384 
LION-ANT. 
seat. His long form, that winds like the volute of 
an Ionic capital, and is included within the compass 
of a quarter of an inch, begins to unfold and extend 
itself, and in an instant stretches to the length of 
an inch and a quarter. His four wings, which were 
contracted in little folds, and whose dimensions did 
not exceed the sixth of an inch, in the film that 
sheathed them, begin to be expanded, and in the 
space of two minutes shoot into a greater length 
than the whole body. In short, the malignant lion- 
ant assumes the appearance of a beautiful dragon- 
fly, who, after he has for some time continued im- 
moveable, and astonished as it were at the glorious 
prospect of nature, flutters his wings, and enjoys a 
liberty with which he was unacquainted in the ob- 
scurity of his former state. His former barbarity 
and pernicious inclinations are no longer known ; he 
divested himself of these passions when he changed 
his coat ; and now appears entirely a new creature, 
as well calculated to range about in the air, as he 
was before to burrow in the sand. 
The female lays her eggs in the sand, from 
whence proceed the little malignant creatures we 
have just described : they are found in many parts 
of the continent, but are strangers in this country. 
