CHAPTER VIII 



THE MANTIS: HER NEST 



T ET us show the insect of the tragic 

 ■*— ' amours under a more attractive aspect. 

 Its nest is a marvel. In scientific language 

 it is called ootheca, the egg-case. I shall not 

 overwork this outlandish term. We do not 

 say, " the Chaffinch's egg-case," when we 

 mean, "the Chaffinch's nest:" why should 

 I be obliged to talk about a case when I 

 speak of the Mantis? It may sound more 

 learned; but that is not my business. 



The nest of the Praying Mantis is found 

 more or less everywhere in sunny places, on 

 stones, wood, vine-stocks, twigs, dry grass 

 and even on products of human industry, 

 such as bits of brick, strips of coarse linen 

 or the hard, shrivelled leather of an old 

 boot. Any support serves, without distinc- 

 tion, so long as there is an uneven surface 

 to which the bottom of the nest can be fixed, 

 thus securing a solid foundation. 



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