254 



Marvels of Insect Life. 



like that of the ant-Hon, for crawling Insects and other small animals fall into it 

 within reach of the tiger-grub's jaws. One of our native species^ has a modification 

 of this plan. Its curved burrow opens on a vertical or sloping bank, and just below 

 the mouth a shallow pit is formed. 



Leaf-like Mantids. 



The order of straight-winged Insects - is richer in what one may term natural 

 frauds than any other. Here are found the numerous stick-Insects and the walking 



leaves, which form separate families ; 

 and of a third family, the mantids, we 

 have already given examples of flower- 

 mimicking species. There are other 

 mantids that mimic leaves instead of 

 flowers ; fresh, newly expanded leaves 

 and leaves in process of decay. 



A remarkable example of this 

 ^roup is afforded by the dead-leaf 

 mantis^ of Malaya, whose body is 

 about three inches in length, and the 

 spread wings have an expanse of three 

 inches and a quarter. It is coloured 

 in various shades of brown, variegated 

 with dull red and buff. On the under 

 ■^ide of the wing-covers, near their 

 blunt tips, there is a large black spot 

 surrounded by a circle of white. The 

 wing-covers being semi-transparent, 

 this spot shows dimly through to the 

 upper side. Hut the remarkable 

 h'ature of this mantis is a very thin 

 ixpansion of large size on each side 

 of the fore-body, more or less notched, 

 especially at the hinder margin. When 

 the wings are closed these expansions 

 continue the wing-covers forward, and 

 the total effect is that of a small bunch 

 of dead leaves, more or less broken, and 

 fretted by Insects. A closely reflated species '* from Borneo is still more ornate 

 in its dead-leaf get-up, and Annandale mentions another '^ he met with in Lower 

 Siam, whose wings, or so much of them as is hidden bv tlu^ wing-covers, are coloured 

 deep maroon, veined and rimmed with white. He thinks it only uses its wings 

 in the evening, sitting during the day-time waiting for its ])rc>y and looking like 

 an innocent bunch of dead leaves. It made no attempt to flv when he captured 

 one that crawled up his leg from llie jungle-floor, but when about to be taken it 

 drew blood from his finger. 



//. Main. I I s. 



The Tiger in His Lair. 



When the grub of the tiger-beetle has secured a victim at the uiouth 

 of his pit, he retreats with it to the bottom of the shaft to consume 

 it. Here he is waiting until appetite proni])ts him to ascend for fresli 

 prey. Twice the natural size. 



Cicindela hv^'i'ida. 



Orthoptcra. 



Deroplatys dcsiccata. * D. sarawaca. ^ 1). tiigonodera. 



