MANTID^ — SOOTHSAYERS, ETC. 89 



pose a dozen fine needles had been suddenly drawn across 

 the part; then, predo! Bess's strong, saber-like claws had 

 the jolly trumpeter tucked into her capacious jaws before 

 you could open your eyes to ascertain the state of affairs. 



" These creatures very seldom fly far," continues Mrs. 

 Taylor, "but walk in a most stately and dignified manner. 

 Queen Bess could not bear to be overlooked or slighted (!); 

 and as sure as she saw me bending over the magnifier with 

 an insect, and I thought she was ten yards off, the insect 

 would be incontinently snapped out of my fingers. Many 

 a valuable specimen disappeared in this way. I learned to 

 put her at these times in the sounding-board of an vEolian 

 harp, which was generally placed in the window. Her 

 majesty liked music of this kind amazingly; as the vibration 

 wsisfeU though not heard. I presume she fancied she was 

 serenaded by the singing leaves of the forest. I knew she 

 would have remained there spell-bound until driven forth by 

 hunger, if I did not remove her when I was not afraid of 

 her company. 



"As I have begun my 'experiences,'" continues the same 

 writer, " I will go through with them and confess that I was 

 obliged from circumstances to attach more than accident to 

 her prophetic capacity — her fortune-telling. I have not a 

 grain of superstition to contend against in other matters, 

 having so much reverence for the Creator of all things that 

 I certainly have no fear of anything earthly or spiritually 

 conveyed to the senses. But I was taught by the saddest 

 teacher, Experience, that whenever Queen Bess's refusal went 

 unheeded I was the sufferer. The tirst time I ever tried it 

 was to determine a vacillating presentiment I felt about 

 trying a new horse whose reputation was far from good. I 

 placed Queen Bess before me, held up my finger: 



" 'Attention ! Queen Bess, would you advise me to try 

 that horse ?' 



" She was standing on her hind legs, her antennas erect, 

 wings wide spread. I repeated the question. Antennae 

 fell ; wings folded ; and down she went, gradually, until 

 her head and long thorax were buried beneath her front legs. 

 I took her advice, and did not venture. Two days later the 

 horse threw his rider and killed him. 



" Here was the turning-point. Was I to allow such folly 

 to master me ? If French girls do take a Mantis at the junc- 

 tion of three roads, and ask her on which their lover will 



9 



