36 



gives the appearance of a little tuft of down when the wings are closed. I have about a 

 dozen specimens to spare, which I shall be glad to give to any members of the Society 

 who will send me a box for their transmission. 



NOTES ON ANT LIONS. 



BY J. ALSTON MCFFAT, HAMILTON, ONT. 



One day on my late visit to Ridgeway a party of four went on an entomological 

 excursion by boat to a place about four miles west, called Point Abino. After taking a 

 survey of the situation and lightening our lunch-basket, we went to work. Each had his 

 specialty ; one desired beetles, another butterflies. Seeing Myrmelion on the wing, I 

 turned my attention to the Ant Lions. I did not succeed in securing many of them, for 

 although the funnel-shaped pits of the nymphs were in surprising numbers, very few of 

 the mature insects were to be seen, it being probably a little too early for them. I cap- 

 tured but four specimens, one obsoletus, and three of what was kindly determined for me 

 by Dr. Hagen, of Cambridge, Mass., as Myrmelion abdominalis Say, whose figured gauze 

 wings are charming objects seen through a lens. The Slight acquaintance I have with 

 them has been acquired during my visits to Ridgeway, none of them having ever been 

 seen about Hamilton, so far as I know. Mr. J. Pettit secured an obsoletus while he was 

 collecting at Grimsby, but I think he never got a second, although no doubt they were 

 there to some extent, but probably very scarce. Fine loose sand is evidently a ne< essity 

 of their existence in any locality, and I would suppose comparative seclusion ; both of 

 these they have in perfection at Point Abino. I saw large patches of sand so loose that 

 weeds could not tsike root upon it, and which had not been disturbed by the foot of man 

 or beast probably for weeks, and some of these places were so occupied with their pits 

 that it did not seem possible to get another one in without interfering with those already 

 there. These pits were about three inches across the top, and two or two and a half deep. 

 Their width must be in exact proportion to their depth, for the slope of the sides is just 

 what will support the particles of loose sand. They must have their pits to make 

 frequently during their larval existence, for every heavy shower will fill them all up. 

 They never expose themselves to view except by accident, but lie just immediately under 

 the surface. The larva is provided with an apparatus for throwing up the sand, which it 

 can do with sufficient force to scatter it for four or five inches around, and with the 

 rapidity at times of the tick of a watch, working itself downwaids as it throws off that 

 above it, the sand flowing in as it deepens, which it jerks up again, th« most of which 

 falls outside the range of the pit; and so continues the operation until th« required 

 dimensions are obtained, when it lies perfectly still at the bottom and awaits events. An 

 industrious ant out on a foraging expedition, in the hurry of its eager search runs over 

 the edge of the pit. The lion at the bottom s-eems to be instantly aware of the fact, and 

 begins throwing up jets of sand with great rapidity, which come showering down, fright- 

 ening the ant, and it makes frantic efforts to <.et out ; but the more vigorously it scrambles 

 for the top, the more rapidly it slides to the bottom, where it is at once seized. The 

 struggle ensuing dislodges the loose sand, and a miniature avalanche pours down from all 

 sides, which materially assists the lion to secure its victim, and the ant is soon taken out 

 of sight. I am not aware that it has any means of enticing its prey, and as its does not 

 go searching for it, but is entirely dependent on what happens to come in its way, I 

 suspect it must have many a long wait betw< en meals. 



The mature insect is neither a rapid nor a graceful flier, but flaps its winjrs in a 

 heavy, clumsy manner, quit* 1 different from what one would expect in so exquisitely 

 delicate a creature. It prefers to alight in an upright position, and rests with its wings 

 folded close to its sides. 



I take pleasure in announcing the discovery of a moth which is an important addition 

 to the Canadian list. When on a visit recently to my friend, Mr. Kiln. an, of Ridgeway, 

 in the County of Welland, whilst looking over bis Lepidoptera, my attention was arrested 



