CLASS I. INSECTA: ORDER 1. NEUROPTERA. 



585 



wait patiently until some prying ant or other insect unwarily strays into their domain, when the 

 unfortunate intruder generally slips to the bottom of the pit, and is soon destroyed by the merci- 

 less jaws of the Ant-Lion ; but if the victim shows any intention of making its escape, a shower 

 of sand thrown up by the former arrests his progress, and generally brings him down to the 

 fangs of the destroyer. It is entirely by sucking the juices of its victims that this voracious little 

 creature exists ; and when these are exhausted, the carcass is immediately thrown out of the pit 

 by a sudden jerk of the jaws. The larvae of other species appear to prowl about, upon and under 

 the surface of the ground, without making pitfalls. Some of these insects are common in our 

 country. 



THE ELEANOR DRAGON-FLT. 



THE LIBELLULID^, 



These are distinguished by their four large, nearly equal, reticulated wings, by the powerful 



structure of their mouths, and the shortness of the 

 caudal appendages, which moreover are not jointed. 

 The antenna3 are composed of from five to eight 

 joints ; the eyes are very large, generally meeting 

 on the top of the head, which also bears three 

 ocelli. They are exceedingly elegant but voracious 

 insects, which may be seen in fine summer weather, 

 hawking about over the surface of ponds and rivers 

 in search of insect prey. They are well known in 

 Europe as Drar/on-Flics ; the French call them 

 Demoiselles, probably in allusion to the elegance of 

 their forms and the grace of their movements. The 

 vulgar English name of Horse- Stingers is inappro- 

 priate, as these insects possess no means of annoy- 

 ing either horses or any other of the larger animals. 

 The larvaj and pupa) of the Libellulidaj inhabit the 

 water, from which the pupa emerges when the per- 

 fect insect is ready to commence its aerial existence. 

 The empty pupa skin may often be seen attached 

 to aquatic plants. 



One of the most beautiful species of Europe is 

 the Virgin Dr agon-Fly, Libellula virgo, which is not uncommon on the banks of rivers. 

 Vol. IL— 74 



THE VIRGIN DRAGON-FLT. 



