CHILO'PODA (Latreille), an order of Insects belonging to the class M yriapoda. This family is synonymous with the order Syn gnatita (Leach), and the genus Seolopendra of Linnaeus. The characters are :—Antennee thick at the base, and gradually growing slender towards the apex, composed of fourteen or more joints ; the of two mandibles, which are furnished with a palpiform process, and provided at the apex with numerous little denticulations ; covering these is an upper lip and an under lip ; the latter is composed of four distinct portions, of which the two outer parts are the largest, and transversely jointed ; above this part (viewing the head from beneath) are two palpi, which resemble legs in being terminated by a pointed claw : covering this under lip, there is a second lip, an organ furnished with two lateral processes, each of which is terminated by a large bent claw, which is said to be perforated beneath by a hole through which a poisonous liquid is ejected.
The body is depressed, composed of numerous segments, which are covered above and beneath with plates of a horny substance, and each segment is generally furnished with a pair of legs ; the last pair are thrown back. The sexual organs are placed at the posterior extre
mity of the body. The organs of respiration consist wholly or partly of tubular tracheae. The stigmata are placed ou the sides of the bod.
insects are carnivorous, and crawl about by night. Most of them are very active in their movements, and some emit a phosphoric light, They conceal themselves under stones and fallen trees, and are all found in rotten wood. In hot climates some of the species grow to an immense size (especially those of the genus Seolopendra, as it is now restricted), and, owing to their venomous bite, are much' dreaded by the inhabitants of those parts.
The animals commonly known by the name of Centipedes belong to this family. [SCOLOPENDRA.] The species of this order have been recently greatly increased. It now embraces nearly a hundred species. [Mviuseons.] CHIMiE'RA, a genus of Cartilaginous Fishes allied to the Sturgeon and Shark sections. [SrunroNtn,E.] One species, C. monstrosa, inha bits the British seas, and is known by the names of the King of the Herrings, the Rabbit-Fish, and Sea-Monster.