THE ANT-LION. 351 



time, the creature gives up its Sisyphus-task, and makes 

 another funnel. 



"When the pit is complete, the sly vampire hides itself 

 in the sand at the bottom, so that none of it is to be seen, 

 and only the open points of its long strong jaws emerge. 

 As soon as a little insect comes to the edge of the pit, the 

 soft sand shifts under its feet and it falls in, to be seized in 

 the jaws of the hunter. The victim is sucked until nothing 

 remains but its husk, which is then flung over the edge of 

 the hole. Among men the sucked-out husk is often left 

 alive, but not seldom shoots itself to death. 



The unfortunate insect, as soon as ft feels the ground 

 giving way under its feet, naturally tries to escape by 

 climbing up the sides of the pit. But the ant-lion knows 

 how to make these efforts useless, by throwing a rain of 

 sand over the creature with its broad head, which catches 

 it in rolling down again and brings it within reach of the 

 robber. It is generally ants which fall victims to it in 

 this way. Hence its name. 



When all is over, the robber comes out from its hiding- 

 place, and sets in order again any places that may have 

 been injured, and then lurks in wait for fresh prey. Some- 

 times it is deceived, and lets itself be induced to throw up 

 its sand-rain as often as is wished, if by aid of a stalk or 

 little stick some tiny lumps of sand are pushed down and 

 let to fall into the centre of its funnel. Human ant-lions, 

 too, are sometimes tricked ! 



