CH. X.] HISTORY OF THE MANTES, ETC. 155 



cleans its claw, feelers, and head, with the greatest 

 apparent care, and then sets forth in quest of fresh 

 booty. Roesel says that a male mantis will eat four, 

 and a female six flies, daily. 



The Hottentots consider the species which is 

 found in South Africa an insect of good omen; 

 especially if one should, by chance, alight upon 

 them. 



The insect which is here represented belongs to 

 a tribe very analogous to the last, but whose habits 

 and manners are totally different, so much so that 



our readers may not consider them unworthy of no- 

 tice. On looking at the figure very attentively, one 

 is struck by the great similarity it bears to a leaf. 

 This opinion is also entertained by the Indians, who 

 believe that these insects grow on the trees like 

 leaves; and that, when they have arrived at ma- 

 turity, thev loosen themselves and fly away. It has 



