98 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



flies not only slay their victims, but actually clothe 

 themselves, after the manner of Hercules on his 

 victory over the Nemaean lion, with the skins of 

 their prey ! 



It is almost to be regretted that the insect 

 world has not had the privilege of having its 

 combats sung by the poets. Who can forget the 

 animated scenes, painted in such life-like colours 

 by Homer and Virgil, of the conflicts, hand to 

 hand, of the heroes of their verse ? But the history 

 of insects supplies us with more singular and 

 more interesting deeds of fight than have ever yet 

 been fabled by poets, or commemorated in song. 

 In the instance we are about to quote, the larva of 

 the ant-lion is the crafty Giant Grim, who lives by 

 entrapping, as we have before said, poor wayfaring 

 travellers. Like those giants of old, of whom we 

 read in books a little more wonderful than true, this 

 subtle and powerful enemy lies deeply ensconced 

 in his subterraneous cavern, patiently abiding the 

 time when his unsuspecting prey shall fall into his 

 power. His trap is depicted on the opposite page. 



This insect is naturally a very helpless being, it 

 can only walk at a slow pace, and strange to add, 

 it can only walk backwards, and not forwards ! 



