Volume 3

The illustrated natural history / by the Rev. J.G. Wood.

  • Wood, J. G. (John George), 1827-1889.
Date:
1869-
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The illustrated natural history / by the Rev. J.G. Wood. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    701/824 (page 693)
    THE LUMINOUS CENTIPEDE. 698 The second species is found in the Island of Trinidad, and in colour contrasts well with the preceding. Its length is not quite so great, ntieasuring less than five inches. This creature is deep green, the lip and mandibles are reddish orange, and the feet are orange and green. It derives its specific name of angulaia from the sharp angle on the sides of each segment. We now take our leave of the true Scolopendras and pass to other genera. Both the specimens represented in the next illustration are remarkable beings; the one for its noisy nature, and the other for its phosphorescent power. If the reader will examine a specimen of the centipede that is figured in the lower part of the illustration, he will notice that the feet of the creature are modified into flat plate-like appendages. As the centipede moves along it makes a clattering noise with these plates, and derives from this curious habit both its scientific names. The Corybantes were an ancient tribe to whom the education of Jupiter was intrusted when , he was sought by his father, who wanted to eat him, and who, in order to cover the soimd of his cries, continually danced and played the castanets around the infant. The specific name, crotalus, signifies a rattle, and is, therefore, appropriate to the creature. This centipede is a native of Southern Africa, and is found about Natal. Its colour is rusty brown, and the species may be easUy recognised by the peculiar structure just described. The smaller figure represents a centipede which is found in England, and in some localities is very common. It is represented of its natural size, and, as may be seen, is in no way conspicuous for its dimensions. It is, however, remarkable on another account. It has the power of giving out a tolerably strong phosphorescent light, which is only visible after dark, but is then very conspicuous, and has often caused the centipede to be mistaken for a glow-worm. It is not unfrequently found within peaches, apricots, plums, and similar fruits, when they are very ripe, and lies comfortably coiled up in the little space between the stone and the fruit, where the sweetest juices lie. The colour of this centipede is yellow; its head is deep rust colour; its antennae are very hairy and four 'imes as long as the head segment. There are from fifty-one to fifty-five pairs of legs. ' Its length varies from two and a half inches to three inches.