4-28 FOOD OF INSECTS. 



insects, particularly ants, but at the first view it seems 

 impossible that it should ever secure a single meal. Not 

 only is its pace slow, but it can walk in no other direc- 

 tion than backwards-, you may judge, therefore, what 

 would be such a hunter's chance of seizing an active ant. 

 Nor would a stationary posture be more favourable ; for 

 its grim aspect would infallibly impress upon all wander- 

 ers the prudence of keeping at a respectful distance. 

 What then is to become of our p oor ant-lion ? In its ap- 

 petite it is a perfect epicure, never, however great may 

 be its hunger, deigning to taste of a carcase unless it has 

 previously had the enjoyment of killing it ; and then ex- 

 tracting only the finer juices. In what possible way can 

 it contrive to supply such a succession of delicacies, when 

 its ordinary habits seem to unfit it for obtaining even the 

 coarsest provision ? You shall hear. It accomplishes 

 by artifice what all its open efforts would have been un- 

 equal to. It digs in loose sand a conical pit, in the bot- 

 tom of which it conceals itself, and there seizes upon the 

 insects which, chancing to stumble over the margin, are 

 precipitated down the sides to the centre. " How won- 

 derful !" you exclaim : but you will be still more sur- 

 prised when I have described the whole process by 

 which it excavates its trap, and the ingenious contri- 

 vances to which it has recourse. 



Its first concern is to find a soil of loose dry sand, in 

 the neighbourhood of which, indeed, its provident mo- 

 ther has previously taken care to place it, and in a shel- 

 tered spot near an old wall, or at the foot of a tree. This 

 is necessary on two accounts : the prey most acceptable 

 to it abounds there, and no other soil would suit for the 



