THE ARTHRONOMALUS LONOICORNIS. :.i';] 



in the centipede's way. He did .so, and received such a bite as occasioned a violent fever, 

 from which a critical abscess under his arm-pit relieved him." 



There are many of these fierce and venomous creatures scattered over the world, causing 

 no small annoyance to the new-comers, who cannot for a long time look with indifference on 

 a great centipede, some eight or ten inches long, running up the wall close to their heads, or 

 traversing the floor within a short distance of their feet. Among military men the monotony 

 of camp life is sometimes agreeably diversified by a centipede hunt, the creature being chased 

 as eagerly as if it were a fox or a wolf, and neatly captured in a split bamboo, or between two 

 sticks. 



So extremely poisonous are the fangs of these myriapods, that they will even kill poultry 

 without much difficulty, while the smaller creatures on which they prey die almost immedi- 

 ately under the bite. The force with which they can grasp is really terrible, the two hooked 

 claws being driven into the flesh until they meet, and holding their position so firmly that the 

 centipede will rather be torn asunder than loosen its grasp. The best way to assure ones self of 

 the force and general structure of these fangs is to procure a specimen that has been preserved 

 in spirits and dissect it, when the powerful muscles that work the poison-feet, the glands 

 which supply the venom, and the perforated passage through winch it is discharged into the 

 wound, are easily made out. 



The color of the Giant Centipede is bright rusty-red, with a deep green head and antennae, 

 and blackish or olive-colored feet. A closely allied species of similar dimensions is found in 

 Jamaica. 



The nest of these myriapods looks like a rounded object with an aperture on one side. 

 One was found by Mr. Foxcroft while digging for beetles in Sierra Leone. It was formed in a 

 reddish kind of earth, and many of these habitations were discovered in the same locality. 



Two more examples of this large genus are the Scolopr/trfn/ aiigidata and the Scolojye/i- 

 dra variegata. The latter, a beautiful species, is a native of Demerara, and is generally about 

 five inches in length when adult. Its color is rather rich and striking. The general hue of 

 the upper surface is deep chestnut, and the front edge of the head segment, the hinder edge 

 of the dorsal segments, and the lower surface are light orange. The antennae are olive-green, 

 and the feet are orange banded with olive. 



The second species is found in the Island of Trinidad, and in color contrasts well with the 

 preceding. Its length is not quite so great, measuring less than five inches. This creature is 

 deeji green, the lip and mandibles are reddish orange, and the feet are orange and green. It 

 derives its specific name of angulata from the sharp angle on the sides of each segment. 



We now take our leave of the true Scolopendra? and pass to other genera. 



Both the specimens which we will first describe are remarkable beings ; one for its noisy 

 nature, and the other for its phosphorescent power. 



In the centipede called JSucorybas crotalus, the feet are modified into flat, plate-like 

 appendages. As the centipede moves along it makes a clattering noise with these plates, and 

 derives from this curious habit both its scientific names. The Corybantes were an ancient 

 tribe to whom the education of Jupiter was intrusted when he was sought by his father, who 

 wanted to eat him, and who, in order to cover the sound of his cries, continually danced and 

 played the castanets around the infant. The specific name, crotalus, signifies a rattle, and is, 

 therefore, appropriate to the creature. 



This centipede is a native of Southern Africa, and is found about Natal. Its color is 

 rusty-brown. 



An allied species, but in no way conspicuous for its dimensions, is called Arthronomalus 

 longicornis. It is, however, remarkable on another account. It has the power of giving out 

 a tolerably strong phosphorescent light, which is only visible after dark, but is then very con- 

 spicuous, and has often caused the centipede to be mistaken for a glow-worm. It is not unfre- 

 quently found within peaches, apricots, plums, and similar fruits, when they are very ripe, 

 and lies comfortably coiled up in the little space between the stone and the fruit, where the 

 sweetest juices lie. 



