MYRIAPODA. 



and fourth figure, Jlli/lepeda Orientalis and Millepeda Ceylonica, mas : the latter is the 

 same length as our figure, but the body is very narrow. Millepeda Orientalis is also the 

 same length, but the body is very broad. Some of these insects are not four inches in 

 length. These will be regarded as distinct species ; and, indeed, it is questionable 

 whether the Chinese species be strictly entitled to the specific name of Morsitans, as 

 Guerin (Encyclop. Meth. x. p. 393), and Pohl and Kollar, in their work on the noxious 

 insects of Brazil, have given the name of Morsitans to the Brazilian species, which has 

 also twenty-one pairs of legs ; to this species, however, Dr. Leach gave the specific name 

 of Alternans. The entire genus has, indeed, need of a monographical revision. It will 

 be seen that the antennee in this figure are much shorter than in that of De Geer, &c. 



Authors agree that they vary exceedingly in size* and colour. De Geer describes 

 them to be sometimes deep reddish brown; at others, the colour of yellow ochre. The 

 figure in Catesby's Natural History of Carolina is light brown ; we have specimens of 

 a livid yellow, and have seen others strongly tinged with red. 



The last pair of legs is considerably larger than the others, and is armed with small 

 black spines. The legs terminate in very sharp hooks or nails of a shining black colour. 

 All the other legs are also furnished with a smaller nail of the same shape and colour. 



M. Gronovius says, that all its feet are very venomous ; but the most formidable of 

 its weapons are the two sharp hooked instruments that are placed under the mouth, and 

 with which it destroys its prey. 



Leuwenhoeck having examined these instruments with a microscope, found a small 

 opening at the extremity of each, and a channel from them into the body of the creature. 

 Through this channel he supposes the Scolopendra emits the poisonous fluid into the 

 wound it makes with the hooked instrument. That author further remarks, that he has 

 seen a liquor on that part of living scolopendras. A figure of these instruments on the 

 under side of the head is represented in one of the dissections in our plate. 



The same author, wishing to ascertain the influence of the poison of Scolopendra 

 morsitans, placed a large fly within its reach. The Scolopendra at first took it between 

 a pair of its middle feet, then passed it from one pair of feet to the next, till the fly was 

 brought under the sharp pointed instrument or crotchets at the head, which it plunged 

 into the fly, and it died instantly. Notwithstanding this experiment, De Geer, Catesby, 

 and other authors assert, that its bite seldom proves fatal to larger animals ; but all agree 



* These creatures differ from most insects in their manner of growth, insomuch that it is impossible to as- 

 certain when they are of their full size. The segments of the body increase in number as they advance in 

 age, which circumstance renders it difficult oftentimes to determine the species without a minute examination 

 of its other characters. 



