18 ORTHOPTERA. 



speak with more precision, because some indefatigable naturalists have attended minutely 

 to them ; Roesel in particular has treated at considerable length on the manners of the 

 Mantis religiosa of Linnaeus. 



Descriptions can only convey an imperfect idea of the extraordinary appearance of 

 many creatures included in the genera Mantis and Locusta. Among them are found 

 species that bear a similitude to the usual forms of other insects ; but, from these we 

 almost imperceptibly descend to others, bearing as strong a similitude to the vegetable 

 part of creation ; seeming as if Nature designed them to unite the appearance of a vege- 

 table with the vital functions of an animal, to preserve them from the ravages of voracious 

 creatures, or to connect that chain of progressive and universal being, which 



" The great directing Mind of All ordains." 



Many of these creatures assume so exactly the appearance of the leaves of different 

 trees, that they furnish the entomologist with unerring specific distinctions ; thus we have 

 L. citrifolia, laurifoUa, myrtifoUa, oleifolia, graminifoUa, and others, equally expressive 

 of their resemblance in form, and colours, to the leaves of those respective plants. 

 Travellers, in countries that produce these creatures, have been struck with the pheno- 

 menon, as it must appear, of animated vegetable substances ; for the manners of the 

 Mantis, in addition to its structure, are very likely to impose on the senses of the unin- 

 formed. They often remain on the trees for hours without motion, then suddenly spring 

 into the air, and, when they settle, again appear lifeless. These are only stratagems to 

 deceive the more cautious insects which they feed upon ; but some travellers who have 

 observed them, have declared they saw the leaves of those trees become living creatures, 

 and take flight. 



M. Merian informs us of a similar opinion among the Indians, who believed these 

 insects grew like leaves on the trees, and when they were mature, loosened themselves 

 and crawled, or flew away. But we find in the more pretending works of Piso similar 

 absurdities. 



" Those little animals," says that author, " change into a green and tender plant, 

 which is of two hands breadth. The feet are fixed into the ground first ; from these, 

 when necessary humidity is attracted, roots grow out, and strike into the ground ; thus 

 thev change by degrees, and in a short time become a perfect plant. Sometimes only 

 the lower part takes the nature and form of a plant, while the upper part remains as 

 before, living and moveable : after some time the animal is gradually converted into a 

 plant. In this Nature seems to operate in a circle, by a continual retrograde motion."* 



* Donovan quoted, in a note, Ovid's account of the Transformation of Phaeton's Sisters into trees. " Luna 

 quater junctis iniplerat cornibus orbem," &c. which he seems to think had its origin in some such idea as this. 



