CH. X.] HISTORY OF THE MANTES, ETC. 155 



cleans its claw, feelers, and head, with the greatest 

 apparent care, and then sets forth in quest of fresh 

 booty. Roesel says that a male mantis will eat four, 

 and a female six flies, daily. 



The Hottentots consider the species which is 

 found in South Africa an insect of good omen; 

 especially if one should, by chance, alight upon 

 them. 



The insect which is here represented belongs to 

 a tribe very analogous to the last, but whose habits 

 and manners are totally different, so much so that 



our readers may not consider them unworthy of no 

 lice. On looking at the figure very attentivdy, ont 

 is struck by the great similarity it bears to a leaf. 

 This opinion is also entertained by the Indians, who 

 believe that these insects grow on the trees like 

 leaves; and that, when they have arrived at ma- 

 turity, they loosen themselves and fly away. It has 



