222 



FIELD ZOOLOGY. 



there will possibly be found the eggs of some aphis lion 

 on the leaves of some louse-infested plant. Always on 

 the upper surface of the leaf or stem, and standing on 

 slender, swaying, translucent stalks, the greenish eggs 

 look curious enough. (Fig. 90.) The reason for the plac- 

 ing of the eggs in such a situation 

 is plain enough when one finds 

 out by watching that the young 

 aphis lion is fond of an egg diet, 

 prefers it to anything else, and 

 the egg containing his brother or 

 his sister tastes quite as good to 

 him as does any other egg. The 

 aphis lion mother, instead of 

 trying to break up the egg-eating 

 habit, simply builds a stalk for 

 each egg, and glues the egg fast 

 to the top of it. The young 

 aphis lion "upon hatching out, 

 crawls down to the leaf surface, 

 and goes off to seek for other 

 eggs for his meals, all uncon- 

 scious of the rich feast so close 

 at hand. 



The adult aphis lion is a beautiful, lacy-winged fly, 

 with greenish body and delicate white wings with iri- 

 descent hues shimmering from them at every turn of the 

 owner. The eyes are large for the size of the adult, and, 

 while the lace- wing is alive, are bright golden in color; 

 for this reason the lace-wing is often called the Golden- 

 eye. The adult probably has similar feeding habits to 

 those of the larva. 



The larvae of the dobsons are well known to fishermen 



Fig. 90. — A lace-winged 

 fly, Chrysopa, laying eggs. 

 (^Slightly enlarged. Folsom.) 



