46 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



classed among our friends. And all of them are of interest 

 to the naturalist as representatives of a distinct type of 

 Arthropods. 



If we omit certain small and rather uncommon forms, 

 the Myriapods may be classed in two orders ; one consisting 

 of the Centipedes, the other of the Millipedes. 



Order Chilopoda (Chi-lop'o-da). 

 The Centipedes. 



The centipedes can be recognized at a glance by the fact 

 that each segment of the body bears a single pair of legs 



(Fig. 55). The body is 

 usually flattened, and the 

 antennae are long and many- 

 jointed. 



Many species of centi- 

 Fig. 55.-A Centipede. pedes are venomous. The 



poison glands open through the claws of the first pair of legs, 

 which are bent forward so as to act with the mouth parts. 

 These creatures abound in all parts of the United States; 

 those which are found in the North are comparatively 

 small, and rarely, if ever, inflict serious injury to man ; but 

 the larger species, which occur in the warmer regions, are 

 said to be extremely venomous. 



The centipedes are predaceous, feeding on insects ; they 

 usually live under stones, logs, and bark. There is one spe- 

 cies, Cermatia forceps (Cer ma'ti-a), which has very long legs, 

 and only fifteen pairs of them, which is often found running 

 on the walls of houses, especially in the Southern States. 

 We have never heard of this centipede biting a human be- 

 ing, and as it feeds upon insects, especially cockroaches, it 

 may be regarded as a welcome visitor in houses. 



