FOOD Of INSECTS. 431 



times patiently to renew his attempt, and was at last, as 

 such heroic resolution deserved, successful. It is only 

 after a series of trials have demonstrated the impossi- 

 bility of succeeding that our engineer yields to fate, 

 and, quitting- his half-excavated pit, begins the forma- 

 tion of another. 



When all obstacles are overcome, and the pit is 

 finished, it presents itself as a conical hole rather more 

 than two inches deep, gradually contracting to a point 

 at the bottom, and about three inches wide at the top. 

 The ant-lion now takes its station at the bottom of the 

 pit, and, that its gruff appearance may not scare the 

 passengers which approach its den, covers itself with 

 sand all except the points of its expanded forceps. It 

 is not long before ah ant on its travels, fearing no harm, 

 steps upon tlie margin of the pit, either accidentally or 

 for the purpose of exploring the depth below. Alas ! 

 its curiosity is dearly gratified. The faithless sand 

 slides from under its feet; its struggles but hasten its 

 descent; and it is precipitated headlong into the jaws 

 of the concealed devourer. Sometimes, however, it 

 chances that the ant is able to stop itself midway, and 

 with all haste scrambles up again. No sooner does 

 the ant-lion perceive this, (for, being furnished with 

 six eyes on each side of his head, he is sufficiently 

 sharp-sighted,) than, shaking off his inactivity, he has- 

 tily shovels loads of sand upon his head, and vigorously 

 throws them up in quick succession upon the escaping 

 insect, which, attacked by such a heavy shower from 

 above, and treading on so unstable a path, is almost in- 

 evitably carried to the bottom. The instant his victim 

 is fairly within reach, the ant-lion seizes him between 



