THE LION-ANT. 
285 
and at length their six legs; Avhilst, in the mean lime, the 
hollowand empty skin, or slough of their legs, remains (irmly 
fixed in its place. After this, the creature creeps forward b v 
degrees ; and by this means draws first ils wings and then its 
body out of the skin; and proceeding a little farther, sitsat 
rest for some time, as if immoveable. During this time the 
wings, which were moist and folded, begin by degrees ;o ex- 
pand themselves, and to make smooth and even all those 
plaits which were laid against each other, like a closed fan. 
The body is likewise insensibly extended, until all the limbs 
liave obtained their proper size and dimensions. 
No animal is more amply fitted for motion, subsistence, 
and enjoyment. As it haunts and seeks after its food flying 
in the air, nature has provided it with two large eyes, which 
make almost the whole head, and which resemble glittering 
mother-of-pearl. 
As the wings are long, and the legs short, they seldom 
walk, but are ever seen either resting or Hying. 
Thus they are seen, adorning the summer with a profu- 
sion of beauty, lightly traversing the air in a thousand direc- 
tions, and expanding the most beautiful colours to the sun. 
The garden, the Ibrest, the edges, and the rivulets, are ani- 
mated by their sports ; and there are few who have been 
brought up in the country, who havp not employed a part 
of their childhood in the pursuit. 
But while these beautiful flies appear to us so idly and 
innocently employed, they are in fact the greatest tyrants of 
tl)e insect tribe; and, like the hawk among birds, are only 
hovering up and down to seize their prey. They are the 
strongest and the most courageous of all winged insects ; 
nor is there one, how large soever, that they will not attack 
and devour. The blue Hy, the bee, the wasp, and the hornet, 
make their constant prey; and even the butterfly, that 
spreads so large awing, is often caught and treated without 
mercy. Their appetite seems to know no bounds ; they 
spend the whole day in the pursuit, and have been seen to 
devour three times their own size in the capture of a single 
hour. They seize their prey flying, with their six claws, 
and tear it easily to pieces with their teeth, which are capa- 
ble of in flictino' troublesome wounds. 
D 
The Lion-Ant. Although this animal properly belongs 
to no order of insects, yet, as it is changed into a fly very 
much resembling that described in the preceding chapter, it 
may not be improper to give its history here. 
