hitherto confounded under the Name of Mantis, 37 



the fpecles, of which I knew both the male and the female. Where 

 I could afccrtain but one fex, whether in a natural ipecimen, or in a 

 drawing or deicription of good authority, I have been obliged, ac^ainfl: 

 my own principles, to form the fpecific characters from thofe variable 

 diftinc^tions w^hich are fubjed to change with the difference of fex. 

 In this rcfpecl, therefore, whoever lliall hereafter think ]uopcr to 

 write a more complete and accurate monograph on the PhufmaUiy 

 will find ftill much room left for corrections and improvements. I 

 confider myfelf as excufed in the eyes of enlightened judges, as having 

 been able to make ufe only of dried fpecimens and books ; and, be- 

 fides, as fairly confefling and pointing out the defcdls of my fpecific 

 characters, and recommending them to the improvements of thofe 

 who have opportunity of examining the living lubjects. 



In the genus of the proper Mantes, the difference between the two 

 fexes is far from being fo ffriking as in the Phafmata. I believe that 

 I have obferved in fome fpecies the following lexual characters, 

 which I do not Iny down dogmatically, but propofe, as a critical 

 reafoner, to be brought to the tcfl: by thofe who have opportunity 

 and Ikill to make ufe of them, i. The male Mantes are only a lit- 

 tle fmaller than the females. 2. Their antenna: are confiderably 

 longer, and fomew^hat thicker, fometimes, although rarely, even pec- 

 tinated. Thus, perhaps, the M, Jiabellicornis may be the male of 

 M,gongylodes\ on the other hand, both fexes of the M. pecltnicomis feem 

 to have peflinated antennae. 3. The males have proportionably 

 larger eyes than the females ; in refpeCt to form and fituation, the 

 eyes of each fex agree of courfe very exactly. 4. The thorax of the 

 males is narrower, and, efpecially at the margin, fmoother. 5. Their 

 abdomen is narrower and thinner. 6. Their hcmelytra are narrower, 

 and often longer. 7. Their wings are longer, and every way larger. 

 8. Their arms are fomewhat longer; the upper and lower arm nar- 

 rower, and lefs flattened j the fciffar-like, or falciform hand, narrower 



4 and 



