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THE LION ANT. 
GENUS V. — Myrmeleon. °The Lion Ant , 
The mouth of this voracious race is armed with jaws, 
two teeth, and four palpi. In the male fex, the tail is 
furnilhed with a kind of forceps, formed by two flraight 
threads ; the antennae are in the iliape of a club, and of 
equal length with the thorax. 
The lion ant, concerning which fo much has been faid 
by n.ituralifts, is of five kinds, all diilinguiflied by an 
uncommon voracity, and cunning in fecuring their prey ; 
their habits of rapacity feem born with them ; and dur- 
ing their whole lives they are fupported by the game 
which they catch. At firit light, thefe animals feem but 
ill fitted for t'neir manner of life : The moll unwieldy in- 
fed can eafily efcape from them ; for they cannot advance 
upon it a fingle llep; all its progrefs in walking being 
backwards ; by ftratagem, however, this lion matters in- 
feds far fuperior to it in ftrength. In the loofe fand it 
digs a hollow ref moling a funnel, where it takes its fta- 
tion at the bottom, every part being concealed except the 
forceps with which the head is armed. This inftru- 
ment, which it can open or ihut at plcafure, is happily 
conftruded for feizing and penetrating the hardeft infed ; 
and unhappy is the animal, who, in purfuing its journey, 
Humbles into this cavern. In vain it endeavours to 
fcramblc up by the edges, which are continually giving 
way under its feet ; it tumbles to the bottom, where it 
is pierced by the forceps of the lion ant lurking below. 
