50 
MANGOLD. 
From reports sent in during the last three years it appears that the 
Millepedes live on most of our common root-crops, such as Mangolds., 
Potatoes, Carrots, Onions, &c. ; likewise on young Wheat, and on 
various crops, on which they feed, as the case may be—at the roots, 
as of Peas; or at what they can reach, as Celery; or on ground-fruit, 
as Strawberries. The fact of their feeding on Wheat was observed 
more than forty years ago in the case of the Julus Londinensis , and, 
without entering at too great length on details, everything confirms 
the fact that they are general feeders, consuming living and decayed 
vegetable and animal substances. 
The females are stated to lay their eggs in the ground from about 
the end of December until the following May, and to propagate most 
in undisturbed ground ; but the Millepedes are to be found under 
rubbish, or amongst dead leaves, or especially in manure-heaps where 
much refuse garden rubbish is thrown. 
Looking to the good effect of salt and water in killing them, it 
would appear that lightly stirring the surface of land which was 
infested in the previous year, and giving it as heavy a dressing of salt 
as it would bear during the winter, would be a very good remedy. If 
this was applied after Christmas, the brine or dilute salt would almost 
certainly kill all the young hatching Millepedes and a large proportion 
of the old ones, and at that time of year they would not be likely to 
be able to get out of harm’s way by migration. This point (of 
migration), which I believe has been first noticed by Mr. J. A. 
Smith, of Rise Hall (already mentioned), is an extremely im¬ 
portant one, and may account for much previously quite unaccountable 
appearance. 
The Millepedes live for two years before arriving at full growth, or 
power of reproduction ; consequently, when a sudden devastation is 
set on foot, it may be presumed they have suddenly arrived, as, if 
present previously, they could not have failed to have been feeding up 
to the date of observation, and there is no sudden change in these 
powers. Sometimes they are brought on the land in manure, and 
this is especially the case in gardens, where the refuse they delight in 
is wheeled out on the ground. Thorough inspection of such heaps, 
and the requisite treatment, such as dressing the manure with 
more pairs of legs, arranged one pair on each segment. Its habit of twisting in 
all directions is another distinguishing mark. It feeds on vegetable matter, fresh 
or decayed, and is likewise considered to feed on animal matter, such as insects, or 
the like. It is stated to be a night-feeder, and sometimes leaves a phosphorescent 
trail where it has passed. I have not given the specific name, as there appears some 
uncertainty whether the Geophilus longicornis (Leach), of which the description 
is given above, is a different species from the G. subterraneus, or whether these 
are both of them the same as the Scolopendra electricq of Linn£eus, 
