The Mantis: her Hatching 



ning demand a special pap, something more 

 in keeping with their frailty. Despite its 

 resolute air, I do not quite see the feeble 

 little creature hunting. The game, what- 

 ever it be, kicks out, when attacked, frisks 

 about, defends itself; and the assailant is 

 not yet in a condition to ward off even the 

 flap of a Midge's wing. Then what does 

 it feed on? I should not be surprised if 

 there were interesting facts to be picked up 

 in this baby-food question. 



These fastidious ones, so difficult to pro- 

 vide with nourishment, meet with even more 

 pitiful deaths than hunger. When only just 

 born, they fall a prey to the Ant, the Lizard 

 and other ravagers who lie in wait, patiently, 

 for the exquisite provender to hatch. The 

 egg itself is not respected. An infinitesimal 

 perforator inserts her own eggs in the nest 

 through the barrier of solidified foam, thus 

 settling her offspring, which, maturing ear- 

 lier, nips the Mantis' family in the bud. How 

 many are called and how few are chosen ! 

 There were a thousand of them perhaps, 

 sprung from one mother who was capable 

 of giving birth to three broods. One couple 

 alone escapes extermination, one alone keeps 

 up the breed, seeing that the number re- 



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