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straight, in their normal position, they would seem to preclude 

 a direct vertical action, but if they have a downward curve, 

 as I think they do, they would in no manner hinder it. But, 

 whether the motion is directly vertical, or vertical with a 

 curve, the tips are never brought together, nor in approxim- 

 ation even. The mandibles have separate action ; one will 

 be raised, and then the other, and both together, but I have 

 never seen the tips approach each other, nor ever seen any 

 lateral movement. When a larva is disturbed, it will with- 

 draw the mandibles almost entirely within the oral cavity, but 

 always with a downward motion. 



Naturally it occurs to one to inquire the use of such or- 

 gans. It is easily seen that they can be of little use in tak- 

 ing prey ; it would seem impossible that the larvae could cap- 

 ture any living thing with such a pair of mandibles, and the 

 maxilla} are of such a form as to be of no assistance, being 

 very short, straight, and furnished with one or two bristles 

 only at the end. I am inclined to think, in view of the facts, 

 that the larvae of Eros, at least of this species, are vegetable 

 feeders, and, as it would seem that nothing but the very soft- 

 est of tissues would yield to mandibles so disadvantageously 

 placed, I think it possible that the larvae may feed on the del- 

 icate fungoids which are so numerous in the spring under 

 the bark of moist decaying pine stumps. I much desired to 

 see the larvae in the act of feeding, but never did so, and, as 

 it may be many seasons before I take another, I shall feel 

 under obligations to any reader of this paper, if they would 

 forward any specimens they may take to my address at Mai- 

 den, Mass. The living insect would reach me in good order 

 if enclosed in a vial with a little of the soft decayed wood 

 such as will be found in the same position as the larvae ; if 

 the wood is dry, it would need to be slightly moistened. 



I bred three specimens to the perfect insects ; two of which, 

 a male and female, are deposited in the Randall Collection of 

 the Boston Society of Natural History ; the other is in my 

 own collection. Henry L. Moody. 



