S. morsitans.
S. flavescens; scutis plerumque postice viridi marginatis; segmento cephalico postice subtruncato, basali magno; antennis 20 articulatis; laminis dentalibus, margine antico leviter rotundato; dentibus 8—10, brevibus, obtusis; pedibus compressis; pedibus postremis brevibus, robustis, supra complanatis, subtus valde convexis; articulis basali et tibiali marginibus superioribus elevatis et fere rectangulis; articulo basali intus 5 spinis, subtus spinis 7—9 triseriatis alternantibus; processu angulari valde elongato, spinis 3—5; appendicibus analibus lateralibus dense punetatis, apice breve, spinis 3—4; squama preanali longitudine latiore.
Yellowish; scuta generally margined with green; cephalic segment posteriorly subtruncate, basal large; antennæ 20 articulate; dental laminæ, with their anterior margin slightly rounded; teeth 8—10, short, obtuse; feet compressed, last pair short, robust, above complanate, below very convex; basal and tibial joints with their superior margins elevate and almost rectangular; basal joint within 5 spines, below 7—9 spines in three alternating series; angular process very much elongated, spines 3—5; lateral anal appendages densely punctate, their apex short, with 3—4 spines; preanal scale broader than long.
Scol. morsitans, Linn., Syst. Nat. i, p. 1063.
"" Newp., Linn. Trans, xix, p. 378.
"" Wood, Journ. A. N. S., 1863, p. 23.
Scol. marginata, Say, in Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1821, p. 9; et in Œuvr. Entom. Ed. Gory. livr. i, p. 22.
Scol. Brandtiana, Gervais, in Ann. Sc. Nat., Jan v. 1837, p. 50; et Apt. iv, p. 280.
Scol. platypus, Brandt, Recueil, p. 61.
"" Newport, in Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist, xiii, p. 98.
S. otomita, Saussure, Mem. Soc. Phys. de Genev., 1860, xv, p. 383, f. 42.
"This species closely resembles S. cingulata in its general appearance. The spinules on the inferior surface of the posterior legs are arranged in three series which alternate with one another, so that, as remarked by Mr. Brandt, who first correctly described this species, they form with each other a succession of triangles. The preanal scale is very short, somewhat quadrate, with the posterior margin very slightly rounded. The lateral appendages also are short, with a slightly produced bifid apex."
Notwithstanding the labor devoted by different naturalists to this species, I think it possible that it will be hereafter found that its history as now accepted is incorrect. The geographical range, as given by Mr. Newport, extends over those portions of South, Central, and North America which lie in or near the tropics, as well as over the whole of the West Indies and an unknown extent of China. Verily, it must be the cosmopolite of the Scolopendridæ. I have seen an individual from Japan which I believe to be the var. β of Newport. It very closely resembles the North American specimens, but a suite may show that it is distinct. I have quite a number of Scolopendræ from Georgia and East Florida, but there is not a specimen of S. morsitans amongst them. I suspect that S. marginata and S. viridis of Say are identical species, and that S. morsitans is not an inhabitant of the
vol. xiii.—21
