326 Forty-fourth Report of the State Museum 



he would have done with the roach had he not been disturbed he 

 could not say, for in attempting to secure the one the other ran away. 

 I have often noticed them on my desk while I was writing late at 

 night, when they would remain fixed as a statue for twenty minutes 

 or more, but would disappear as quick as lightning if I made the 

 least movement toward them. They themselves may in turn be fed 

 upon by spiders, as I have often f ^ und their dead bodies in spiders' 

 webs in cellars and outhouses. I have, however, never witnessed such 

 a contest as Mr. Thackara described. 



Its Capture of the Croton-'bug'. 

 That the Cermatia found a portion of its food in the Croton-bug, 

 EctoUa Germamca (Fabr.), has been suspected from its known food- 

 habits. At the last meeting of the Entomological Club of the A. A. 

 A. S., at Indianapolis, Ind., Mr. James Fletcher reported his having 

 observed its capture of this insect at Washington, D. C, and described 

 its method as springing upon its prey and encaging it between its 

 many curved legs {Entomological News, i, 1890, p. 167). 



Its Distribution Northward. 

 In my first notice of this myriapod, it was represented as a southern 

 species gradually working its way northward (4th Report Insects New 

 York, page 130), it having first been seen in New York city in the 

 year 1867, and in Albany in 1870. The above reminiscence by Dr. 

 Eathvon, locates it in Lancaster county, Pa. (southeastern portion of 

 the state), many years previous to these dates, indicating quite a slow 

 progress for a creature of such remarkable cursorial powers. 



Is it a Desirable Guest ? 

 In the same notice, it was intimated that Cermatia presence in 

 dwelling-houses was for the purpose of feeding upon some of the 

 smaller insects that commonly frequent them. In the succeeding 

 report (Fifth, p. 296), it was shown as rendering some return for its 

 disagreeable presence, by catching and greedily feeding upon flies. 

 Now that it is presented in the role of a cockroach and Croton-bug 

 killer, its companionship might even be invited in our houses, were it 

 not that in further study of its habits, we have evidence that leads us 

 to accept it as not only capable of inflicting a poisonous lite, but 

 ready to do so under provocation. 



Its Occurrence in Missouri. 



A late communication from Mr. Gilbert Van Ingen, of Clinton, Mo., 



gives the following notes of its occurrence in localities in Missouri, 



where it has not been previously recorded: 



At Higginsville, Lafayette county, Mo , I saw an individual running 

 across the floor of the hall of the second story. At Osceola, Mo., I 



