242 FOOD OF INSECTS. 



which I allude, an inhabitant of the south of Europe, is the larva of a 

 species of ant-lion (Myrmeleoii), so called from its singular manners in this 

 state. It belongs to a genus between the dragon-fly and the Hemerohius. 

 When full grown its length is about half an inch : in shape it has a slight 

 resemblance to a wood-louse, but the outline of the body is more triangular, 

 the anterior part being considerably wider than the posterior : it has six 

 legs, and the mouth is furnished with a forceps consisting of two incurved 

 jaws, which give it a formidable appearance. If we looked only at its external 

 conformation and habits, we should be apt to conclude it one of the most 

 helpless animals in the creation. Its sole food is the juices of other insects, 

 particularly ants; but at the first view it seems impossible that it should ever 

 secure a single meal. Not only is its pace slow, but it can walk in no 

 other direction than backwards ; you may judge, therefore, what would be 

 such a hunter's chance of seizing an active ant. Nor would a stationary 

 posture be more favourable ; for its grim aspect would infallibly impress 

 upon all wanderers the prudence of keeping at a respectful distance. What 

 then is to become of our poor ant-lion ? In its appetite it is a perfect 

 epicure, never, however great may be its hunger, deigning to taste of a 

 carcass unless it has previously had the enjoyment of killing it ; and then 

 extracting only the finer juices. In what possible way can it contrive to 

 supply such a succession of delicacies, when its ordinary habits seem to 

 unfit it for obtaining even the coarsest provision ? You shall hear. It 

 accomplishes by artifice what all its open efforts would have been unequal 

 to. It digs in loose sand a conical pit, in the bottom of which it conceals 

 itself, and there seizes upon the insects which, chancing to stumble over 

 the margin, are precipitated down the sides to the centre. " How won- 

 derful ! " you exclaim : but you will be still more surprised when I have 

 described the whole process by which it excavates its trap, and the ingenious 

 contrivances to which it has recourse. 



Its first concern is to find a soil of loose dry sand, in the neighbourhood 

 of which, indeed, its provident mother has previously taken care to place 

 it, and in a sheltered spot near an old wall, or at the foot of a tree. This 

 is necessary on two accounts : the prey most acceptable to it abounds 

 there, and no other soil would suit for the construction of its snare. Its 

 next step is to trace in the sand a circle, which, like the furrow with which 

 Romulus marked out the limits of his new city, is to determine the extent 

 of its future abode. This being done, it proceeds to excavate the cavity 

 by throwing out the sand in a mode not less singular than effective. Placing 

 itself in the inside of the circle which it has traced, it thrusts the hind part 

 of its body under the sand, and with one of its fore-legs, serving as a 

 shovel, it charges its flat and square head with a load, which it immediately 

 throws over the outside of the circle with a jerk strong enough to carry it 

 to the distance of several inches. This little manoeuvre is executed with 

 surprising promptitude and address. A gardener does not operate so 

 quickly or so well with his spade and his foot, as the ant-lion with its 

 head and leg. Walking backwards, and constantly repeating the process, 

 it soon arrives at the part of the circle from which it set out. It then 

 traces a new one, excavates another furrow in a similar manner, and, by a 

 repetition of these operations, at length arrives at the centre of its cavity. 

 One circumstance deserves remark, that it never loads its head with the 

 sand lying on the outside of the circle, though it would be as easy to do 

 this with the outward leg, as to remove the sand within the circle by the 





