ORTHOPTERA, 289 



iSparmann, another species is worshipped by the Hottentots. If by 

 chance a Mafiiis should settle on a person, this person is considered 

 by them to have received a particular favour from heaven, and from 

 that moment takes rank among the saints ! 



j In France the country people believe that these insects point out 

 f:he way to travellers. Mouffet, a naturalist of the seventeenth century, 

 Says on this subject, in a description of the Mantis — "This httle 

 creature is considered of so divine a nature, that to a child who asks 

 it Its way, it points it out by stretching out one of its legs, and rarely 

 ox never makes a mistake." 



In the eyes of the Languedoc peasants the Mantis religiosa is 

 ilmost sacred. They call it Pi'cga-Diou {Prie-Dieu), and believe 

 irmly that it performs its devotions — its attitude, when it is on the 

 vatch for its prey, resembhng that of prayer. Settled on the ground, 

 t raises its head and thorax, clasps together the joints of its front 

 egs, and remains thus motionless for hours together. But only let an 

 mprudent fly come within reach of our devotee, and you will see it 

 .tealthily approach it, like a cat who is watching a mouse, and with 

 o much precaution that you can scarcely see that it is moving. 

 Then, all of a sudden, as quick as lightning, it seizes its victim 

 )etween its legs, provided with sharp spines, which cross each other, 

 ;onveys it to its mouth, and devours it. Our make-believe Nun, 

 teacher, our Frega-Diou, is nothing better than a patient watcher 

 nd pitiless destroyer. The Ma?itis religiosa (Fig. 302), common 

 nough in the south of France, comes as far north as the environs of 

 ''ontainebleau. The Mantis oratoria, rather smaller, is less commonly 

 let with. 



These elegant insects are remarkable for their long slim bodies, 

 lieir large wings, and their colours, which are generally very 

 'right. In some species their green or yellowish elytra look so 

 xactly like the leaves of trees that one can hardly help taking 

 [lem for such. 



The Mantis lays its eggs at the end of summer, in rounded, very 

 ■agile shells, attached to the branches of trees ; they do not hatch 

 11 the following summer. The larvae undergo several successive 

 loultings. Nothing equals the ferocity of these Orthoptera. If two 

 f them are shut up together, they engage in a desperate combat ; 

 ley deal each other blows with their front legs, and do not leave off 

 mcing until the stronger of the two has succeeded in eating off the 

 ther's head. From their very birth, the larvae attack each other, 

 'he male being smaller than the female, is often its victim. 



Kirby tells us that in China the children procure them as in 



T 



