Clifton College Scientific Society. 97 



the great consternation of the members assembled in it. 

 One, more courageous than the rest, managed to knock it 

 down, and, transfixing it with a gigantic pin, fastened it to 

 the table. When I entered the tent, it had woi'ked itself off 

 the table, and was crawling about. Taking it up in my 

 hand, I was about to remove the pui, when suddenlj- it flew 

 off, and after soaring about for a moment or two in the tent, 

 disappeared through the opening, and was seen no more. 

 What its ultimate fate was, I know not, and it is difficult to 

 conjecture. I may give one other instance of the tenacity of 

 life as exhibited by a Dragon Fly. It did not come under my 

 own notice, but the authority for it is unimpeachable. A 

 gentleman, having captured a large specimen, cut off its 

 long abdomen and substituted for it one made of paper, 

 which, in some way or other, he attached to the thorax. 

 Immediately after the completion of this severe surgical 

 operation, the insect devoured two moderately-sized flies ; 

 Avhether it digested them or no, I cannot say. It then 

 remained quiet for some little time, as if reflecting upon what 

 had taken place ; but speedily recovering itself, it soon made 

 off, and flew away, carrying the paper tail after it with the 

 utmost satisfaction.' 



Among the ' active ' means of defence were enumerated the 

 stings of bees, wasps, and other insects ; the power possessed 

 by the famous little ' Bombardier Beetle ' of emitting a puff 

 of smoke, accompanied with, for so small an insect, a loud 

 explosion, when pursued by its enemy, &c. 



Mr. Greene then adverted to the methods employed by 

 insects for obtaining their food. Having spoken at some 

 length of ' Spiders,' he quoted from ' Kirby and Spence " the 

 following interesting account of the manner in which a 

 certain species of Myrmeleon, commonly called the Ant Lion, 

 obtains its food. ' When full grown (the larva), its length 

 is about half-an-inch ; in shape it has a slight resemblance 

 to a wood-louse. ... If we looked only at its external con- 

 formation and habits, we should be apt to conclude it one of 

 the most helpless animals in creation. Its sole food is the 

 juices of other insects, especially ants, but at the first view 

 it seems impossible that it should ever secure a single meal. 

 Not only is its pace slow, but it can walk in no other direc- 

 tion than bachii-ards. . . . Nor would a stationary posture 

 be more favourable, for its grim aspect would infallibly 

 impress upon all wanderers the prudence of keeping at a 



' Int. Ent. Tol. i. p. 422. 1S15. 

 H 



