THE AXT-LION. 185 



affording the slightest assistance in the operation. During 

 this performance the head only is exposed, the insect 

 having previously pushed itself beneath the surface of the 

 sand ; but when it has made the hole sufficiently deep, it 

 withdraws the head also, leaving only the jaws exposed, 

 which are spread open in a line, and laid on the sand so 

 as to be scarcely visible. If alarmed, the insect imme- 

 diately takes a step backwards, withdrawing the jaws ; but 

 when an insect falls into the hole, the jaws are instinc- 

 tively and instantaneously closed, and the insect seized by 

 the leg, wing, or body, just as it may chance to fall within 

 the reach of the ant-lion's jaws. If, however, the insect be 

 not seized, but attempts to escape, no matter in what 

 direction, the ant-lion immediately begins twisting its head 

 about, and shovelling up the sand with the greatest agility, 

 jerking it about on each side and backwards, but never 

 forwards, as misrepresented in some figures, until the hole 

 is made so much deeper, and such a disturbance caused 

 in the sides of the hole, that the insect is almost sure to be 

 brought down to tlie bottom, when it is seized by the ant- 

 lion, which immediately endeavours to draw it beneath the 

 sand ; and if it be very boisterous, the ant-lion beats it 

 about, holding it firmly by the jaws until it is too weak 

 for further resistance. Hence, as the head of the ant-lion 

 is immersed in the sand, it is evident that the accounts 

 given in popular works of the instinct by which it throws 

 the sand in the direction of the escaping prey is not quite 

 correct. The act of throwing up the sand, when an insect 

 has fallen into the pit and attempts to escape, has evidently 

 for its chief object that of making the pit deeper and more 

 conical, and therefore more difficult of ascent." 



It is by the action of the hinder pair of its legs that 

 the ant-lion drags itself backwards, the other four pair 

 being extended trailing after it, and leaving an impression 

 on the surface of the fine sand over which it has passed ; 

 and when burrowing its way beneath the surface of the 

 sand, it proceeds by short steps backwards. A portion 

 of sand at each step is thrown on the head, owing to the 

 hump-like form of the back: this is immediately jerked 



