NEUROPTERA. 423 
They hide themselves in the earth at the foot of trees, and the 
adult issues forth at the end of a fortnight, leaving its pupa skin 
behind. It lives but a few days. The female lays her eggs on 
reeds, stones, &c. Fig. 399 represents the Mud Sembdlis in its 
three states. 
We now come to those -Neuroptera which undergo complete 
metamorphoses. They are the Myrmeleonide, of which the Ant- 
lion (Myrmeleo) is the most prominent type, and the Phryganide, 
or Caddis Flies. 
The larvee of the Ant-lions live on the land, and are carnivorous. 
When about to undergo their transformation into pup, they spin 
for themselves a silky cocoon. The larvee of the Phr; yganeds, OL 
the contrary, live in the water. They surround themselves with 

Fig. 400.—Ant-lion (Myrmeleo formicarius). 
a sort of protecting case, composed of a silky shell and incrusta- 
tions of all sorts. The pupee, as well as the larvee of these insects, 
breathe by means of gills. 
The Ant-lion (Myrmeleo formicarius, Fig. 400) is found in the 
environs of Paris. It is an elegant insect, resembling the dragon- 
fly, but is distinguished from it by its antenne. itis larva is of 
a rosy, rather dirty grey, with little tufts of blackish hair on its 
very voluminous abdomen. Its legs are rather long and slender ; 
the two anterior pair of legs are directed forwards, whilst the hind 
legs are fixed against the body, and only permit the animal to 
walk backwards. These larve are met with in great abundance 
in sandy places very much exposed to the heat of the sun. There 
they construct for themselves a sort of funnel in the sand (Fig. 401), 
