\^2 tHE tlON ANT. 



Genus V. — Myr?neIeon. 1'he Lion Ant, 



X^HE mouth of this voracious race is armed with jaws, 

 two teeth, and four palpi. In tiie male fex, the tail is 

 furniflied with a kind of forceps, formed bj two (Iraight 

 threads 5 the antennae are in the Ihape of a club, and of 

 equal length with the thorax 



The lion ant, concerning which fo much has been faid 

 by naturalifts, is of five kinds, all dillinguiihed by an 

 uncommon voracity, and cunning in fecuring their prey ; 

 their habits of rapacity feem born with them ; and dur- 

 ing their whole lives they are fupported by the game 

 which they catch. At firil fight, thefe animals feem but 

 ill fitted for their manner of life : The moll unwieldy in- 

 fe6l can eafily efcape from them ; for they cannot advance 

 upon it a fingle ,ftep ; all its progrefs in walking being 

 backwards ; by ftratagem, however, this lion mailers in- 

 itSts far fuperior to it in flrength. In the loofe fa; id it 

 digs a hollow reftmbling a funnel, where it takes its fla- 

 tion at the bottom, every part being concealed except the 

 forceps with which the head is armed. This inllru- 

 ment, which it can open or fliut at plcafure, is happily 

 conllrufted for feizing and penetrating the hardefl infe£l ; 

 and unhappy is the animal, who, in purfuing its journey, 

 ilumbles into this cavern. In vain it endeavours to 

 fcramble up by the edges, which are continually giving 

 ■way under its feet ; it tumbles to the bottom, where it 

 is pierced by the forceps cf the lion ant lurking below. 



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