MYRIAPODS, 23 



CASE Geophilus subterraneus.— 4. Specimens (several in phial) ; 5. Enlarged 

 jf Q5 figure of ditto ; 6. Vignette illustration of its phosphorescence. 



-6. 



This species is one of those which have the remarkable property 

 of occasionally (more especially in spring and autumn) secreting 

 a phosphoric Hght, which seems to exude from the body, and is 

 left like a shining trail on the spots over which the insect has 

 passed. It soon fades and disappears, seldom being seen for a 

 longer space than a couple of feet behind the insect. This is the 

 species whose luminosity has been most frequently observed in 

 Britain, but there are reasons for believing that the property is 

 common to all the section of centipedes known as Geophilidse, 

 and that it is evolved only at the breeding season. Mr. Newport 

 mentions having found two individuals of this species on the 

 ground in contact with each other at midnight, on the 25th of 

 September, which shone almost as brightly as the glow-worm, for 

 which, at the instant, he mistook them. On taking them into his 

 hand the luminous matter was exuded and adhered to his fingers, 

 and continued to shine for some time, like phosphorus. The 

 individuals appeared to be able to give it forth at pleasure. This 

 property appears to be common to some tropical, as well as 

 European, Geophili. Oviedo, the friend and companion o^ 

 Columbus, as quoted by Newport, mentions it in his account of 

 the island of St. Domingo : — " There are in this island (St. 

 Domingo) many kinds of Scolopendra or hundred legs ; some are 

 slender, and as long as one's finger, and like to those of Spain, 

 and these bite and cause considerable pain. There are others of 

 these worms about half the length of the finger and slender, with 

 many feet, and these shine much by night, and leave a light where 

 they go, and may be seen 50 or even 100 feet off. Yet the whole 

 animal does not shine, but only the joints where the legs spring 

 from the body, and the light is very bright." From this property 

 this species, or the G. longicornis (it is doubtful which he meant) 

 was named by Linnaeus, Scolopendra electrica. 



Numerous observations are recorded of Myriapods of this 



