66 ROMANCE OF THE INSECT WORLD CHAP. 



ing their wants. A large proportion attack their prey 

 by open violence, which is a clumsy and unsportsman- 

 like mode at best. Or they surprise insects by hiding 

 behind a stick or stone, affording concealment until 

 their approach. The predacious hypocritical " praying 

 Mantis " so called because the posture that it assumes 

 is supposed to resemble the attitude of a person at 

 prayer feigns sleep or death. But a few species 

 have acquired far higher art in providing their susten- 

 ance. They have recourse to artifice and strata- 

 gem. This is in itself a fact of great singularity, 

 and the instruments by which these carnivora take 

 their prey are admirably adapted to the end in 

 view. 



The Ant-Lion (Myrmeleo fonnicaleo) may be 

 adduced as an interesting example. It is endowed 

 with little talent as far as its powers of body are 

 concerned, but that which it has it turns to good 

 account. As a larva it is wholly carnivorous, and 

 shows preference for smart able-bodied insects. 

 Besides it is an epicure, spurning all food, however 

 great its hunger, unless it be fresh caught and killed, 

 so to speak by its own hand. To look at it one 

 would laugh at its pretensions to sport. In form it is 

 short, flat, squat, and excessively clumsy, its body is 

 soft and fleshy, its motion is sluggish, its legs are 

 slender and feeble, its pace is absurdly slow ; moreover, 

 it can merely walk backwards. What luck could this 

 creature have in the chase ? Neither could it succeed 

 in obtaining food by lying in wait for its prey exposed 

 since its jaws are so ferocious in appearance as to 

 incline every insect to give it respectful berth. Its 



