52 TRIBES OF THE 



Find within a treacherous footing, 

 Made of sand so granulated 

 That it yields beneath the footsteps ; 

 And the helpless, fated victim 

 Slides imconscious to the bottom, 

 Where the dire Ant Lion larva, 

 With his fearful jaws wide open, 

 Waits in ambush to receive it ; 

 But sometimes a passing shower 

 Has the grains of sand united. 

 And the insect finds a footing. 

 And is just about escaping : 

 Then the sage Ant Lion larva 

 Jerks the stones and sand upon him. 

 Till the victim, quite exhausted, 

 Struggles slowly to the bottom. 

 The larva, like a bloated spider, 

 WTiich in form he much resembles. 

 Seizes on the luckless insect, 

 Pierces it with jaws tremendous. 

 And then sucks out all its juices. 

 When become a perfect insect. 

 This Ant Lion, once so savage. 

 Is a very harmless creature ; 

 Having feelers manyjoiuted, 

 Manifestly thickened outwards ; 

 Having four wings just like network. 

 Very long and rather narrow ; 



