EXPANSION OF PERFECT INSECTS. 



135 



of its first form, so is it likewise divested of its bar- 

 barity and ravenous malignity ; but the formidable 

 structure of its mandibles, as Rt^aumur justly remarks, 

 evidently disprove this opinion. A lady discovered 

 that it would eat fruit, and Reaumur actually saw one 

 munch part of a pear ; but he thinks that this is not 

 its natural food.* Its close resemblance, indeed, to 

 the dragon- flies (Libellulijia), except in being more 

 slow in flight, affords a strong analogical indication of 

 its carnivorous propensities. 



a, Myrmefeon formicarium, the fly of the ant-lion, b, the heaii 

 magnified to show the calliper-formed mandibles, c, the pupa. 

 d, the pupa escaping from its cocoon. 



A Still more striking difference of size may be 

 remarked in the pupa and the perfect insect of a lace- 

 winged fly {Chrysopa Perla, Leach), by no means 

 uncommon near London, and well known by its 

 golden eyes and green wings. t The cocoon of this 

 * Mem., vol. vi. p. 375, f See page 45. 



