THE LION-ANT. IS 



ball, of which itself is the centre. This ball is 

 about half an inch in diameter, and within it 

 the insect resides, in an apartment sufficiently 

 spacious for all its motions. The outside is com- 

 posed of sand and silk ; the inside is lined with 

 silk only, of a fine pearl colour, extremely deli- 

 cate, and perfectly beautiful. But though the 

 work is so curious within, it exhibits nothing to 

 external appearance but a lump of sand; and 

 thus escapes the search of birds, that might 

 otherwise disturb the inhabitant within. 



The insect continues thus shut up for six weeks > 

 or two months, and gradually parts with its eyes, 

 its feelers, its feet, and its skin, all which are 

 thrust into a corner of the inner apartment like a 

 rag. The insect then appears almost in its wing- 

 ed state, except that there is a thin skin which 

 wraps up the wings, and that appears to be no- 

 thing else but a liquor dried on their outside. 

 Still, however, the little animal is too delicate 

 and tender to venture from its retreat, but conti- 

 nues enclosed for some time longer : at length, 

 when the members of this new insect have ac- 

 quired the necessary consistence and vigour, it 

 tears open its lodging, and breaks through its 

 wall. For this purpose it has two teeth, like 

 those of grasshoppers, with which it eats through, 

 and enlarges the opening, till it gets out. Its 

 body, which is turned like a screw, takes up no 

 more than the space of a quarter of an inch, but 

 when it is unfolded, it becomes half an inch in 

 length ; while its wings, that seemed to occupy 

 the smallest space, in two minutes' time unfold, 



