ZOOLOGY 



The Mantidae 1 are popularly called praying-mantis, on 

 account of the devotional attitude in which the greatly en- 

 larged front legs are held. Unlike other Orthoptera, they 



FIG. G. Phasmomantis Carolina. Praying-mantis of southern U. S. Nat. 

 size. Copied from Packard. 



are carnivorous. They hunt and devour other insects some- 

 times larger than themselves, and even prey upon each other. 

 While most of the species are tropical, one species, PJiasmo- 

 manfis Carolina (Fig. 0), is abundant 

 in our Southern States, and another 

 occurs in the Missouri valley. 



The Blattidae, 2 or cockroaches, are 

 especially* creatures of the tropics ; 

 and those which live in colder cli- 

 mates frequent warm as well as dark 

 places. The two which are our 

 household pests have been imported 

 from Europe, both the small brown 

 " Croton bug," which is found among 

 water-pipes in the kitchen, and the 

 large black species commonest in sugar-refineries, slaughter- 

 houses, and bakeshops. They are omnivorous, eating, 



FIG. 7. Wingless cock- 

 roach. Nat. size. Photo, 

 by W. H. C. P. 



, seer, prophet. 



2 llatta, roach of Pliny. 



