the Relative Edibility of Insects. 31 
one or two in his lifetime, and leave them alone, as 
my monkey did the first time he met one. It is diffi- 
cult to believe that the elaborate development of 
colour, shape, attitude, and specialised movement 
and structure to make a noise, could have been 
developed unless it had been able to scare away enemies 
at least fairly often. When at rest the mantis is 
extremely procryptic, the concealment being especially 
aided by the sundry expansions of the cuticle on its 
body and legs. But the much-expanded front coxae 
take no especial part in this procrypsis, for when the 
mantis is at rest they lie in the vertical plane; and are 
not conspicuous, their strongly contrasted coloured 
surfaces facing each other, the outer surface being 
green. Only when the mantis is alarmed are they 
rotated through a right angle to contribute to the 
terrifying attitude. It is interesting that when the 
front legs are held in the terrifying position their 
formidable prehensile qualities are entirely thrown 
away !) 
Series Ad. Obs. 201-211. Jan. 14. 
Series Ae. Obs. 212-229. Jan. 14.—At 12.30, M. being 
very hungry— 
Obs. 212. Sp. 100.—Carabid: a larva about an 
inch long, black, polished, and active. Allowed to 
run on the ground. M. looked at it, and rubbed it 
on the ground without attempting to eat it. 
Obs. 213. Sp. 101.—Lygaeid, Lygaeus militaris F. : 
a grey-black and rose bug. M. looked at it and rubbed 
it on the ground, making no attempt to eat it. 
Obs. 214. Sp. 48. —Chrysomelid, Lygaria sp.: M. 
ate one of these beetles slowly and doubtfully; also 
a second which was offered. 
Obs. 215. Sp.——Aecridiid : a large Cyrtacanthacris 
greedily eaten. 
Obs. 216. Sp. 61.—Syrphid, Bristalis tenax : this 
drone-fly had been quieted by a short time in the 
cyanide-bottle, and was put on the ground so that M. 
could watch it crawling about. He looked at it with 
great suspicion, then took it in his hand, but threw it 
down exactly as if it had stung him and rubbed it 
on the ground. The drone-fly then flew away. 
(Note.—Exactly the same thing happened as on 
the previous occasion. (See Obs. 117.) Presumably 
