The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 10, Issue 3 (June 1, 1935)
A Cent for Centipedes!
A Cent for Centipedes!
Centipedes present a problem which can be solved by psychology. Everybody knows that a centipede has a hundred legs and the same number of feet—unless it is deficient in understanding. Contrary to natural supposition, it does not perambulate with super-celerity, because it takes a good deal of thought to manipulate a hundred feet in consecutive rythm; it has to count its footsteps to see that every foot does its duty. Thus it is easily caught; after which the gardener ties two of its legs together and releases it. When it moves off again it counts up to ninety-nine and, when it puts down the hundredth leg which isn't there it misses its step and takes the count.