bs =~" 

J 
NATURAL HISTORY. 385 
GENUS 'V. 
MYRMELION. 
CHARACTER. 
Tus mouth is armed with jaws, two teeth and 
four long fpiral tongues. ‘The tail, inthe male fex, 
is forked. ‘Lheir feelers are club formed, and as long 
as the breaft; and the wings bent downwards. 
\ 
MYRMELION——ANT EATER. 
As few infects afford greater entertainment, or 
gratify curjofity more, by their wiles and ftratagems, 
than this; we fhall forbear all uninterefting defcrip- 
tion, to confine ourfélves to what we think more ef- 
fential. Before the head of the larva, is placed a den- 
tated forceps, with which they catch and fuck flies, 
“and ants efpecially. ‘This animal having a retrogade 
“motion, which prevents its being able to puriue its 
prey, it has recourfe to the following ftratagem. 
Having dived into the fand, or foft mould, it hollows 
gut furrows, that meet in a centre, and grows deeper 
by degrees. ‘lhe fuperfluous fand it carefully re- 
moves from the {cene of action ; after this, it digs a- 
hole, like a funnel, at the bottom of which this ani- 
mal ftations itfelf, fuffering only its extended forceps 
to be feen above it. Ruin awaits the infect that falls, 
Q. 
