THE MYRIAP0D8. 
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 Peripatiis 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. — Myriapoda. 
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 pair of antennae, and two or three pairs 
of jaw-like appendages. 
Order 1. Chilognatha. — To this group belong the mille- 
pedes, JuhcSy 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 
(Fig. 134, G, Mpimcticeps) there are from thirty to two 
hundred segments. Our mo§t commou form is LithoUus 
