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CENTIPEDES AND MILLIPEDES. 
The order Geophilomorpha, represented by the family Geophilidce, includes the 
long worm-like centipedes, with the segments varying in number from thirty-nine 
to over a hundred. There are no eyes, and the short thick antennas are always 
composed of fourteen segments. Each segment of the body, with the exception 
of the first and last, bears a pair of stigmata and is double, an anterior portion being 
cut off by a distinct joint. The Geophilidce, which are distributed all over the world, 
with the exception of the polar areas, are subterranean in their habits, burrowing 
after the manner of earth-worms, upon which they almost wholly subsist. Two 
exceptions, however, to this rule must be mentioned, namely, Linotcenia maritima 
and Schenclyla submarina, both of which have been obtained upon the shores of 
Western Europe, beneath stones at low-water mark. Although this is a strange 
habitat for animals, air-breathing species typically terrestrial can withstand 
immersion in sea-water for many hours, and in fresh water from one to two 
GEOPHILUS GRAPPLING WITH EARTH-WORM (nat. size). 
weeks. Many of the species emit a phosphorescent fluid from glands opening 
upon the sternal surface of the segments. In Europe the time for the appear¬ 
ance of the phenomenon is between the end of September and the beginning 
of November. Although its import is not understood, it appears to be connected 
in some manner with the mating of the sexes. A small reddish species ( Linotcenia 
crccssipes ) is the one most commonly found exhibiting this phosphorescence in 
England. 
Remains of fossil centipedes referable to the existing groups occur in amber 
beds belonging to the middle portion of the Tertiary period; while mere aberrant 
types have been discovered in the Palaeozoic rocks of the United States. 
To a certain extent, connecting the centipedes with the millipedes and insects, 
is the class Symphyla, containing the single genus Scolopendrella. This is repre¬ 
sented by minute pale-coloured creatures, with long thread-like antennae, fifteen 
or sixteen body-segments, and twelve pair of legs, each of which is armed with 
two claws. It further differs from the centipedes in having only two pairs of 
jaws, as in the millipedes. Scolopendrella, which includes two British species, also 
occurs in North America, India, and Sumatra. 
The Millipedes, —Class Diplopoda. 
Although millipedes and centipedes were formerly united to form the class 
Myriopoda, it has been discovered that the characters in which they resemble each 
