WINGS AND STINGS. 341 



and appearance of the creature is so comical that you 

 almost condone its ugliness. 



Mantis is a cannibal. If two of them are shut 

 up together, they will fight until the weaker is 

 killed and eaten. Even in the immature stage they 

 will destroy each other. When kept a short time 

 without food, one of these insects will devour its own 

 legs. If irritated or threatened, the head is thrown 

 back so as to bring the sword-like front legs into 

 action, the wings and wing covers are spread out to 

 shield the abdomen, and a rustling sound is heard 

 as when a turkey-cock trails his wings upon the 

 ground. 



Fig. 116. MANTIS IN FIGHTING ATTITUDE. 



In its fighting attitude it is rendered still more 

 vicious-looking by a couple of dark spots resembling 

 snake's eyes which appear on the thorax. This refers 

 to the common Kiviera species. 



With all its ferocity, the Mantis is said to be 

 abjectly afraid of so small a creature as an ant ! 



The range of Mantis extends as far north as 

 Vienna, Geneva, and Le Havre. 



The papery egg-clusters (Fig. 117) are common 

 and easy to find. They are attached by the pointed 

 end to a stone. Each one contains many rows of eggs. 



