FOOD OF INSECTS. 363 



formed by the falling stone, against the sides of which he can 

 support his load. This time possibly he succeeds ; or it may 

 be, as is often the case, the stone again rolls down. When 

 thus unfortunate, our little Sisyphus has been seen six times 

 patiently to renew his attempt, and was at last, as such 

 heroic resolution deserved, successful. It is only after a 

 series of trials have demonstrated the impossibility of suc- 

 ceeding that our engineer yields to fate, and, quitting his 

 half-excavated pit, begins the formation of another. 



When all obstacles are overcome, and the pit is finished, 

 it presents itself as a conical hole rather more than two inches 

 deep, gradually contracting to a point at the bottom, and about 

 three inches wide at the top.^ The ant-lion now takes its station 

 at the bottom of the pit, and, that its gruff appearance may not 

 scare the passengers which approach its den, covers itself 

 with sand all except the points of its expanded forceps. It is 

 not long before an ant on its travels, fearing no harm, steps 

 upon the margin of the pit, either accidentally or for the 

 purpose of exploring the depth below. Alas ! its curiosity is 

 dearly gratified. The faithless sand slides from under its 

 feet ; its struggles but hasten its descent ; and it is precipitated 

 headlong into the jaws of the concealed devourer. Some- 

 times, however, it chances that the ant is able to stop itself 

 midway, and with all haste scrambles up again. No sooner 

 does the ant-lion perceive this (for, being furnished with six 

 eyes on each side of his head, he is sufficiently sharp-sighted), 

 than shaking off his inactivity, he hastily shovels loads of 

 sand upon his head, and vigorously throws them up in quick 

 succession upon the escaping insect, which, attacked by such 

 a heavy shower from below and treading on so unstable a 

 path, is almost inevitably carried to the bottom. The instant 

 his victim is fairly within reach, the ant-lion seizes him be- 

 tween his jaws, which are admirable instruments, at the same 



' The nests of this animal which I saAV at Fontainebleau (in the pit producing 

 the fossil named after that place) were scarcely half the dimensions here given, 

 but they might probably be younger insects. I kept one in a box of sand 

 several days, in which it regularly formed its pit, whenever obliterated by 

 shaking. The bottom of the box unfortunately came out as I was upon my 

 return to England, and the animal was killed. 



