206 THE HEMEROBIINA. 



Our British species are all of small size, none of 

 them greatly exceeding the common Golden-eyed fly 

 in this respect, but some of the species of Myrme- 

 leons* or Ant-lions, which abound on the continent 

 of Europe, especially towards the south, are much 

 larger, equalling the largest Dragon-flies in extent of 

 wing. With these, however, we have nothing to do, 

 and we may therefore return to the investigation of 

 the mode of life of the elegant Golden-eye, whose 

 habits are so similar to those of the other British 

 species that it may very well serve as an example of 

 all the rest. 



The eggs of the Hemerobius Perla are deposited in 

 little groups upon the surface of a leaf, to which they 

 are attached by a long slender footstalk, a peculiarity 

 which gives them very much the appearance of the 

 small globular heads, supported by a thin stem, which 

 we often see springing from a mouldy surface. This 

 footstalk is produced by a viscid matter which issues 

 with the egg from the abdomen of the female, and is 

 then drawn out into a delicate filament by the eleva- 

 tion of the latter before the egg is finally allowed to 

 escape. The larvae hatched from these eggs are of a 

 broadly elliptical form, furnished with six jointed 

 legs, and with a pair of most formidable jaws, which 

 at once lead one to suspect that its habits are not the 

 most peaceful in the world. The structure of these 

 organs is very remarkable. They form a pair of long 



* The Myrmeleontida, or Ant-lions, are distinguished from 

 the rest of the tribe by their clavate antennae. The true Ant- 

 lion (Myrmeleo formicarius) is remarkable for possessing the 

 habit of digging a pit in the sandy soil, at the bottom of which 

 it lies in wait to capture any unfortunate insect that may slip 

 down the treacherous sides of its den. 



