574 Insects. 
Order IV. Neuroptera. 
These insects have four transparent wings, strongly 
and beautifully varied, so as to resemble net-work. The 
mouth has mandibles and maxillas. The abdomen of the 
female has neither ovipositor nor sting. 
THE ANT-LION. (Myrmeleon formicarium.) 
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 differ- 
ence, that the legs are constructed in such a way that 
it can only proceed backwards or sideways. The abdo- 
men is very large and fleshy ; and the head, which is 
small, is armed with two long jaws like horns, some- 
what resembling those of the stag-beetle. What must 
create our utmost admiration is, that this insect, which 
can only move 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 were he not endowed with an uncommon instinct, 
which prompts him to the following stratagem : — He 
makes a kind of funnel-shaped hole in the loose earth or 
sand, and, placing himself at the bottom of it, waits 
there with the utmost patience, till an incautious ant or 
