KOOF WINGS. 53 



Body long and very slender, 

 With a rather small pro thorax. 

 These Ant Lions are not British, 

 So that we shall never find them 

 In our country walks together. 



Next to these, the Aphis Lions, 

 Lacewinged Flies, or simply Lace Wings, 

 Known as Hejierobiina. 

 First, their eggs must claim attention, 

 Seated on a long peduncle, 

 Like some very slender fungus 

 Growing from the leaves or hranches. 

 In the bright, long days of summer, 

 When the little larva hatches. 

 It crawls down the long peduncle, 

 And then, rovang o'er the surface 

 Of the leaf that formed its cradle. 

 Finds some Aphides or plantlice. 

 Very small and very tender. 

 And so one by one devours them. 

 Thus it spends its whole existence 

 In devouring hosts of plantlice. 

 The imago has four clear wings. 

 All alike and very ample, 

 Ci"ossed with slender rays hke lacework, 

 And a small and short prothorax ; 

 Its antennae many jointed. 

 Rather long and rather slender, 



