480 A DESCRIPTION OF 
generations consisted of females only ; but in the tenth 
there were some males. 
After a mild spring, most of the species of Aphis be- 
come so numerous as to destroy all the young shoots of 
the plants on which they are found. The best mode of 
remedying this evil is to wash the infested shoots in clear 
water ; and to repeat the operation whenever any Aphides 
are seen. 
ORDER IV. Jicuroptcra. 
THESE insects have four transparent wings, strongly and 
beautifully varied so as to resemble net- work. The mouth 
has mandibles and maxillae. The abdomen of the female 
has neither ovipositor nor sting. 
THE ANT-LION. (Myrmeleonformicaleo.) 
THIS insect is hatched from an egg laid in soft moving 
ground, or sand ; the larva soon increases in size, and 
assumes the shape of a small spider, with this difference, 
that the legs are constructed in such a way, that it can 
only proceed backwards or sideways. The abdomen is 
very large and fleshy ; and the head, which is small, is 
armed with two long jaws like horns, somewhat re- 
sembling those of the stag-beetle. What must create 
our utmost admiration is, that this insect, which cannot 
move but in a retrograde direction, is doomed by Nature 
to feed upon flies and ants, the quickness and agility of 
which would at all times deprive him of his prey ; but he 
has been endowed with an uncommon instinct, which 
teaches him the following stratagem. He makes a kind 
