STRUCTURE OF LARVAE. 165 



mechanism, to supply the place of the muscles with 

 which in the insect it is amply provided ; but Merlin, 

 or his successor, has surmounted greater obstacles*.'' 



The larvae of the dragon-fly do not, however, trust 

 to this mask alone for surprising their prey, but steal 

 upon it, as De Geer observes, as a cat does upon a 

 bird, very slowly, and as if they counted their steps; 

 and then, by suddenly unmasking, seize it by sur- 

 prise: so artful are they, that insects, and even small 

 fishes, find it difficult to elude their attacks •}-. 



The larsa of a very singular insect {Reduvius per- 

 sonalus, Fabr.), which preys upon the bed-bug 

 {Cimix lectular ins), not being furnished with a mask, 

 is at the pains to construct one, composed of dust, 

 particles of sand, fragments of wool or silk, and simi- 

 lar matter, which makes it assume so very grotesque a 

 figure, that the animal would at first be taken for one 

 of the ugliest spiders. Its awkward motions add not 

 a little to the effect of its odd appearance. It can, in- 

 deed, if it so choose, move with considerable speed; 

 but for the purposes of successful hunting, it endea- 

 vours to assume the aspect of an inanimate substance, 

 and hitches along in the most leisurely manner possi- 

 ble. It only moves one leg at a time, and having set 

 one foot forward, it pnuses a little before it brings up 

 the contiguous one, proceeding in the same way with 

 its other legs. It is no less carefully cautious in 

 moving its antennae, striking, as it were, first with 

 one, and then, after a short pause, with the other. 

 By means of a camel's-hair pencil, or a feather, it 

 is easy to unmask the insect, for, when touched, it 

 usually abandons its covering. 



* Introd. to Ent. iii. 126. f De Geer, ix. 674. 



