522 
THE GIANT CENTIPEDE. 
world, some being found even in comparatively cold countries. Several of them are very 
prettily colored, such as the Variegated Lithobius ( Lithobius vccriegatus ), which has a double 
low of dark spots along its body, and the Black-eyed Lithobius ( Lithobius melanops ), which 
is of a yellowish-green color, with an orange head, one joint of each leg of the same bright 
hue, and twelve large black eyes on either side of the head. The Forked Lithobius (. Lithobius 
forficatus) is very common in this country, being found plentifully under stones and in simi- 
lai localities. It is a quick, active creature, of a canary-red color, and is of moderate dimen- 
sions, measuring from an inch to an inch and a half in length. It has fifteen pairs of legs. 
We now arrive at the true Scolopendrse, which, together with the allied genera, are 
popularly known by the name of Centipedes. The genus Scolopendra is a very large one, con- 
taining about sixty species, most of them inhabitants of the tropics, and many attaining a 
large size. 
The great Scolopendrse are not only unpleasant and repulsive to the sight, but are really 
formidable creatures, being armed with fangs scarcely less terrible than the sting of the 
scorpion. These weapons are placed just below the mouth, and are formed from the second 
pair of feet, which are modified into a pair of strong claws, set horizontally in a manner 
resembling the falces of ordinary spiders, and terminated by a strong and sharp hook on each 
side. These hooks are perforated, and are traversed by a little channel leading from a poison 
gland, like tnat of the scorpion, so that the venomous secretion is forced into the wound by 
the very action of biting. These curious weapons cover the first pair of feet and the gnawing 
organs of the mouth. All the members of the order possess this remarkable modification of 
the feet, which has earned for them the title of Chilopoda, a term composed of two Greek 
words, the former signifying a beak, and the latter a foot. 
Both the species of Scolopendra figured on the engraving are exotic, and of rather large 
dimensions. The Scolopendra formosa is well deserving of its specific title, which signifies 
beautiful, on account of the splendid coloring with which it is adorned while living, the feet 
being orange, with black teeth, and the edges of each segment being bright green. It is a 
native of the East Indies, and is about four inches in length. The second species is, as its 
name imports, of a yellowish color, with a deep orange-colored head and appendages. This 
is a native of the Caribbean Islands, and is of the same length as the preceding species. 
Our next example is the Giant Centipede, a creature that well deserves its name, some- 
times attaining a foot or rather more in length. 
This truly formidable being is a native of Venezuela, and possesses a pair of such power- 
ful venom-fangs that its bite is nearly, if not quite, as dangerous as that of the viper. 
As an example of the effects of the poisoned wound inflicted by these large centipedes, I 
may cite a passage from Williamson’s valuable work on “Oriental Field Sports Centi- 
pedes grow to nearly a foot long, and as thick as a man’s little finger ; their form is, indeed, 
flatter, or like tape. When young they are of a clay color, but become darker with age. They 
bite by means of a pair of strong forceps placed horizontally at their mouth, nearly as large 
as the hooked thorns on a blackberry bramble, causing much pain and inflammation, and 
often occasioning fever. Being from their shape so peculiarly capable of secreting themselves, 
they sometimes occasion very ludicrous accidents. I once saw a friend apply a flute to his 
mouth to play on it, but scarcely had he begun, when a large centipede fastened to his under 
lip, causing him to change his note very abruptly. Several have been bitten while smoking 
their hookahs ; and I was myself once made to smart in putting on my gloves, a centipede 
having taken possession of one of the fingers. 
“A very grave and respectable old gentleman, who was remarkably fond of starting an 
hypothesis and hunting it to death, and who would rather pay the piper than not have his 
dance out on all occasions, perceived a large centipede deliberately crawling up an old door at 
Bethsaron Gardens, near Chororinghee. The veteran assured the company that all venomous 
animals were in their nature inoffensive, and never wounded but when attacked. Experience 
having satisfied some present to the contrary, an argument arose, and the old gentleman, with 
much dignity, asserted that fie would prove the validity of his positiou by placing his finger 
