156 LECTURE XII. 



It may amuse you if I were to give you some 

 account of the lion-ant. This insect is formed 

 something like the wood-louse, so that it cannot 

 pursue ants, on which it feeds. But Nature, or 

 rather, Almighty God, has endowed it with an 

 instinct which enables it to procure its food. It 

 makes a hole in the sand, and throws out all the 

 finest particles of it to the top, thus forming a 

 ridge which slopes downwards. This he does 

 with his feet and his head. When all is com- 

 pleted, the lion-ant remains quite still and con~ 

 cealed at the bottom of the hole. If an ant 

 comes to the brink it seldom fails of falling to 

 the bottom, because the edge goes sloping, and 

 the loose sand gives way under its feet, and thus 

 throws it into the power of its enemy, who then 

 feasts upon it. If the bank is hurt at the top, 

 it is immediately put in order again. Indeed, 

 all the actions of this little animal are so curious, 

 and show such contrivance for providing for its 

 subsistence, that it exhibits an interesting arrange- 

 ment of Providence for its well-being. 



I do not think that I have said anything to 

 you in my lectures respecting the beaver, and 

 yet they are most interesting and intelligent 

 animals, found, principally, in North America. 



