THE PR A YING MANTIS. 205 



holding up the fore-legs slightly bent as if in the 

 attitude of prayer, and from this fancied re- 

 semblance the creature has gained the name of 

 " praying mantis." 



Deceit and cunning seem combined to a re- 

 markable degree in the nature of this creature, 

 as if to make up for the slowness of its move- 

 ments. It will remain stealthily on the watch 

 whilst flies are hovering within sight, apparently 

 taking no notice, but secretly biding its time until 

 a victim is within the range of its cruel enemy ; 

 then one swift stroke impales the fly upon the 

 spikes of the fore-leg, which holds it fast in the 

 pangs of death. 



As Mr. Duncan wittily says in his charming 

 book on " Transformation of Insects " : " Any un- 

 fortunate moths that may admire the mantis on 

 account of its attitude of supplication soon find 

 out that instead of saying 'Let us pray/ it says 'Let 

 us prey ! ' ' 



When my specimen began to revive I could but 

 gaze with wonder at the strange attitudes the 

 creature assumed. Its head seemed to be set on 

 a revolving pivot, for it could turn in all directions 



