FORMICA LEO. 189 
a remarkably large abdomen, which is 
divided into eleven narrow rings, slightly 
covered with short stiff hairs ; the head 
is flat, and from it extend two curved 
and toothed horns, very hard and strong, 
and tapered to a sharp point, and the 
insect can at pleasure spread them open, 
or close them till the points cross. 
Lucy. They seem to be something 
like the horns of the stag beetle. 
Mother, In some respects they are ; 
but the stag beetle is also provided with 
jaws, and with a mouth, while the lion 
ant has neither. Those pincers are hol- 
low, and not only serve to grasp the little 
animals it catches, but likewise to suck in 
their juices ; for as it has no mouth it 
cannot eat, and it never tears, or mangles 
its prey. At the base of these pincers 
are placed the eyes ; and without the as- 
sistance of a microscope each of them 
appears to be single, but when sufficiently 
magnified, six small brilliant eyes are 
distinctly seen to be contained in each 
socket. 
