ARTIFICES OF ANIMALS. 237 



this manner till it has completed its funnel, which it does with 

 surprising promptitude and address. At the bottom of this 

 artful snare it lies concealed and immovable. When an ant 

 happens to make too near an approach to the margin of the 

 funnel, the sides of which are very steep, the fine sand gives 

 way, and the unwary animal tumbles down to the bottom. 

 The formica-leo instantly kills the ant, buries it under the 

 sand, and sucks out its vitals. It afterwards pushes out the 

 empty skin, repairs the disorder introduced into its snare, and 

 again lies in ambush for a fresh prey. 



We formerly took some notice of that species of spider 

 which carries her eggs in a bag attached to her belly. A 

 spider of this kind was thrown into the funnel of a formica- 

 leo. The latter instantly seized the bag of eggs, and endeav- 

 ored to drag it under the sand. The spider, from a strong 

 love of offspring, allowed its own body to be carried along 

 with the bag. But the slender silk by which it was fixed to 

 the animal's belly broke, and a separation took place. The 

 spider immediately seized the bag with her pincers, and ex- 

 erted all her efforts to regain the object of her affections. 

 But these efforts were ineffectual ; for the formica-leo gradu- 

 ally sunk the bag deeper and deeper in the sand. The 

 spider, however, rather than quit her hold, allowed herself to 

 be buried alive. In a short time, the observer removed the 

 sand, and took out the spider. She was perfectly unhurt; 

 for the formica-leo had not made an attack upon her. But, 

 so strong was her attachment to her eggs, that, though fre- 

 quently touched with a twig, she would not relinquish the 

 place which contained them. 



When arrived at its full growth, the formica-leo gives up 

 the business of an ensnaring hunter. He deserts his former 

 habitation, and crawls about for some time on the surface of 

 the earth. He at last retires under the ground, spins a round 

 silken pod, and is soon transformed into a fly. 



