LANTERN-FLIES. 69 



are most commonly known. The body is long and cylindri- 

 cal in the genus Geophilus, being made up of from thirty to 

 two hundred segments, each bearing a pair of short feet. 

 In the Eastern States Lithobius Americanus, Wood., is per- 

 haps the most familiar form, and often found under old logs. 



Some of the centipedes are very poisonous. Such a one is 

 Scolopendra heros, Girard., the poison being stored in two 

 enormous fangs. In Southern California I have found 

 extremely large specimens of this genus. In the East Indies 

 Scolopendra gigantea, Linn., attains a length of nine inches, 

 and is a most repulsive appearing creature, and so dreaded 

 that the most extravagant stories are told as to its power. 

 A native informed me, who evidently believed his statement, 

 that a man died near him from having one merely walk over 

 him. The bite is undoubtedly poisonous, as is that of many 

 of our common spiders; but I never could find an authentic 

 case where it had resulted fatally. 



As hideous as they are in certain parts of South America, 

 a huge species, which attains a length of a foot, is eaten , the 

 native children, according to Humboldt, tearing off the heads, 

 and devouring the remainder with evident enjoyment. 



There are about eight hundred species of Myriapods, and 

 among them is one, the Geophilus electricus of Europe, that 

 is positively luminous ; though Phipson, referring to them as 

 Scolopendrce, gives two luminous species, S. electrica, Linn., of 

 Europe, and *S'. phosphorea of Asia. Specimens of the former, 

 observed in fields at night, have been compared to minute 

 pieces of red-hot coal, so vivid was the light. Probably the 

 finest spectacle of the luminosity of these insects was observed 

 by M. Audouin, at Choissy-le-Roi, near Paris. Noticing a 

 light upon the ground in a chiccory field, he ordered' his 



