TRE MTR1AP0D8. Ill 



Most of the species are confined to the warmer portions of 

 the globe, becoming fewer as we approach the North Polar 

 regions. Many are inhabitants of fresh water; a very few 

 inhabit the sea. 



The Myriapods are all terrestrial, and occur in all parts 

 of the earth except the polar regions. On the other hand, 

 spiders and mites occur in tolerable abundance in the arctic 

 regions, as well as on the summits of lofty mountains, but 

 the scorpions are confined to the hotter parts of the earth. 



Unlike the winged insects, the Myriapods and Arachnids 

 do not pass through a well-marked metamorphosis. 



Class III. — Malacopoda. 



General Characters of Malacopoda, — This group is repre- 

 sented by a single animal, the Peripatus of the tropics, in 

 which the soft worm-like body has rudimentary jaws. There 

 is a pair of fleshy feet, ending in two claws, to each seg- 

 ment; it breathes by minute air-tubes. 



Class IV. — Myeiapoda. 



General Characters of Myriapods. — The centipedes and 

 millepedes are distinguished by their cylindrical body, the 

 abdominal segments being numerous and similar to the 

 thoracic segments, all provided with a pair of feet. The 

 head is free, with a jmir of antennae, and two or three pairs 

 of jaw-like appendages. 



Order 1. Cldlognatha. — To this group belong the mille- 

 pedes, Julus, etc. (Fig. 133). The segments are round or 

 flattened, and the feet are inserted near together, and there 

 appear to be two pairs to each segment. Millepedes feed 

 on dead, sometimes fresh leaves, and on fallen fruit. 



Order 2. Chilopoda. — This group is represented by the 

 centipede, in which the body is flattened. In Geopliihis 

 fFig. 134, 0. iipuncticeps) there are from thirty to two 

 hundred segments. Our most common form is Lithoiius 



