218 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTOEY. 



when at rest, with posterior pair much 

 lengthened and linear, sometimes large, simi- 

 lar, and roof-like when at rest, sometimes 

 rudimentary. 

 2. Family. — Snake- Flies (Kaphidiidse). Head flat- 

 tened ; eyes prominent ; antennae slender, 

 many jointed ; anterior segment of thorax 

 narrow and much lengthened (whence their 

 English name) ; mandibles strong, corneous ; 

 abdomen of moderate length, terminated, in 

 the females, by a long sabre-like ovipositor ; 

 wings rather large, posterior-pair rather 

 smaller than the anterior, strongly veined. 



3. Family. — Mantis-Flies (Mantispidae). Head 



broad, flat ; eyes prominent ; antennae short, 

 sub-moniliform ; anterior segment of thorax 

 narrow and much lengthened, often trans- 

 versely furrowed ; fore-legs long, attached 

 close to the head, and formed as in Mantis, 

 having the thighs large, compressed and 

 armed with spines, and the tibiae curved ; 

 abdomen of moderate length ; wings of nearly 

 equal size, beautifully reticulated. 



4. Family. — Ant -Lions (Myrmeleonidae). Head 



rather small, transverse ; eyes prominent ; 

 antennae usually of moderate length, hard, 

 thickened and curved at tip, sometimes longer 

 and nearly filiform; abdomen long, slender 

 and cylindrical, sometimes terminated by two 

 filiform appendages ; wings long, of equal 

 size, delicately reticulated. 



