74 



treille's " Genera.'" Having so many specimens of this large 

 insect, would it not be well to make out, if I can, its anatomy 

 and history ? The habit which I alluded to above, is to come 

 down into houses by the chimney. At least, that is the only 

 way in which I can account for its presence. Mr. Andrews, 

 two years ago, was astonished to hear a noise in a stove, which, 

 since winter, had stood unopened in his room. He found one 

 of these insects in the ashes, and was tempted to think that, 

 like our ticks, it had an unnatural origin. We found several 

 in our rooms at midnight when no door nor window was 

 opened. In a word, I think that the insect always deposits its 

 eggs in standing hollow trees, for which it mistakes chimneys. 

 I see the reason w r hy the tree should be standing. The cavity 

 produced above the mould is an excellent receptacle for water 

 and to keep up a moisture which is indispensable to soften the 

 food of the larva. In the perfect insect, I see no external 

 difference between the $ and > . 



HARRIS TO HENTZ. 



MILTON, July 28, 1829 



Your speaking of the habitat of Phileurus leads me to make 

 some remarks on those of other lamellicorn genera. The larvae 

 of Liicanus dama Fabr. and Grymnodus {Tricking) scaber 

 Beauv., are found in the hollows of decayed trees. The co- 

 coons of both are of similar form and composition with those of 

 Phileurus and Gymnoproctus (mi) ^Trichius) canaliculatus 

 Fabr. I once found great numbers of them in a decayed stump, 

 in their perfect state, but saw no larvaa. You and Prof. Say 

 found Scar. Tityrus in decayed trees. Some writers say that 

 the Iarva3 of Cetonia, in Europe, inhabit ant-hills. The large 

 hills in our woods appear to be composed of vegetable or 

 ligneous matter, very analogous to the debris or tan of decayed 



