NEUROPTERA. 141 



the back, or by the formidable looking scorpion-like 

 pincers which terminate the body of the males. Beautiful 

 to the naked eye, it is still more beautiful when the magni- 

 fying of its parts displays the slender legs ringed with even 

 rows of delicate spines, armed with fringed and toothed 

 spurs, and terminated by a pair of curved and comb- 

 like claws, somewhat resembling those of certain species 

 of spiders. The head and all the other parts are beauti- 

 ful, and their transparency, under a very slight degree of 

 preparation, renders them peculiarly accessible to the 

 young microscope student. 



Like the greater number of insects remarkable for 

 their beauty, the Panorpa is predaceous. One species 

 at least of the family is said to feed upon leaf- rolling 

 Caterpillars, a kind of prey for the capture of which the 

 toothed claws, and the long pointed head, terminated by 

 a pair of powerful jaws, are well adapted. 



The larva and its habits are as yet unknown. The 

 pupa is inactive. The fly itself is found very commonly 

 upon hedges. 



There are five English species of Panorpa known. 

 An allied genus, Boreus, contains a curious little insect 

 about the size of a large Aphis, and which, but for the 

 form of its long head, might hardly be recognised as a 

 relation of the Scorpion-fly. It has long legs, and the 

 female is quite wingless, while in the male the wings are 

 reduced to very unwinglike, little curved, leathery, brown 

 appendages. It does not appear to be common. 



The Snake-fly, Raphidia ophiopsis (PL V., fig. 5), re- 

 presents another family ; and though not so commonly 

 observed as most of the insects already named, is as easily 

 recognised when found. About the medium size of a Lace- 

 fly, and with wings somewhat similar but less delicate, it 



