157 

 Genus LXXXV. SCOLOPENDRJ. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Antenna setaceous. Palpi two, filiform, and 

 articulated. Body depressed. Feet nume- 

 rous, of an equal number on each side with 

 the segments of the body. 



General Observations. 



The Scolopendrae vary greatly in size. The 

 largest of those found in Europe scarcely ex- 

 ceed two inches in length, while those of In- 

 dia are at least four times as long. They live 

 in holes in the ground, in decayed wood, under 

 stones, and in other dark and humid places. 

 The appearance of the larger kinds is very for- 

 midable, and the bite extremely painful. Leu- 

 wenhoek, who examined the strong, crooked 

 fangs of these insects, found near the point an 

 opening, which extended to the base, and 

 through which an acrid liquor is ejected into 

 the wound, causing that severe degree of pain 

 and inflammation, which constantly succeeds 

 the bite of the tropical Scolopendrse* India, 



VOL. II. P 



