360 



FOOD OF INSECTS. 



jou will as little think it the part of true mercy to stretch 

 forth " the helping hospitable hand " to the entrapped fly as 

 to the captive birds. The spider requires his meal as well as 

 the Indian : and, however, to our weak capacity, the great law 

 of creation " eat or be eaten " may seem cruel or unneces- 

 sary, knowing as we do that it is the ordinance of a beneficent 

 Being, who does all things well, and that in fact the sum of 

 happiness is greatly augmented by it, no man, who does not 

 let a morbid sensibility get the better of his judgment, will, 

 on account of their subjection to this rule, look upon preda- 

 ceous animals with abhorrence. 



One more instance of the stratagems of insects in procuring 

 their prey shall conclude this letter. Other examples might 

 be adduced, but the enumeration would be tedious. This, 

 from an order of insects widely differing from that which in- 

 cludes the race of spiders, is perhaps more curious and in- 

 teresting than any of those hitherto recited. The insect to 

 which I allude, an inhabitant of the south of Europe, is the 

 larva of a species of ant-lion {Myrmeleo'ii), so called from its 

 singular manners in this state. It belongs to a genus between 

 the dragon-fly and the Hemerobius. When full grown its 

 length is about half an inch : in shape it has a slight resem- 

 blance to a wood-louse, but the outline of the body is more 

 triangular, the anterior part being considerably wider than 

 the posterior : it has six legs, and the mouth is furnished with 

 a forceps consisting of two incurved jaws, which give it a 

 formidable appearance. If we looked only at its external 

 conformation and habits, we should be apt to conclude it one 

 of the most helpless animals in the creation. Its sole food is 

 the juices of other 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 

 direction 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 wanderers the 

 prudence of keeping at a respectful distance. What then is 

 to become of our poor ant-lion ? In its appetite it is a perfect 



