NATURE'S CRAFTSMEN 



about the pit. The agitation of the sand, slight as it 

 was underneath the Hght tread of a small ant, generally, 

 though not always, aroused the ant-lion to action. 

 Then the head began its snapping jerks, and the sand 

 began to fly. 



It is the popular belief, justified indeed by statements 

 of some nature-books, that the larva directly aims its 



^;.''^, 



A BOMBARDMENT 



volley of tiny bullets at the intruding insect when it 

 comes to the edge, and also when it appears to be 

 escaping from the pit. This seems to be without foun- 

 dation in fact. The sand, as the author observed it, 



134 



