142 



NEUROPTERA. 



prudent insect that unhappily passes too near the trea- 

 cherous margin of his pit-fall. No sooner does it approach 



FlG. 97. CIRCULAR DITCH OF ANT LIO.*, 



the fatal brink than, the loose sides giving way beneath 

 its feet, it is precipitated to the bottom, and falls at once 

 into the power of its destroyer. The Ant-lion, or as 

 Bonnet calls him, on account of his cunning, the " Ant- 

 fox," has no mouth, but 

 instead, two horny fangs, 

 resembling jaws, which 

 are toothed upon the 

 inner margin, and ter- 

 minate in sharp points. 

 These jaw-like appen- 

 dages are hollow, and 

 serve not only for seizing, 

 but for sucking the juices 

 of any insect that may 

 come within reach. 



The Lace - winged 

 Flies (Hemerobius*)* are 

 not very dissimilar from 

 the ant-lions, although 

 they dig no pit-falls. 

 These insects, frequently 

 seen in our gardens, with 

 their bright green bodies, 

 golden eyes, and iri- 

 descent wings, are in 

 their perfect state most 

 elegant creatures. The 

 female lays her eggs upon the leaves of plants, to which 

 they are attached in a very curious manner. The insect 

 first fixes to the leaf a small quantity of a tenacious gum- 



* 7),upa, emera, day ; /Stow, bioo, to live. 



FlG. 98. LACE- WINGED FLY MANNER OF 

 DEPOSITING EGGS. 



