96 AN INSECT NAVVY 



with his head, the Ant-lion jerks some in the 

 direction of the trespasser, and continues to 

 do so until the victim is brought to the bottom 

 of the pit and into the very jaws of its de- 

 stroyer. The position chosen for the pitfall is 

 in a place that will keep dry, as the larva 

 cannot carry on its operations in damp or wet 

 sand.' 



This description of the Ant-lion's tactics is 

 taken from The Cambridge Natural History, 

 and fully shows the reasons for naming the 

 creature an ' insect navvy.' 



It is also remarkable that the Ant-lion has 

 no true mouth, or orifice resembling a mouth, 

 yet the parts which take its place are perfectly 

 adapted for enabling it to empty its prey of 

 its juices. 



The pharynx is provided with a complete 

 set of muscles, and, together with the buccal 

 cavity, performs the functions of an instrument 

 of suction. 



The Ant-lion is also remarkable in that it is 

 capable of sustaining prolonged fasts. Dufour 

 kept specimens for six months without any 



