412 



THE PHILOSOPHY 



To fupply this defed, it lays a fnare for them, and efpecially for the 

 ant, which is its favourite food. It generally lies concealed under 

 the fand in the bottom of its funnel or trap, and feldom exhibits 

 more than the top of its head. In digging a funnel, the formica- 

 leo begins with tracing a circular furrow in the fand, the circumfe- 

 rence of which determines the fize of the funnel, which is often an 

 inch deep. After the firft furrow is made, the animal traces a fe- 

 cond, which is always concentric with the firft. It throws out the 

 fand, as with a fliovel, from the fucceffive furrows or circles, by 

 means of its fquare flat head and one of its fore-legs. It proceeds 

 in this manner till it has completed its funnel, which it does with 

 furpriCng promptitude and addrefs. At the bottom of this artful 

 fnare it lies concealed and immoveable. When an ant happens to 

 make too near an approach to the margin of the funnel, the fides of 

 which are very fteep, the fine fand gives way, and the unwary ani- 

 mal tumbles down to the bottom. The formica-leo inftantly kills 

 the ant, buries it under the fand, and fucks out its vitals. It after- 

 wards pufhes out the .empty fkin, repairs the diforder introduced in- 

 to its fnare, and again lies in ambufli for a frefli prey. 



We formerly took fome notice of that fpecies of fpider which car- 

 ries her eggs in a bag attached to her belly. A fpider of this kind 

 was thrown into the funnel of a formica-leo. The latter inftantly 

 feized the bag of eggs, and endeavoured to drag it under the fand. 

 The fpider, from a ftrong love of offspring, allowed its own body to 

 be carried along with the bag. But the flender filk by which it was 

 fixed to the animal's belly broke, and a feparation took place. The 

 fpider immediately feized the bag with her pincers, and exerted all 

 her efforts to regain the objedt of her affedions. But thefe efforts 

 were ineffedual ; for the formica-leo gradually funk the bag deeper 

 anJ deeper in the fand. The fpider, however, rather than quit her 

 holdj allowed herfelf to be buried alive. In a ftiort time, the ob- 



ferver 



