362 



FOOD OF INSECTS. 



at the centre of its cavity. One circumstance deserves 

 remark, — that it never loads its head with the sand lying on 

 the outside of the circle, though it would be as easy to do this 

 with the outward leg, as to remove the sand within the circle 

 by the inner leg. But it knows that it is the sand in the in- 

 terior of the circle only that is to be excavated, and it there- 

 fore constantly uses the leg next the centre. It will readily 

 occur, however, that to use one leg as a shovel exclusively 

 throughout the whole of such a toilsome operation, would be 

 extremely wearisome and painful. For this difficulty our in- 

 genious pioneer has a resource. After finishing the excavation 

 of one circular furrow, it traces the next in an opposite direc- 

 tion ; and thus alternately exercises each of its legs without 

 tiring either. 



In the course of its labours it frequently meets with small 

 stones : these it places upon its head one by one, and jerks 

 over the margin of the pit. But sometimes, when near the 

 bottom, a pebble presents itself of a size so large that this 

 process is impossible, its head not being sufficiently broad 

 and strong to bear so great a weight, and the height being 

 too considerable to admit of projecting so large a body to the 

 top. A more impatient labourer would despair, but not so 

 our insect. A new plan is adopted. By a manoeuvre, not 

 easily described, it lifts the stone upon its back, keeps it in a 

 steady position by an alternate motion of the segments which 

 compose that part ; and carefully walking up the ascent with 

 the burthen, deposits it on the outside of the margin. When, 

 as occasionally happens, the stone is round, the labour becomes 

 most difficult and painful. A spectator watching the motions 

 of the ant-lion feels an inexpressible interest in its behalf. 

 He sees it with vast exertion elevate the stone, and begin its 

 arduous retrograde ascent : at every moment the burthen 

 totters to one side or the other : the adroit porter lifts up the 

 segments of its back to balance it, and has already nearly 

 reached the top of the pit, when a stumble or a jolt mocks all 

 its efforts, and the stone tumbles headlong to the bottom. 

 Mortified, but not despairing, the ant-lion returns to the 

 charge ; again replaces the stone on its back ; again ascends 

 the side, and artfully avails himself, for a road, of the chaimel 



