74 SOCIAL LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD 



deliciously crunched at leisure. The process deserves 

 a detailed description. 



At the sight of a great cricket, which thoughtlessly 

 approaches along the wire-work of the cover, the Mantis, 

 shaken by a convulsive start, suddenly assumes a most 

 terrifying posture. An electric shock would not produce 

 a more immediate result. The transition is so sudden, the 

 mimicry so threatening, that the unaccustomed observer 

 will draw back his hand, as though at some unknown 

 danger. Seasoned as I am, I myself must confess to 

 being startled on occasions when my thoughts have been 

 elsewhere. The creature spreads out like a fan actuated 

 by a spring, or a fantastic Jack-in-the-box. 



The wing-covers open, and are thrust obliquely aside ; 

 the wings spring to their full width, standing up like 

 parallel screens of transparent gauze, forming a 

 pyramidal prominence which dominates the back ; 

 the end of the abdomen curls upwards crosier-wise, 

 then falls and unbends itself with a sort of swishing 

 noise, a pouf ! pouf! like the sound emitted by the 

 feathers of a strutting turkey-cock. One is reminded 

 of the puffing of a startled adder. 



Proudly straddling on its four hind-claws, the insect 

 holds its long body almost vertical. The murderous 

 fore-limbs, at first folded and pressed against one another 

 on the thorax, open to their full extent, forming a 

 cross with the body, and exhibiting the axillae orna- 

 mented with rows of pearls, and a black spot with a 

 central point of white. These two eyes, faintly recalling 

 those of the peacock's tail, and the fine ebony emboss- 

 ments, are part of the blazonry of conflict, concealed 

 upon ordinary occasions. Their jewels are only assumed 



