PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS SECTION D. 
105 > 
web, but the situation in which it is placed is different in this case. 
Mr. Hudson states* that “ the web referred to above is suspended in 
a rocky or earthy niche in the banks of streams in the densest parts 
of the forest.” In this species the larva,, pupa, and female fly are all 
luminous. 
MYRIAPODA. 
The centipedes and millipedes undoubtedly constitute a conspicuous 
portion of our cryptozoic fauna, indeed in the case of some of the larger 
forms one is sometimes inclined to wish that they were a little less 
conspicuous. Unfortunately l know of no concise account of our 
Australasian species, and of but few scattered memoirs on the subject, 
so that I am obliged to pass them over with bare mention. There is> 
however, one point which I would like to refer to, and that concerns 
the manner in which the eggs and young are carried about. During 
the past year there has been some correspondence on this subject in 
“Nature.” Mr. TJrieh, writing from Trinidad, describesf how the 
eggs and young are carried about attached to the under surface of 
the parent; and Mr. Queleh, writing from British Guiana, makes, 
similar observations^ on tlie habits of the centipedes of that country. 
It may be worth mentioning that our Australasian centipedes are 
equally solicitous tor the well-being of their young, for I have observed 
the same habit both in Australia and New Zealand. One must not, 
however, be too hasty in attributing parental virtues to the centipede, 
for Mr. Queleh also observes that, when deprived of food for a day 
or two, they “ feed quite leisurely and greedily” upon their own 
offspring. The same writer remarks that cockroaches are their most 
desirable food in the tropics. Doubtless the centipedes are amongst 
the “ beasts oi prey” of the cryptozoic fauna, and one wonders how 
such an animal as Per/pa/us manages to hold its own in the struggle 
with such powerful adversaries. Possibly the fluid discharged from 
the oral papilla} is sufficiently tenacious to impede the movements of 
the foe, or even to glue his jaws together. 
PROTRACHEATA. 
So much has been written about the genus Peripaius during the 
past few years that I feel almost constrained to apologise for again 
venturing to introduce the topic. Any account of our subject 
would, however, be very incomplete without some notice of this 
important and characteristic form ; and before passing on to what 
especially concerns the Australasian species, a few general remarks 
on the group may not be out of place. 
Petipa (ns is usually found beneath stones or fallen logs. Some- 
times it may work its way well into the interior of a rotten log as is, 
especially the ease with the smaller Victorian species, P. insignis. In 
general appearance the animal resembles a moderate-sized caterpillar 
more than anything else, but may be readily distinguished, even by 
The Habits and Life- history of the New Zealand Glow-worm ” — Trans. N.Z. 
Institute, /oology, vol. xxiii., p. 43. Ace also Norris, “Observations on the New 
Zealand Glow- worm ” Entomologists 7 Monthly Magazine, September, 1894. 
t “Nature,” 5th April, 1894, 
£ “ Nature,” 7th June, 1894. In this very interesting letter Mr. Queleh observes 
that the scorpions, carry their young on their backs. It would be interesting to learn 
whether the same is true of our species. 
