ICHNEUMON FLY. 229 
The crocodile lays its eggs in the sand ; 
these eggs are the favourite food of the 
ichneumon, who roots tliem up, and sucks 
out the inside through a hole, which it 
breaks in tlie end of the e^^ by rolling 
it against a stone. The ichneumon de- 
stroys numbers of young crocodiles also^ 
after they have left the e^g, and before 
they reach the w^ater. It preys besides 
upon serpents, rats, mice, and poultry. 
Lucy, It seems to eat every thing it 
can catch ; but I thought the ichneumon 
was a fly r 
Mother. The ichneumon fly is named 
after that animal. 
Lucy, Are the flies as great devourers, 
since they have the same name ? 
Mother. Just so ; it was given to 
them because they perform a similar ser- 
vice in destroying caterpillars, and a num- 
ber of other insects. The ichneumon fly 
is of a verv peculiar shape : the abdomen 
is joined to the body by a slender stalk , 
and this is a distinguishing mark of the 
