142 NATURAL HISTORY. 



transformation it buries itself deeper in the sand, where 

 it spins itself a perfectly round cocoon composed of a 

 silky matter, the exterior of which it covers with sand, 

 so that it looks like a sand ball of four or five lines in 

 length. In about four weeks, and towards the end of 

 August, the perfect insect makes its appearance. 



The Plant Louse Lion (hemerobius perla) is a very 

 pretty, delicately formed little insect, with an extended 

 body like the LibellulcB ; the wings are long, broad, 

 and. roof- like, extend far above the body. Their tex- 

 ture is web- like, fine, and tender as gauze ; closely 

 veined, and so transparent that the brilliant metallic 

 coloring of the body, glancing from gold to green, is 

 easily distinguished through them. The large eyes are 

 globous, and shine like sparkling gems. The larvae, one 

 inch and two lines long, are cinnamon color, striated on 

 the back with citron yellow; tawny white below, and 

 slightly hairy ; feed on the aphides, and, being extremely 

 voracious, and sucking only the juices from the body, they 

 destroy these insects in great numbers. After fourteen 

 days' existence in this larvae state, they pass into the 

 pupa, and spinning themselves into a cocoon, await their 

 transformation. In three weeks the perfect insect is 

 developed. There are many relative species. 



The Termites (termes fatale). The termites, which 

 are generally known by the name of White Ants, live 

 in India, Africa, and South America, and before attain- 

 ing their fall growth, resemble the common ant. The 

 perfect insect has four transparent, large, brownish 

 wings, and are as large again as the larvae ; the latter 

 are white, have the form of our small ants, and very 

 sharp teeth. They are as skillful, industrious and prov- 

 ident as the smaller tribes of the ant species, building 



