FORMICA LEO. 191 
the tubes of a pocket telescope, thus en- 
abling the animal to draw back its head 
close to the thorax, or to extend it for- 
wards in order to seize its prey. The 
two fore legs are short, and point for- 
wards ; the second pair are longer ; the 
third pair longer still, and furnished 
with bent, horny feet, or rather hooks, by 
means of which it draws itself back- 
ward*. 
Lucy. Now, mamma, we shall come 
to the method of catching its prey. 
Mother, It lies in ambush for that 
purpose in the following manner: with 
its strong horns it digs a hole in the dry 
sand, the kind of soil in which it always 
lives : this hole is shaped like a funnel, 
and the sand, which has been thrown out, 
forms a raised rim round the outer edge. 
When this is finished, it conceals itself in 
the hole, keeping only the tips of the 
forceps, or pincers, above ground ; and 
they are placed wide open, one on each 
* Plate XVII. 
