SPIDER AND MANTIS. 189 



then trying to throw himself on to the back of 

 the mantis ; at last he succeeded in securing the 

 formidable front legs, and then the rest was easily 

 wound up. 



One morning I was standing on the verandah 

 just before starting on my rounds, when I ob- 

 served a shrike swooping down on something in 

 the sand ; but instead of capturing the " some- 

 thing," he flew hastily away : again he came, and 

 again retreated, so I looked more closely and 

 saw a huge green mantis almost standing up- 

 right, and really looking most warlike. The 

 bird evidently had not the courage to attack it, 

 and at last flew away, and then I stepped in with 

 the inevitable poison-bottle. 



There are very many beautiful species of mantis 

 here, both large and small, and of many colours, 

 some with the fore-wings exactly like a leaf. 

 Their nests are exceedingly pretty, some like 

 lumps of green or cream-coloured froth, others 

 as if made of goldbeaters' skin joined by a 

 beautifully made brown seam, and usually at- 

 tached to a stalk of grass. 



