8 



ZOOLOGY 



The Mantidae l are popularly called praying-mantis, on 

 account of the devotional attitude in which the greatly en- 

 larged front legs are held. Unlike other Orthoptera, they 



FIG. (i. Phasmomantis niroUim. Praying-mantis of southern U. S. Nat. 



size. Copied from Packard. 



are carnivorous. They hunt and devour other insects some- 

 times larger than themselves, and even prey upon each other. 

 \Yhile most of the species are tropical, one species, Phasmo- 

 mantis Carolina (Fig- 0), is abundant 

 in our Southern States, and another 

 occurs in the Missouri valley. 



The Blattidae, 2 or cockroaches, are 

 especially creatures of the tropics; 

 and those which live in colder cli- 

 mates frequent warm as well as dark 

 places. The two which are our 

 household pests have been imported 

 from Europe,- -both the small brown 

 " ( 'roton bug," which is found among 

 water-pipes in the kitchen, and the 

 large black species commonest in sugar-refineries, slaughter- 

 houses, and bakeshops. They are omnivorous, eating, 



7. - Wingless cock- 

 roach. Xat.size. Photo, 

 l.v AY. H. C. P. 



seer, prophet. 



2 blatta, roach of Pliny. 



