214 LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



not sufficiently active to prevent the ant lion 

 from seizing her bag of eggs, which it attempted 

 to pull under the sand. She made the most 

 violent efforts to drag herself away, struggling 

 with all her might. The glutinous substance, 

 however, which fastened the bag to her body, 

 at length gave way, and it was separated from 

 her ; but she instantly caught it with her jaws, 

 and increased her efforts to drag it from her 

 enemy. It was in vain, the ant-lion was the 

 stronger of the two ; and, in spite of all her ef- 

 forts to retain it, dragged the precious load under 

 the sand. Had the unfortunate mother been 

 willing to leave her bag behind her, she might 

 readily have made her own escape from the pit. 

 But this was not to be thought of for a moment, 

 and she even preferred being buried alive to 

 parting with her precious treasure. It was only 

 by force that Bonnet at length drew her out of 

 the pit, but the bag of eggs remained with the 

 ant-lion; and although he pushed her repeatedly 

 with a twig, she still persisted in continuing on 

 the spot, seeming as though she had nothing left 

 to live nor care for. 



Harriet. What a pity the gentleman could 



