ORTHOPTERA: MANTID^E. 



445 



MANTID.E, Latr., OR MANTIS FAMILY. This Family 

 embraces orthoptera which are much elongated, and 

 whose fore legs are formed for seizing and holding prey. 

 They are found upon plants and trees, where they sit for 

 hours with the front part of the thorax elevated, and the 



Fig. 342. 



Fig. 343- 



American Mantis, M. Carolina of authors. 



fore legs held up together like a pair of arms, prepared to 



seize any insect which may come within reach. Some of 



the superstitious inhabitants of Eastern countries believe 



that the Mantis in this attitude is engaged in devotion. 



The Genus Mantis contains our only species, Fig. 342. 



GRYLLIDES, Latr., OR CRICKET FAMILY. This Family 



comprises orthoptera Fig. 344 



which have an oblong 



depressed body, long 



antennae, long anal 



stylets, and the female 



often has an ovipositor 



nearly as long as her 



body. The male chir- 

 rups to attract his 



mate, the apparatus 

 being a specialization of the membrane 

 and nervures at the base of the wings, 

 so that the rubbing of the wings upon 

 one another produces sound. 



The Genus Gryllotalpa contains the 

 Mole Cricket, G. borealis, Burmeister, 

 which is about one inch and a quarter 



White Climbing-Cricket, 

 CE. nivceus, Serville. 



