NEUEOPTERA. 



141 



FlG. 96. LARVA OF EPHEMERON, AND 

 SECTION OF ITS CELL. 



ceived their name from the shortness of their existence in 

 their perfect state, which is, indeed, so brief that the 

 same evening sun which 

 sees their birth generally 

 witnesses their destruc- 

 tion. Their life, how- 

 ever, in the earlier stages 

 of their growth is of 

 much longer duration. 

 In their larva state they 

 live in the water, lurking 

 under stones, or residing 

 in little holes that they 

 excavate in the banks 

 of the stream. When 

 about to undergo their 

 last transformation, they 

 leave the water and cast 

 off their pupa covering, 

 but by a remarkable exception to other insects, they are 

 still covered by a thin pellicle, which gives them a dull 

 appearance. In this condition they are known to the 

 angler as " duns ;" in a short time, however, they cast off 

 this temporary deshabille, leaving it upon trees or walls, 

 or even the clothes of the passer-by, and present them- 

 selves in the full livery of the perfect insect, in which 

 garb they constitute the " Drake " of the fly-fisher. 



The Scorpion Flies (Panorpa), are remarkable from the 

 extraordinary structure of the tail, which in the male is 

 terminated by a pair of forceps, giving them the appear- 

 ance of winged scorpions. 



The Ant Lions (Myrmeleo)* much resemble the dragon 

 flies, but their habits in the earlier stages of their exist- 

 ence are very different. The larva lives principally upon 

 ants, which it catches by a singular contrivance. Not 

 being able, from the structure of its body, to catch such 

 active prey by any ordinary proceeding, it constructs a 

 trap, by walking backwards, round and round and round, 

 until a deep conical excavation is formed in the loose 

 sand, at the bottom of which the creature buries itself, 

 and there remains quietly concealed, with the exception 

 of its long scissor-like fangs, which are kept half open and 

 ready for action. Thus ensconced, woe betide any im- 

 * IJ.VP/J.TI, mnrmex, the ant ; AeW, leon, the lion. 



