THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 159 
this last date some were in the chrysalis, as of several specimens thus 
obtained most of them entered that state in a short time, while those 
taken in August remained until the following spring. 
Food was very scarce in this colony, as it was rare to see more than 
four or five victims in the lions’ dens at one time. On several occasions I 
noticed a strong and active insect, having ventured over the edge of the 
pit, run swiftly down and up the other side, leaving the ant-lion wildly 
snapping its jaws, as the intended victim mounted the steep side of the 
pitfall. 
The ant-lion does not, as far as my observation goes, throw up sand to 
bring down its prey, but throws it up in every direction in order to keep 
its jaws free to seize the insect when it reaches the bottom of the den. 
In 1871 there was another colony (which I did not visit in 1872) near 
the “Paint Mine.” It consisted of some 300 members. I call it a 
colony, although, of course, there was no friendly intercourse between the 
inhabitants of the settlement. On the other hand, in the most crowded 
portions, the chief employment of the insects was to throw out the dirt 
which their active neighbors were depositing on their own premises.—E. 
A. BIRGE, Williams College, in Ameriean Naturalist. 
DESTRUCTION OF DRAGON-FLIES BY Birps.—Mr. Gould, in a com- 
munication to the Entomological Society of London, says, “I believe 
that the larger dragon-flies are very liable to the attacks of birds, and 
have no doubt that the hobby and kestrel occasionally feed upon them ; 
with regard to the small blue-bodied species (Agrionidæ) frequenting the 
sedgy bank of the Thames, I have seen smaller birds, sparrows, etc., 
capture and eat them before my eyes, after having carefully nipped off the 
wings, which are not swallowed. This must take place to a considerable 
extent, as I have observed the tow-path strewn with the rejected wings.” — 
This has been observed by Mr. J. L. Hersey of New Hampshire (see the 
following note) :—Eps. 
Bees AND KiNG-BIRDS.—For the last ten years I have carefully noted 
the habits and movements of the king-birds, and have come to the follow- 
ing conclusion, viz.: that they do eat the honey bee, and so does the 
purple martin; but instead of being destroyed for it, they should be 
protected and allowed to build their nests near the farm-house, because 
they drive off the hawks, crows and other plundering birds from the 
