ANT LIONS. 91 



mysteriously extended itself. It remained in this 

 position for a few minutes, then the pupal skin slit 

 from the head downwards. The insect gradually 

 freed itself, and proceeded to blow out its beauti- 

 ful iridescent wings. 



The flight of the ant lion is not graceful and 

 quick like that of the dragon-fly, but slow and heavy 

 — hence it is easily captured. It often rests under 

 rocky ledges, its colouring affording it protection. 



We observed on other occasions that on placing 

 very tiny red ants into the pit, the ant Hon larvae 

 simply tossed them out without deigning to hurt 

 them, whereas when a *'greenhead" was put in 

 immediately after, it was seized and devoured. 

 After a plentiful supply of ants (by means of the 

 plan described above), there were shrivelled skins of 

 the victims on the surface of the sand — they had 

 been thrown out of the pit by the larvae. 



We experimented by placing a cherry stone in 

 three pits, and had great fun watching the efforts 

 of the larvse to dislodge them. 



No. I, after heaving the stone up several tnues, 

 at last managed to throw it right out of the pit. 



No. 2, after several tries, gave it up, and just 

 altered its home, making the best of unavoidable 

 circumstances. It made a new base to the pit, so 

 that the stone was to the side, and the bottom of 

 the pit was irregular, one half being beautifully 

 curved in the form of a semicircle, the other half, 

 distorted by the stone. 



No. 3 could not manage to remove it, so just 

 disappeared. Next morning, however, the cherry 



