ON THE CHILOPODA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



23 



Specimens belonging to the Smithsonian Institution. 



329 



1 



170 



1 



336 



1 



116 



3 



33-2 



2 



Florida. 

 Florida. 



Garden Key, Tortugas. 



Peusacola. 



Palatka, East Florida. 



G. Wurdetnarj.* 

 G. Wurdetnan. 

 Dr. D. I). Whitehouse. 

 Dr. Hammond, U.S.A. 

 F. Glover. 



Unc. 2 



" 2i 



S. morsitans, Linn. — S. flavescens, scutis plerumque postice viridi marginatis ; segmento cephalico postice 

 subtruncato, basali magno ; antennis 20 articulatis ; laminis dentalibus, margine antico leviter rotundato; 

 dentibus 8 — 10 brevibus, obtusis; pedibus compressis; pedibus postremis brevibus, robustis, supra 

 complanatis, subtus valde convexis; articulis basali et tibiali marginibus superioribus elevatis et fere 

 rectangulis ; artieulo basali intus 5 spinis, subtus spinis 7 — 9 triseriatis altemantibus, processu angulari 

 valde elongato, spinis 3 — 5 ; appendioibus analibus lateralibus, dense punctatis, apice breve, spinis 3 — 1 ; 

 squama preanali longitudinc latiori. 

 " Scol. morsitans, Linn., Syst. Nat. i. p. 1063 j Newp. Linn. Trans, xix. p. 378. 

 Seal, marginata, Say, in Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1821, p. 9 ; et in CEuvr. Entom. Ed. Gory livr. 



i. p. 22. 



Scol. Brandtianq, Gervais, in Ann. Sc. Nat. Jan v. 1837, p. 50; et Apt. iv. p. 280. 

 Scol. platypus, Brandt., Recueil, p. 61 ; Newp. in Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. xiii. p. 9S." 

 S. otomita, Saussure, Mem. Soc. Phys. de Genev. 1860, xv. p. 383, f. 42. 



" This species closely resembles S. cingulata in its general appearance. The spinulse 

 on the inferior surface of the posterior legs are arranged in three series which alter- 

 nate with one another, so that, as remarked by Mr. Brandt, who first correctly 

 described this species, they form with each other a succession of triangles. The pre- 

 anal scale is very short, somewhat quadrate, with the posterior margin very slightly 

 rounded. The lateral appendages also are short, with a slightly produced apex bifid." 



Notwithstanding the labor devoted by different naturalists to this species, we think 

 it possible that it will be hereafter found that its history as now accepted is incorrect. 

 The geographical range, as given by Mr. Newport, extends over those portions of 

 South, Central and North America which lie in or near the tropics, as well as over 

 the whole of the West Indies and an unknown extent of China. Verily, it must be 

 the cosmopolite of the Scolopendridse. We have an individual from Japan which we 

 believe to be the var. a of Newport. It very closely resembles the North American 

 specimens, but a suite may show that it is distinct. We have quite a number of Sco- 

 lopendrse from Georgia and East Florida, but there is not a specimen of S. morsitans 

 amongst them. We suspect that S. marginata and S. viridis of Say are identical 

 species, and that S. morsitans is not an inhabitant of the United States. Say's descrip- 

 tions are absolutely no guides to the species intended. P. Gervais adopts Say's species 

 as good, and gives the following synonymy. (See Apteres, t. iv. p. 276; et Tabl. des 

 Myriap. Americ. (Exp. Amer. Sud, sept, part.) p. 30.) 



" S. marginata, Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci., t. ii. p. 100, &c. 



S. morsitans, partem, Newp., Trans. Linn. Soc. London, t. xix. p. 379." 



* Where it is not stated differently, the donor is believed to be the collector. 



