1921] Smith: The Biology of the Chrysopide 29° 
C. oculata and C. nigricornis. Some species, on the other hand, 
have consistently refused to oviposit in captivity and could not 
be kept alive more than a few days. 
In the process of hatching, an egg burster serves to cut the 
initial slit in the chorion. This process has been recently 
described by the author and the published account will soon 
appear. 
THE LARV2. 
Chrysopid larve are generally described as spindle shaped. 
They are thysanuriform, exhibiting at the same time a quite 
primitive type with some remarkable specializations. Among 
the latter are the anal silk glands and the sucking mouth-parts. 
The maxilla and mandibles are greatly prolonged forward, 
forming the so-called sickle-shaped jaws. The two halves are 
mechanically fastened together by means of a flange on the 
outer edge of the maxillz working in a groove in the mandibles. 
A tube extends between them to the pharynx. The mandibles 
are quite pointed and the whole is well suited to puncturing 
the bodies of insects. The juices are taken up by suction 
effected by a heavy pharangeal musculature and by short 
muscles within the maxilla which by their contraction dilate 
the tube leading to the pharynx. 
The three parts of the thorax are each divided into two parts 
or subsegments. The anterior subsegment of each is much 
smaller than the posterior one. The posterior subsegment in 
all but the first and last two or three segments bears a pair of 
more or less prominent lateral tubercles which are beset in the 
third and last instar with 12—20 strong setae. The abdomen in 
all species seen has ten segments. Considerable difference of 
opinion has arisen concerning this point. The first segment, 
which is short and without the lateral lobes, has been overlooked 
by some. It is distinctly marked by the first pair of abdominal 
spiracles. The last two segments are tubular and partially 
invaginated within themselves. The terminal segment is 
applied to the substratum in walking. A clear, gelatinous fluid, 
secreted by anal glands, gives the larva security in climbing 
smooth surfaces. It is well known that the larve of this family 
void no excrement. The mid intestine is closed at its posterior 
end. The hind intestine is quite small, in cross section appear- 
ing no larger than a malpighian tubule. The excrement is. 
