252 FORTY-MRST REPORT ON THE StATE MuSEUM. 



captives. These have been characterized as "something half4egj 



half-jaw, after the fashion of the falces of spiders, with a sharp point 



and a hollow duct up their core, which is connected with a poison 



gland, as in the spider." 



The Cermatians, to which this species belongs, and of which there 



is but one other species known in the United States, viz., Cermatia 



Linceci, from Texas (these two have the honor of constituting the 



family of Scutigeridce), are said to be very rapacious and carnivorous 



in their nature, springing upon their prey after the manner of some 



of the spiders. Dr. Wood has written of the order to which the 



above family pertains (Chilopoda), which embraces also the poisonous 



centipedes of the Southern States, known in science as Scolopendridoe, 



as follows : " The whole organization of the Chilopods fits them for their 



predatory and carnivorous habits. The distinctness of the segments, 



which are not closely approximate, and the flexibility of the segments 



themselves, enable them to move their body in every conceivable 



direction. Their highly organized nervous and muscular system, and 



the length and power of their legs, betoken habits of great activity; 



whilst the formidable nature of their mandibles, and the sharp spines, 



both lateral and terminal, with which their feet are armed, fit them 



for predatory warfare." 



Its Food. 



We have yet to learn what are the living creatures that the Cerma- 

 tia finds within our homes for its prey, and which it could not as well 

 or better obtain elsewhere. Possibly with this knowledge acquired, 

 we might receive it as a welcome guest whenever it appears, in the 

 confidence that it would not obtrude except for the purpose of 

 relieving us from greater pests. Some writer has credited it with 

 feeding on roaches and croton-bugs, but this may be a mere supposi- 

 tion. In experiments made by me to test it with the latter, by con- 

 fining the two together, the bugs have not been eaten, and the 

 Cermatia has been the first to die. Perhaps it preys upon these 

 insects only in 'their younger stages ; or its disposition may be 

 changed under confinement, to which it shows itself to be remarkably 

 sensitive, for upon all the occasions when it has been brought to me 

 alive, even when placed under a glass cover of a half-bushel capacity, 

 it has invariable died within two days. Can it be that it succumbs so 

 quickly to want of its proper food, or to need of 'moisture? The 

 ordinary Myriapods, of the family of Julidce, or "hundred-legged 

 woi*ms," such as are found in decaying vegetation, fruit, etc., have 

 survived for weeks in my of&ce, although crowded in small glass 

 phials, almost excluded from air and entirely without food. 



