222 MARVELS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD 



although, doubtless, a bite from one of these 

 creatures would produce very unpleasant results. 



A genus of spiders known as Latrodectus are 

 greatly feared on account of their poisonous bite, 

 and one kind, namely, the katipo (L. scelio), of New 

 Zealand, is so venomous that, according to the 

 writings of Dr. Calmette : — ' The Maoris are so much 

 afraid of the bite of the katipo that, when one of 

 them has been bitten in his hut, and the animal 

 cannot be found, they do not hesitate to burn the 

 dwelling to the groxmd. Moreover, they are 

 convinced that the death of the spider is absolutely 

 necessary for the recovery of the patient.' 



The centipedes are all endowed with a poison 

 gland which is situated in the terminal fang-Uke 

 segment of their jaws, the latter being pierced 

 by a small channel through which the venom 

 flows. The distribution of these creatures is almost 

 universal, but those found in the tropics are giants 

 of their kind and frequently attain to a length of 

 eighteen inches, one of the largest being Scalopendra 

 gigantea, of Trinidad, which, besides being able to 

 inflict a poisonous bite with its powerful jaws, can 

 also exude venom from its feet. 



Although millipedes are commonly regarded as 

 being poisonous animals, yet such is not the case. 

 Nevertheless, they possess numerous stink-glands 

 which secrete an evfl-smelling fluid containing 

 prussic acid, which is emitted through pores upon 

 the sides of their bodies. 



In the scorpions we have a group of creatures 

 which are able to inflict a very poisonous woimd 



