CHAPTER VII 



THE MANTIS. — THE NEST 



Let us take a more pleasant aspect of the insect whose 

 loves are so tragic. Its nest is a marvel. In scientific lan- 

 guage it is known as the ootek, or the " egg-box." I shall 

 not make use of this barbarous expression. As one does 

 not speak of the " egg-box " of the titmouse, meaning 

 " the nest of the titmouse/' why should I invoke the box 

 in speaking of the Mantis ? It may look more scientific ; 

 but that does not interest me. 



The nest of the Praying Mantis may be found almost 

 everywhere in places exposed to the sun : on stones, 

 wood, vine stocks, the twigs of bushes, stems of dried 

 grass, and even on products of human industry, such as 

 fragments of brick, rags of heavy cloth, and pieces of 

 old boots. Any support will suffice, so long as it offers 

 inequalities to which the base of the nest may adhere, 

 and so provide a solid foundation. The usual dimen- 

 sions of the nest are one and a half inches long by 

 three-quarters of an inch wide, or a trifle larger. The 

 colour is a pale tan, like that of a grain of wheat. 

 Brought in contact with a flame the nest burns readily, 

 and emits an odour like that of burning silk. The 

 material of the nest is in fact a substance similar to silk, 

 but instead of being drawn into a thread it is allowed to 



