PRAYING INSECTS (MANTIDxVE. 27 



outlined with yellow. It is met with in the coastal 

 districts of New South Wales. 



One of our largest wingless forms is Polyzosteria 

 pithcsccns. It closely resembles the one just de- 

 scribed, but is of a uniform brown colour, 2 inches 

 long and i^ inches wide. 



The giant among the cockroaches is a large bright 

 reddish-brown wingless insect 2^ inches in length, 

 and i^ inches across the body. 



Most of the Cockroaches are well known by popu- 

 lar names in the districts where they are numerous. 



Sharp thus writes: "The Common Cockroach 

 (Blaffa) is a rather amusing pet, as the creatures 

 occasionally assume most comical attitudes, especi- 

 ally when cleaning their limbs; this they do some- 

 what after the manner of cats, extending the head 

 as far as they can in the desired direction, and then 

 passing a leg or antennae through the mouth; or 

 they comb other parts of the body with the spines 

 of the legs, sometimes twisting and distorting them- 

 selves considerably in order to reach some not very 

 accessible part of the body." 



Family. — Praying Insects (Mantidae.) 



(Plate 5.) 



The term "praying" is applied on account of the 

 devout attitude assumed when the insects are about 

 to seize their prey. The front legs are drawn up, 

 and the fore leg is held at an acute angle to the 

 thigh in front of the head, giving altogether a 

 reverent appearance. 



The Mantidas may be readily distinguished from 



