28 NEUROPTERA, 



too stupid to do it if they could. These Aphi- 

 des are abundant on the leaves of the same 

 plant, and one of the active larvas rushing among 

 them, will suck the juices of a dozen in a few 

 minutes. Notwithstanding the abundance of 

 this food, and the facility with which it is pro- 

 cured, it often happens that, if two of these larvae 

 chance to meet, they will attack each other 

 with ferocity, and the weakest must submit to 

 be devoured by the conqueror. They increase 

 so rapidly in size, that in about fifteen days 

 they have attained their full growth, and are 

 then three quarters of an inch long. When 

 about to change into the chrysalis state, the 

 animal spins a fine white silk from the end of 

 its abdomen, which it fixes to a leaf or twig, 

 and then continuing the operation, envelops 

 itself completely, forming a silken case as round 

 as a ball and not larger than a pea. It is dif- 

 ficult to conceive, how a body of so large a 

 comparative size, can be made to occupy so 

 small a space; but Nature is all sufficient! 

 Soon after the case is finished, the larva is 

 transformed into a chrysalis, and in about three 



