30 STORIES OF INSECT LIFE. 



jaws projecting from the sand, and its juices are sucked into 

 the stomach of the ant-lion. Afterwards the shrunken skin is 

 thrown out of the pit by the jerking motion of the head. 



When it has thus disposed of one victim, the ant-lion returns 

 to its hiding-place to await the coming of another. 



Sometimes the sand composing the trap is so damp that 

 the ant after falling part way down recovers its foothold 

 and starts to climb out. Then ensues an exciting contest. 

 The ant-lion tries to prevent the escape by digging away the 

 sand beneath the victim and jerking the particles upwards. It 

 often looks as if the ant-lion tries to hit the escaping prisoner 

 with the sand. Sometimes it succeeds in the attempt. 



