on it, but scarcely had he begun, when a large centipede fastened to his under 

 lip, causing him to change his note very abruptly. Several have been bitten while smoking 

 their hookahs; and T was myself once made to smart in putting on my gloves, a centipede 

 having taken possession of one of the fingers. 



"A very grave and respectable old gentleman, who was remarkably fond of starting an 

 hypothesis and hunting it to death, and who would rather pay the piper than not have his 

 dance out on all occasions, perceived a large centipede deliberately crawling up an old door at 

 Bethsaron Gardens, near Chororingh.ee. The veteran assured the company that all venomous 

 animals were in their nature inoffensive, and never wounded but when attacked. Experience 

 having satisfied some present to the contrary, an argument arose, and the old gentleman, with 

 much dignity, asserted that he would prove the validity of his position by placing his finger 



