MYRIAPODS, 



ii 



CASE in the scale the less is its value. In this case, too, the insects 

 themselves are to all outward appearance so similar to the Poly- 

 desmi that we have difficulty in separating them from that genus, 

 and cannot accept the idea of giving them any higher rank than 

 a family of the Chilognatha. In like manner we must propor- 

 tionately reduce the value of the sections composing it. It has 

 been divided by those who regard it as an order into the families 

 of Polyzonidag, with simple eyes, and Siphonophoridse, without 

 eyes ; which again has been subdivided into the genus Siphono- 

 phora with a long rostrum, and Brachycybe with a short one ; 

 but as the reader goes along he will learn to distrust the value 

 of modifications of the eyes as a character of any importance. 

 Eyes in fact seem to be a sort of unessential accident that 

 may be present or absent, large or small, few or many, without 

 much disturbing the harmony of the relations of the rest of the 

 creature's economy. In some cases such modifications are not 

 even of generic value. The other characters of this section, how- 

 ever, are of more importance. 



Genus Brachycybe ( Wood). 



Head very short, much shorter than the antennae, rostrum acute. 



Brachycybe rosea, {Mttrr. n.s.). — 36. Speci- 

 mens (i) ; 37. Enlarged figure. 



This is a very beautiful species that we 

 found in California in rotten stumps. It 

 is white with a rosy blush, very flat, and 

 with the segments numerous, broad, and 

 very short (in other species 47 in number) ; 

 it reaches from a quarter to one and a 

 half inches in length \ the segments are 

 compacted very close together, and so 

 broad that they wholly conceal the legs 

 below; there is a slight but handsome 

 granulation on the back of the segments. 



Brachycybe rosea (natura 

 size and magnified). 



