362 
TRANSFORMA TIONS OF INSECTS. 
of which the ant lions are characteristic forms ; they constitute 
the genus Ascalaphus , aad they are very pretty insects, which 
are not unlike some of the Lepidoptera. They have long antennae, 
which terminate in a large club-shaped end, like those of the 
genus Argynnis ; their wings are very prettily tinted, and are 
usually of a bright yellow colour, with black markings. Many 
of them are to be found in Southern Europe, and their larvae, 
whose habits are unknown, resemble those of the ant lions. In 
the engraving on page 361 one of these perfect insects is repre- 
sented on the right hand of the picture, above the trees. 
The Nemopterce are remarkable for the great beauty of their 
forms. They inhabit the shores of the Mediterranean, but unfor- 
tunately very little is known about them. A perfect insect of 
Nemoptera coa is represented in the engraving on page 361, and 
its silken antennae are very fine and thread-like, whilst the hind 
wings are very long, slender, and oar-shaped. The front wings 
are broad and large, and are of a yellow sulphury colour, spotted 
and figured with black. It is one of the prettiest of insects. 
The Hemerobince (rjfjuepa, day ; /Stow, to live) are miniature myr- 
meleons, and have long and slender antennae, and large and well- 
veined wings. We may often notice these beautiful flies upon 
rose and elder trees, and they can be recognised easily, on account 
of their small heads being furnished with prominent, rounded, 
brilliant eyes, which look like polished gold. The body of the 
fly is of a delicate green colour, and the large wings, so beau- 
tifully reticulated, reflect all the colours of the rainbow. 
These pretty insects are sluggish in their motions, and. prefer 
to fly by twilight. They lay their eggs upon plants, attaching them 
by a long and narrow foot-stalk, which gives them the look of a 
fungus. The larvae, more slender than those of the ant lions, 
and destined to crawl and run over leaves and twigs, have a 
peculiar structure on the foot to enable them to do this safely. 
They live a life of constant warfare against the Aphides , or 
plant lice, killing and eating them day after day, so that they 
are called Aphis Lions. When they have attained their full 
growth they spin a small cocoon of pure silk, and are trans- 
formed into pupae. They live in this condition for fifteen days, 
and then the perfect insect flies. These pretty Neuroptera have 
