The Praying-Mantis. 129 



Among these we may mention a Tarantula, just 

 received of which it may be remarked parenthe- 

 tically that it is not an insect, notwithstanding the 

 popular belief that all " spiders " are insects and 

 two specimens of the Praying-mantis (Empusa 

 pauperata), a native of the South of Europe, also 

 received within a week or so, of which latter alone 

 we propose to treat in this article. 



The Mantidse belong to the order Orthoptera, 

 one of the " oldest families," be it observed, in the 

 insect world, tracing their descent back to the 

 Upper Devonian period, and are somewhat nearly 

 related to the stick and leaf insects (Phasmidse), 

 and, like them, afford a marvellous illustration of 

 protective mimicry in nature, their resemblance to 

 the leaves and twigs being so great that it is 

 almost impossible to notice them when they are at 

 rest upon the plants which they frequent. They 

 are most extraordinary-looking creatures, but can 

 be easily distinguished from their relations, the 

 Phasmidae, by the peculiar structure of their fore- 

 legs, which are long and thick, and marvellously 

 adapted for seizing flies and other insects on which 

 they feed. The femora are thick, grooved on the 

 underside, and furnished with a double row of 

 spines, while the tibiae, which are by comparison 

 slender, are also armed with spines on the under- 

 side, and are so constructed as to close upon the 

 femora " as the blade of a pocket-knife does upon 

 its handle. The efficiency of this implement is 

 shown not only in seizing small insects, which 



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