THE INSECT WORLD AT CLOSE RANGE 23 



desert at once, lest we arrive too late to see the pitfalls of the desert 

 lions. 



At length the broiling sands are reached and none too soon. The 

 lions only build their traps at certain times of the year and few signs 

 of them are encountered. A search reveals four pits, however, placed 

 in the neighborhood of a colony of burrowing creatures common to 

 the desert. 



The pits are deep conical excavations in the sand, so cunningly 

 constructed as to compel admiration despite the clumsy makers, 

 who walk backwards in preference to forward. 



At this time the lions are still youthful and being grotesque and 

 cumbersome of body, must therefore secure their prey by strategy. 

 Each individual excavates a pitfall, cone-shaped as we have seen. 

 At the apex of the cone, which is deep in the ground, the creature 

 conceals itself with only the sabre-like, sand-colored mandibles 

 protruding. 



Let us watch from a safe distance the methods employed. We 

 have not long to wait, for a constant stream of animals are pouring 

 in and out of their burrows near by. Many keep at a safe distance; 

 others escape more through good fortune than intelligence, but at 

 length a stupid individual arrives at a pit and heedlessly places one 

 foot over the edge. 



At once the footing crumbles and the poor animal starts on its 

 journey. Once, in its frantic struggles, it appears to regain the lost 

 footing, but seeing or expecting this, the lion hurls a multitude of 

 rocks from below, which once more start the sand sliding and the 

 victim meets its death in merciless, waiting jaws. 



Now we might travel on and on, from the desert to another valley, 

 lying between inspiring mountain chains, thence to a dried up ocean 

 bed, across a great river into more jungle and so on, indefinitely, wit- 



