180 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV. 



Fam. III. Mantidse— Praying-Insects. 

 The Manticke are allied to the cockroaches, but differ in 

 respects. The body is, on the whole, 

 more elongate, the prothorax being 

 very long. The first pair of legs 

 are prehensile, with large coxse, 

 strong femurs (thighs) provided with 

 two rows of spines and tibise 

 (shanks), also furnished with two 

 rows of spines, which can be folded 

 back upon the femurs; with these 

 appendages the animal seizes its 

 prey, which consists of other Insects. 

 In the peculiar position of rest 

 assumed by these Insects their fore- 



vanous 



Fig. 10. — A praying mantis. 

 Deiphole ocellata. (Kulu.) 



legs are held up in the attitude of 

 prayer from whence they get their 

 name of the ' praying mantis.' The 

 ova are attached to plants in groups 

 surrounded by a capsule. Fig. 9 



YlGc. 9. — Egg-capsule of a praying 

 mantis. Deipliobe ocellata, 

 (Kulu.) 



FlG 11.— A curious mimicking 

 mantis. Gongylug gongyloides. 

 (Eastern Bengal.) h nat - size * 



