MYRMELEON. 31 



wary insect lies concealed, with merely its pin- 

 cers exposed above the surface. The sides of 

 the trap are so very loose, that they give way 

 and precipitate its prey to the bottom, from 

 whence it stands but little chance of returning 

 alive. The moment the Lion- Ant is apprized, 

 by the falling of a few grains of sand, that some- 

 thing is in the pit, it rushes forward, seizes it 

 with avidity, and, having plunged its forceps 

 into its body, drags it under the sand to be de- 

 voured at leisure. 



When preparing to change into the state of 

 a chrysalis, the insect collects and agglutinates 

 a quantity of sand into the shape of a ball, lining 

 the inside with very fine pearl-coloured silk. 

 It remains in this situation about a month, and 

 is then changed into a light and most elegant 

 fly, the very opposite to the uncouth ill-shaped 

 creature from which it proceeded. 



SPECIFICATION. 



Myrmeleon Formicarium. M. alis macula alba 

 marginali postica. Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 914>. GmeL 

 p. 2643. Fabr. Spec. Ins. l.p, S99. Mant. In$*l. 

 p. 249. 



