THE MANTIS.- THE CHASE 75 



when they make themselves terrible and superb for 

 battle. 



Motionless in its weird position, the Mantis surveys 

 the acridian, its gaze fixed upon it, its head turning 

 gently as on a pivot as the other changes place. The 

 object of this mimicry seems evident ; the Mantis wishes 

 to terrorise its powerful prey, to paralyse it with fright ; 

 for if not demoralised by fear the quarry might prove 

 too dangerous. 



Does it really terrify its prey ? Under the shining 

 head of the Decticus, behind the long face of the cricket, 

 who is to say what is passing ? No sign of emotion 

 can reveal itself upon these immovable masks. Yet 

 it seems certain that the threatened creature is aware 

 of its danger. It sees, springing up before it, a terrible 

 spectral form with talons outstretched, ready to fall 

 upon it ; it feels itself face to face with death, and fails 

 to flee while yet there is time. The creature that excels 

 in leaping, and might so easily escape from the threat- 

 ening claws, the wonderful jumper with the prodigious 

 thighs, remains crouching stupidly in its place, or even 

 approaches the enemy with deliberate steps.^ 



' It is not easy to understand why the Mantis should paralyse the 

 cricket with terror while the latter will immediately escape when 

 threatened by other enemies. As many species of Mantis exactly 

 mimic sticks and leaves when motionless for purposes of defence, 

 is it not possible that tliey mimic their surroundings for purposes 

 of offence as well ? It is easy and natural to say that the Mantis 

 presents a terrifying aspect. It does to us, by association ; but how 

 can we say that it represents anything of the sort to the probably 

 hypnotic or automatic consciousness of the cricket ? What does 

 it really represent, as seen from below ? A twig, terminating in 

 a bud, with two branching twigs growing from it, and a harmless 

 nondescript fly or butterfly perched on the back of it. The com- 



