24 



SCOL OPENDRID^. 



CASE section, after having caused lingering headache, having been 

 sneezed forth by men from the nose. As Van der Hoeven says, 

 . it is easier to reject these observations than to explain the 

 continued life of these insects in such an unusual situation. 



Genus Scolopendra. 



Eyes, four on both sides. Feet, almost 

 always twenty-one. Antennae with from 

 seventeen to twenty joints. 



This genus consists chiefly of large 

 exotic species, which can inflict a 

 painful and poisonous bite with their 

 powerful nippers. The structure of 

 the poison apparatus has been per- 

 fectly well ascertained, and the 

 poisonous character of the secretion 

 sufficiently proved by experience. As 

 to the latter, the larger the species 

 naturally the more powerful should 

 the poison be expected to be, and 

 the bite from one of them causes 

 pain and suffering, even to man 

 himself. Brown, in his " History of 

 Jamaica," says of one of the larger 

 species (S. morsitans) — *' This insect 

 is reckoned very venomous ; the 

 prongs of the forceps are very strong, 

 bending and pointed, which enable 

 them to bite very hard, and they 

 probably emit some venomous juice 

 also, as some who have been bit by 

 them informed me that the part bitten 

 is very painful for two or three hours, 

 and turns frequently of a livid colour. I have seen them often kill 



Scolopendra morsitans (natural size). 



