INVEETEBRATE ANIMALS. . 99 



insect ; also three species of genus Phyllium, 

 the Walking-leaf. 



Group 226.— Family MANTID^. [j^ocvnc, a devotee. 



Generally distributed in warm climates ; rapacious 

 insects, assuming, whilst on the watch for 

 prey, attitudes alluded to in the names Mantis 

 religiosa, Mantis oratoria, &c. 



^ About 30 species illustrate the group, including 

 Metallcntica splendida from Borneo. 



Group 227.— Family LOCUSTID.E. Ao^oj, a troop. 



Tree-locusts. Rarely gregarious. Most of the 

 continental authorities agree in applying the 

 name " Locust " to the species in this group, 

 distinguished by their long, slender antennre, 

 and by the sabre-like ovipositor of the female. 

 Either the Greek or the Latin derivation (locus 

 ustus, a scorched place) of the name would 

 seem to apply more appropriately to the gre- 

 garious and migratory species included in the 

 following group. 

 Observe the closeness of the resemblance between 

 several species of Locusts and the leaves of 

 trees in the various stages of decay. This 

 mimetic perfection may be regarded as the 

 result of progressive improvements on the 

 part of the assailants, as well as on the side 

 of the species protected by disguise ; indi- 

 viduals on the one side becoming more and 

 more mimetic, and on the other (that of their 

 enemies) more and more able to penetrate 

 through the assumed disguises. —(" The A^atn- 

 ralist i)i Nicaragua,'' by Thomas Belt, 1874.) 



