FOOD OF INSECTS. 429 



segments of its back to balance it, and has already 

 nearly reached the top of the pit, when a stumble or a 

 jolt mocks all its efforts, and the stone tumbles headlong 

 to the bottom. Mortified, but not despairing, the ant-lion 

 returns to the charge ; again replaces the stone on its 

 back ; again ascends the side, and artfully avails himself, 

 for a road, of the channel formed by the falling stone, 

 against the sides of which he can support his load. This 

 time possibly he succeeds ; or it may be, as is often the 

 case, the stone again rolls down. When thus unfortunate, 

 our little Sisyphus has been seen six times patiently to 

 renew his attempt, and was at last, as such heroic reso- 

 lution deserved, successful. It is only after a series of 

 trials have demonstrated the impossibility of succeeding 

 that our engineer yields to fate, and, quitting- his half- 

 excavated pit, begins the formation of another. 



When all obstacles are overcome, and the pit is 

 finished, it presents itself as a conical hole rather more 

 than two inches deep, gradually contracting to a point 

 at the bottom, and about three inches wide at the top a . 

 The ant-lion now takes its station at the bottom of the 

 pit, and, that its gruff appearance may not scare the 

 passengers which approach its den, covers itself with 

 sand all except the points of its expanded forceps. It 

 is not long before an ant on its travels, fearing no harm, 

 steps upon the margin of the pit, either accidental^ or 



a The nests of this animal which I saw at Fontainebleau (in the 

 pit producing the fossil named after that place) were scarcely half 

 the dimensions here given, but they might probably be younger in- 

 sects. I kept one in a box of sand several days, in which it regu- 

 larly formed its pit, whenever obliterated by shaking. The bottom 

 of the box unfortunately came out as I was upon my return to Eng- 

 land, and the animal was killed. 



