CHAPTEP II. 



MANTIDJE. 



The very remarkable insects which now come before us form the 

 whole of the group called Raptoria, or Snatchers. This name is 

 a very appropriate one, as the insects are carnivorous in their 

 habits, and feed almost wholly upon other insects, which they 

 catch by means of the singular structure of their fore-legs. These 

 limbs are very long, and when stretched out at full length project 

 greatly in front. 



If the reader will refer to Plate V. he will understand the 

 structure of the fore-legs better than by a mere description. At 

 first sight these legs seem to have an additional joint. This, 

 however, is not the case, the coxa, which is in most insects very 

 short and comparatively insignificant, being so greatly developed 

 as nearly to equal the thigh in size, and so to give to the limb 

 its required length. The thigh is very strong, flattish, slight In- 

 curved on the under side, and boldly grooved, the groove having 

 a row of teeth or spikes on either side. Into this groove the 

 tibia can be shut just as the blade of a clasp-knife is shut into 

 its handle, and, as the tibia is flat and armed with spikes like 

 those of the thigh, it is evident that an insect which is seized in 

 so formidable a trap has but little chance of escape. 



Being slow of foot, the Mantis is not able to capture its prey 

 by speed, but does so by craft. Holding the two front legs 

 raised above its head in the attitude represented in Plate V. 

 Fig. 1, it steals slowly and gently towards its prey until it is 

 within reach of its stroke, when a sharp and rapid movement of 

 the raptorial legs eneloses the hapless insect in their gra-|>, 

 where it is held until eaten. As in most cases, the colour 



