The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-01-29

Not Isasscd by the Hoard OF Cen.
sofrhip.
THE CENTIPEDE


One OF the mosi interesting and
attractive of the iauna OF The south
west ~ that clever little creature
known ~ the c%entlpcde. Tho ccnti.
pcde has "a unique personality. lie
derives his nomenclature from the
alleged fact that he has one hundred
consecutive legs, although cvundng
the legs Of the ccnti2cdc has a. vet
not become 70 popular fistime. one
Of the remarkable traits uf the ami
mai is the military precision with
which he keeps step with himself
ih spite OF his large number OF pedal
eNtremiucs II Edward payson
weston were equipped with the per-
nmhuiaioty apparatus Of thu cent?
pode. from the Atlantic to the Pacific
would be Tor him bur an after uinner
stroll The centipede ranges Ia
length from one millimctcr 20 three
fect or more according 10 the imag-
nation OF inventive genius of his
observer The centipcdc's favorito
haunt Is a point about half way up
the human leg or limb as Il is some
times called, the creature being OF
"a mild. %sedentary and docile dispose
ton when treated with proper con
~sideration, coming readily when
called and eating GU Of the hand. II
suddenly disturbed. however, while
thus cvlncing his liking for human
companio.tship. he is apt Ia demon
/ stratc his vcNation by embracing tho
nearest portion Of the anatomy In "a
nervous nj with his entire as
sortmcnt Of feet. each OF which is
| equipped by Mother Nature at tho
terminus with "A small hut excessive
ly penetrating hypodcrmic needle
resembling the u~ppcudaRe affected
by the familiar bumblc-bee.
In addition To his peculiar pedal
cXtrcmities the centipcdc is charac-
tcrizcd also by a pair Of small
plumbers pliers, affixed To his head
having sharp cutting edges which
produce an unusually lively impress
sion when they suddenly implngc up-
on the back Of the neck. The cen
tipcde Is t rcmarkabiy rapid albeit
| erratiC traveller. accomplishing his
progress by means Of a modified
~turkcy-trct having also points Of
resemblance ia that popular and
! well known terpsichoreRu nmusc-
1 .aent or exercise known as the buff
talo-wnllow.
rho hite. or more properly. The
footprint of tho ccntipedc Is aid to
be invariably fatal This fact Is
positively attosted 10y numerous per
sons who have been experimental
upon 10y the animal. one instance
Is on record of an Arizona man who
died instantly after being bitten,
unusual feature Of this lamcntabla
case being the act 81 q close friend
Of the dccc, sed who attempted go
shoot the insect off the deceased
with a slx-shooter. q who was
much chngrined TO learn That he had
missed the centipedc by ~ inch or
more. The centipedc was renosing
upon the deceased'r .rcasi bone NJ
the time this mortlfyine display ~
inferior understanding occurred
Al first glance the centipedc is
not engaging in his personal appear
Ence and might be described hy care
less observers as homclv, although
ne Possesses an Individuality dis
tinctiy his own which never fails to
impress one ON closer acquaintance
lie Is temperamcntai Ia "A degree
and should be- treated at an times
with tact and kindness. Invariably
proving responsive To such an anti
tude. when not out making calls
the centipede mas often be found
commuuing with himself under "a
large rock or old tomato car or IN
retirement In the cracks Of ID" plas-
tering.
when the ccntipedo h found IN
the act OF negotiating one person
he should not hoe rudciy repealed or
thrust aside. Allow him 10 complet"
his tour of inspection and take his
departure IN % lcisurely manner.
When sleeping al a friends house
II you find "a ccntipeds in the bed
Il IL regarded as simple courtesy Is
allow the intelligent little fellow IN"
! liberty of your couch undisturbed
the while you spend D. night az
quietly as may Doe on the floor In O.
distant corner or In u recumbent po-
sition upon tho nantel
The ccntipede should not be con
founded with the veloclpedc. al
though his velocity h much the
same. II Is plcasanter To- sit On a
lV~elocipede than ON a centipode
We may appropriately close with
the words Of the poet;
Lives Of c|entipodos remind ne
We may make our mcm'ry sweet
And departing leave behind US
! Prints Of effrmsru IN pur foot