564 Insects. 



THE LEAF MANTIS. (Empusa gongyhdes.) 

 THIS insect is remarkably shaped. The head is joined 

 to the body by a neck, longer than the rest of the body. 

 It has two polished eyes, and two short feelers. This 

 neck consists of the first segment of the waist or thorax. 

 The wing-cases, which cover two-thirds of the body, are 

 veined and reticulated, or netted. The wings are veined 

 and transparent. The hinder legs are very long, the 

 next shorter ; and the foremost pair of thighs are termi- 

 nated with spines: the others have membranous lobes, 

 which serve them as wings in their flight. The top of 

 the head is membranous, shaped like an awl, and di- 

 vided at its extremity. This animal is one of the innu- 

 merable instances which Nature affords of the infinite 

 wisdom of the Creator ; for, whenever an animal is found 

 to deviate in shape from the general system, it is still 

 formed to answer the design of its existence. Thus this 

 insect, having such long legs, could never have sustained 

 itself in the air had not Providence bestowed on the legs 

 themselves a species of wings to balance their weight. 

 These are instances with which Nature teems ; and which 

 would make the atheist tremble did he but contem- 

 plate the admirable design and system with which they 

 are characterised as 



" Parts of one stupendous whole ; 

 Whose body Nature is, and God the soul." 



These insects are partly of a pale yellowish green, 

 and partly brown ; so that they look like dead leaves, 



