90 MANTID^ — SOOTHSAYERS, ETC. 



come, and watch the insect turning and examining each 

 road with her weird sibyl head,^ — if French girls commit 

 such follies, should I, a staid American woman, follow their 

 example — putting my faith in the caprices of an insect ? 

 Pshaw ! 1 was above such folly. So the next time Queen 

 Bess was consulted a more decided refusal was given ; but 

 I disregarded her warning, and most sorely did I repent it. 

 Again she would approve, by standing more erect, if pos- 

 sible, spreading and closing her wings ; then all was sun- 

 shine with me. So it went for many months. Many others 

 have had the same experience, if they will confess it 

 honestly. I learned to obey the hidden head more care- 

 fully than any other, I am sorry to say ; and 1 never, in 

 one single instance, knew her to refuse her opinion ; and I 

 never knew it to be wrong in whatever way she announced 

 it." 



This same superstitious woman says that boys and girls 

 try their future expectations by making a miaiic chariot, 

 ballasting it with small pebbles, shot, or any such like thing, 

 and harnessing the Mantis in with silk. Upon being 

 freighted she rises immediately, as if to try the weight; if 

 too heavy she will not fly. Lighten the chariot, and she 

 will soar away to a tree or a field ; then her owner is to be 

 a lucky boy. If she will not go at all, or only a short 

 distance, and soon come down, misfortune is to be his 

 doom."'^ 



Other superstitions among us, with respect to the Mantis 

 are as follows : 



When the Mantis (Rear-horse) kneels, it sees an angel 

 in the way, or hears the rustle of its wings. When it 

 alights on your hand, you are about to make the acquaint- 

 ance of a distinguished person ; if it alights on your head, 

 a great honor will shortly be conferred upon you. If it in- 

 jures you in any way, which it does but seldom, you will 

 lose a valued friend by calunmy. Never kill a Mantis, as 

 it bears charms against evil. 



From the great resemblance of many species of Mantis 

 to the leaves of the trees upon which they feed, some trav- 

 elers, who have observed them, have declared that they saw 

 the leaves of trees become living creatures, and take flight. 



1 This superstition I have found in no other place. 



2 Harper's New Monthly Mag., xxiv. 491, 2. 



i 



