33 NATURAL HISTORY. 
forming a fort. of line: the tail is articulated, and is terminated by we 
weapon refembling that of a Scorpion: this is doubtlefs the fame infeé 
with that of Moufet.  Linneus fays that it has a horny cylindric fnout; | 
and a fhelly tail. : 
The Raphidia or fharp-tailed Flie, has a horney flattifh head, and 4 
briftly tharp tail, and is of the fame fize as the Scorpion Flie, pretty 
much refembling it in fhape: the head is black, fmooth, and narrow 
on the hinder part, and the breaft is narrow, rounded, and black: the 
feelers are flender, white, and confift of a great number of joints; the 
body is flender, oblong, and of a brown colour, variegated with tranf- 
verfe white lines: the wings are thin and. membranaceous,: being reti- 
culated, and having each an oblong brown fpot towards the edges 
From the hinder part of the body of the female, there grows a longs 
fharp, flender, and bended weapon. It is common in the meadows 
near the waters, in Fuly. : 
The Chry/ops or Golden-Eye, by fome called the Stinking Flie, is 2 
very beautiful infe@, and is about three quarters of an inch in length 
its body, is.very flender,.and of a greenifh yellow colour; the wings are 
very large.and tranfparent, except the larger ribs or fibres that are of 
a fine green, which are pretty numerous: the eyes are very large, and 
“have the appearance of gold; but when this infea is crufhed, it fends 
forth an intolerable ftench, for which reafon it is called the ftinking flie- 
-It is produced from a worm that feeds upon the plant-lice, upon which 
account it.is named the plant-loufe Lion.. 
The Formica Leo, or Ant Lion, is.of the length of the common hog» 
loufe, but fomewhat broader; and it has a pretty long head, and a 
roundifh body, which becomes a little narrower towards the tail, the 
colour is a dirty grey, {peckled with. black, and the body is compofed 
of feveral flat rings,.which flip one upon another: there are fix feet, four 
of which are fixed to the breaft, and two to the neck: the head is fmal! 
and flat, and.before there are.two little fmooth horns or feelers, which 
are hard, two lines in length, and crooked at the ends. At the bafes 
of the feelers, there are two fmall black lively eyes, by which it cat 
fee the fmalleft obje&. Other animals have wings or feet, which en- 
able them ta advance towards their prey, but this can only run back- 
wards, for it would fooner die than take the leaft ftep-towards it ; for 
which reafon the prey moft come to it, or rather into the fnare provid’ 
ed for it; which is the only means this infect has to live. 
It chufes a dry and fandy place, at the foot of a wall, or undef 
fome thelter, in order to preferve its work from the rain: the drie 
fand.is the moft. proper for it, becaufe any other would. defeat its le _ 
bour. When it goes about to dig the hole where it takes its prey, it 
begins to bend its hinder part, which is pointed, and begins to wor 
upon the fand backwards,: making after: feveral attempts, a circula? 
furrow, whofe diameter is always equal to the depth-of the hole or pi 
On the edge of this firft furrow it digs a fecond, then-a third, ant 
afterwards others which are always lefs than thofe preceding; then # 
begins to fink deeper and deeper into the fand: which it-throws wit 
its horns or feelers towards the edges, and farther marching alway® 
backwards in a fpiral,line, in proportion as it finks into the fand: th? 
repeated motions of its head, throw the fand out of the circle, till th® 
pit is quite made. It always defcribes a perfect circle, and traces & 
: fpir' 
