This book is an attempt to bring together information on centipedes hitherto to be found only in old texts or scattered through the literature and in unpublished theses.

My interest in the group is due to Sir Eric Smith, FRS who, as Professor J. E. Smith, suggested that I carry out postgraduate research on littoral centipedes. Since that time I have had a great deal of advice and encouragement from Mr. J. Gordon Blower, Dr E. H. Eason, Dr R. E. Crabill, Jr and Professor J. L. Cloudsley-Thompson. Over the years, I have received much help from members of the Arachnid Section of the British Museum (Natural History) most notably, Mr K. H. Hyatt, Mr D. Macfarlane, Mr F. R. Wanless and the late Mr D. J. Clark and also from the library staff of the Museum.

The Headmaster and Governors of Dover College generously allowed me a term's leave of absence to take up a School Teacher Fellow-Commonership at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, in order to complete the book. I am greatly indebted to the Master and Fellows of Sidney Sussex for their help and hospitality and to the librarians of the Cambridge Zoology Department Library for their assistance. I am grateful to Dr D. L. Gunn, CBE and the Royal Society Research in Schools Committee for their support during the preparation of this book.