ORDER III.—STRAIGHT-WINGED INSECTS. 119 
grayish brown wings, two very long fore legs, which are 
continually stretched out to catch insects, and two short 
antenne. They have received the name JZantis from the 
’ on account of their 
curious motions, and that of “ Camel-crickets” from the 
great length of their neck. 
They are very seldom found in the Middle or Eastern 
States of the Union, but are seen in Maryland and all the 
Southern States, and several species are found in the trop- 
ics. They dwell upon the leaves of trees and bushes, walk- 
ing very slowly upon their four hind legs, or sitting station- 
ary for hours, like the chameleon, waiting for their prey. 
As soon as they perceive a fly or a caterpillar approaching, 
they turn their heads on all sides, watching its movements, 
then they creep toward it slowly, like a cat after a mouse, 
until, with the rapidity of an arrow, they pounce upon it 
and grasp it with their sharp-pointed fore feet. Having 
devoured their victims, they resume their former position, 
and sit stationary, holding up their fore legs as if in the at- 
titude of prayer. Hence the country people of France, as- 
suming that it is engaged in prayer, call this insect ‘‘ Prie 
Dieu ;’ the Italians, “ Prega Dio;’ the Germans, ‘ Gottes- 
Anbeterinn ; and the Latin names of “ Mantis religiosa, pre- 
Greek word signifying ‘ Soothsayer,’ 
caria, sancta, superstitiosa, oratoria, mendica, pauperata,” etc., 
which have been applied to it, are derived from the same 
superstition. 
In the life of the celebrated missionary, St. Francis Xa- 
vier, we read ‘that when he saw a Mantis holding up its 
arms in deep devotion, he asked the insect to sing the 
praises of God, whereupon it chanted a very fine canticle.” 
Sparmann, a distinguished traveler in Africa, informs us 
“that this insect, the Mantis, is worshiped by the Hotten- 
tots as a tutelary divinity; and if it happens to alight on 
any person, he is at once considered as the peculiar favorite 
of Heaven, and is looked up to as a saint.” 
