NATURAL HISTORY. 
*33 
aftion ; after this, it digs a hole, a 
funnel, at the bottom of which this animal 
jlations itfelf, fuffering only its extended for- 
ceps to be feen above it. Ruin awaits the 
infefl; that falls, unfortunately, into this ca- 
vity. The myrmelio, being apprifed of its 
approach, by grains of fand rolling down to 
the bottom, immediately overwhelms^ the 
fallen prey with a Ihower of duft, which it 
cafts with his horns . It then drags the poor 
captive to the bottom of the hole, where it 
is immediately deftroyed. ^ Such is the rapa- 
city of this creature, that it will prey in this 
manner even on its own fpecies. 1 his is 
one of the few inftances nature affords of 
anyone fort of animal preying on its fellow- 
creatures. To the difgrace of man, this 
(ledruaion of each other is very rarely fanc- 
tioned by example, in all the infinite courfe 
ofbeing with which the creation abounds. 
The perfea infea of the ant-eater js very 
feldom found •, when it is, it is chiefly in 
fanJy places, near rivulets. 
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U 2 
THE 
