MYRMELEON. MYRMELEON. 
Generic Character. 
Os maxillosum, dentibus 
duobus. Palpi quatuor 
elongati. 
Stemmata nulla. 
Antenme clavatse, longi- 
tudine thoracis. 
Al<s deflexae. 
Cauda maris forcipe a fila- 
mentis duobus rectius- 
culis. 
Mouth furnished with jaws: 
teeth two: Feelers four, 
elongated. 
Stemmata none. 
Antemi(e clavated, of the 
length of thorax. 
JVings deflected. 
Tail of the male furnished 
with a forceps consisting 
of two straitish filaments. 
Of this genus the species whose history is best 
understood is the Myrnieleon Formicaleo of Lin- 
naeus, whose larva ^ has long been celebrated by 
naturalists for its wonderful ingenuity in prepar- 
ing a kind of pitfal or deceptive cavity for the de- 
struction of such insects as happen unwarily to 
enter it. The Myrnieleon Formicaleo in its com- 
plete or fly state bears no inconsiderable resem- 
blance to a small Dragon-Fly, from which however 
it may readily be distinguished by its antennae. 
* Popularly known by tlie name of Lion-Pismire. 
