INDIHECT BEiVEFirS DERIVED FROM INSECTS. 277 



the only animal that preys upon his own species% a 

 large number of insects are guilty of the same offence. 

 Reaumur tells us, that having put into a glass vessel 

 twenty caterpillars of the same species which he was 

 careful to supply with their appropriate food, they ne- 

 vertheless devoured each other until one only sur- 

 vived''; and DeGeer relates several similar instances'^. 

 The younger larvae oi! Calosoma Si/cophania often take 

 advantage of the helpless inactivity into which the glut- 

 tony of their maturer comrades has thrown them, and 

 from mere wantonness it should seem, when in no need 

 of other food, pierce and devour them. A ferocity not 

 less savage exists amongst the Mantes. These insects 

 have their fore legs of a construction not unlike that of 

 a sabre ; and they can as dexterously cleave their an- 

 tagonist in two, or cut off his head at a stroke, as the 

 most expert hussar. In this way they often treat each 

 other, even the sexes fighting with the most savage ani- 

 mosity. Rosel endeavoured to rear several specimens 

 of M. religiosa, but always failed, the stronger con- 

 't-tantly devouring the weaker^. This ferocious propen- 

 sity the Chinese children have, according to Mr. Bar- 

 row, employed as a source of barbarous amusement, sell- 

 ing to their comrades bamboo cages containing each a 

 Mantis, which are put together to fight. You will think 

 it singular that both in Europe and Africa these cruel 



^ " Even Tyger feli and bullen Bear 



Their likeness and their lineage spare. 

 Man only mars kind nature's plan. 

 And turns the fierce pursuit on Man !" 



Scott's RoJiehy, •ante iii. ). 

 *• Reaumur, ii. 413. " De Gcer, i. 533. iii.361. v. 400. vi, 91. 



" RoseL iv. 98. 



