CLASS I. INSECTA: OKDER 7. NEUROPTERA. 
585 
wait patiently until some prying ant or other insect unwarily strays into their domain, when the 
unfortunate intruder generally slips to the bottom of the pit, and is soon destroyed by the merci- 
less jaws of the Ant-Lion ; but if the victim shows any intention of making its escape, a shower 
of sand thrown up by the former arrests his progress, and generally brings him down to the 
fangs of the destroyer. It is entirely by sucking the juices of its victims that this voracious little 
creature exists ; and when these are exhausted, the carcass is immediately thrown out of the pit 
by a sudden jerk of the jaws. The larvaj of other species appear to prowl about, upon and under 
the surface of the ground, without making pitfalls. Some of these insects are common in our 
country. 
THE ELEAKOR DRAGON-FLY. 
THE LIBELLULID^. 
These are distinguished by their four large, nearly equal, reticulated wings, by the powerful 
structure of their mouths, and the shortness of the 
caudal appendages, which moreover are not jointed. 
The antennae are composed of from five to eight 
joints ; the eyes are very large, generally meeting 
on the top of the head, which also bears three 
ocelli. They are exceedingly elegant but voracious 
insects, which may be seen in fine summer weather, 
hawking about over the surface of ponds and rivers 
in search of insect prey. They are Avell known in 
Europe as Dragon-Flies ; the French call them 
Demoiselles^ probably in allusion to the elegance of 
their forms and the grace of their movements. The 
vulgar English name of Horse-Stingers is inappro- 
priate, as these insects possess no means of annoy- 
ing either horses or any other of the larger animals. 
The larvae and pupae of the Libellulidae inhabit the 
water, from which the pupa emerges when the per- 
fect insect is ready to commence its aerial existence. 
The empty pupa skin may often be seen attached 
to aquatic plants. 
THE VIRGIN DRAGON-FLY. Q^e of thc most bcautlful species of Europe is 
the Virgin Dragon-Fly, Libellula virgo, which is not uncommon on the banks of rivers. 
Vol. II.— 74 
