178 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



interesting point of study. At such times the pits of the 

 ant-lions were found rather plentifully strewn about in the 

 sand with most of them freshly cleaned out. These pits at 

 one time or other contain either ants, weevils, or other insects, 

 not excepting even such prey as small robber-flies. 



After a rain, all is quiet at these ant-lion lairs. The pattering 

 drops on the ground bring about perfect quietude, and little 

 by little the sand is splashed down the sides of the pits until 

 they are more or less filled up. In the meantime, the occupants 

 keep quietly secreted, holding their peace until the sun again 

 comes out and dries the ground. This may consume a day or 

 more, according to the humidity or temperature. Then, the 

 insects commence their excavations again, preparing the pit- 

 falls for their prey. Ant burrows were also seen dotting the 

 ground here and there, and their occupants were often found 

 to be actively engaged in carrying out grains of sand from the 

 underground passageways, or going on long excursions over the 

 waste of sand. One soon became impressed with the seemingly 

 oblivious manner in which these wandering ants unwittingly 

 tumbled into the pitfalls of the ant-lions. 



An ant would come along, slide down the incline of the pit, 

 and in attempting to escape, displace the sand under his feet, 

 finally tumbling down to the bottom. If he is not summarily 

 seized by a pair of jaws lying in waiting at the bottom of the 

 pitfall, he may now become greatly excited, and again make a 

 frantic attempt to get out, sometimes circling around or trying 

 to climb directly to the top on the level plane outside. At this 

 moment, however, the ant-lion sends up a shower of sand from 

 the pit, which, in falling, strikes the victim back into the centre 

 again. Then the widely opened jaws of the ant-lion close on 

 the ant's body and the struggle which ensues is ended by the 

 ant-lion dragging the ant back into the sand. In other pit- 

 falls this same tragedy is repeated again and again, though the 

 victims are not always the same kind of insects. 



The ant-lion usually waxes fat on these sumptuous meals, his 

 body being kept well nourished. It is not uncommon for him 

 to take long fasts, and he can go a great length of time without 

 taking water. At all times he is concealed from view, being 

 disinclined to show his soft body for fear of attack. I once 



