Fig. 165.—A centiped.
The centipeds, on the other hand (Fig. 165), are animal feeders, and those found in the tropics are formidable creatures from six to ten inches in length, supplied with many claws and terrible fangs. They live a life of rapine and destruction, and the appearance of a large specimen almost a foot in length, dashing along with great rapidity by the aid of its fifteen or twenty pairs of feet, is sufficient to demoralize the stroller through the dark glades of the tropical forests. They have two pairs of foot jaws (Fig. 166) which grasp an enemy with wonderful tenacity. The second pair is perforated, and from it pours a poison dangerous to man in some tropical species and fatal to small animals. Several of these hideous creatures are luminous at times. Many centipeds have long antennæ. The eyes are very small, and in groups. The ordinary centiped of the North is harmless, despite the tales related of its ferocity.
Among the very small, though destructive insects, are the mites, found in cheese and sugar; they are parasitic in cattle and various other animals. In California certain forms (Fig. 167) cling to the bushes.
Fig. 166.—Under surface of head of centiped, showing poison fangs.
Fig. 167.—A mite.
Fig. 168.—The scorpion.
In remarkable contrast to the round-bodied mites are the scorpions (Fig. 168), in which the tail is sometimes two inches in length and armed with a sharp, daggerlike sting, provided with a poison apparatus. The scorpions of the largest size are often found in the tropics in the same locality with centipeds, under board piles and in dark places, coming out at night to prey upon small insects, which they seize with their crablike claws and tear apart. If the insect struggles violently, the scorpion raises its tail over its back and pierces it with its dagger, paralyzing it. In striking at other enemies the scorpion whirls about, keeping its tail toward them, repeatedly striking down and using its jointed tail with marvelous ingenuity. A few years ago these scorpions were common on the Florida Reef and were frequently killed in my own house at night. The pain resulting from the sting was about as disagreeable as that occasioned by a wasp. These scorpions were about three inches in length, but in Ceylon very much larger ones have been seen, and known to catch birds. The young scorpions are born alive and cling to the mother. The little book scorpion, the large whip scorpion, and the daddy longlegs, or harvestman, a harmless and sociable insect, are related to the true scorpions.