THE MANTIS 269 



(havours to extricate itself; the formation of the fore leg 

 t iial)ling the tibia to be so closed on the sharp edge of the 

 '1 V'^li as to amputate any slender substance brought within its 

 sp, and to make even an entomologist repent a too hasty 

 St i /lire of his prize. 



The Mantis, by the attitude it assumes when lurking for its 

 prey or advancing upon it — which is done by the support of the 

 r 111- posterior legs only, whilst the 

 Ik ul and prothorax are raised per- 

 |)( iidicularly from the body, and the 

 ( xtcrior legs are folded in front — 

 greatly resembles a person praying. 

 1 1 •lice, in France it is called Le Mantis 



pK'cheur, or Le Prie Dieu ; the 



Tink says it points to Mecca; and several African tribes 

 l>iy it religious observances. In reality, however, its ferocity 

 is ureat, and the stronger preying on the weaker of their own 

 sfM'cies, unmercifully cut them to pieces. Thus, two Mantes 

 which Sir E. Tennent enclosed in a box were both found 

 dead a few hours after, severed limb from limb in their 

 deadly fight. 



Within the space of a week. Professor Burmeister saw a 

 Mantis devour daily some dozens of flies, and occasionally large 

 grasshoppers and young frogs, consuming, now and then, lizards 

 three times its own length, as well as many large fat caterpillars. 

 Hence it maybe judged what ravages these strange-formed crea- 

 tures must cause among all weaker beings which incautiously 

 approach them, and that, far from being the saints, they are, 

 in reality, the tigers of the insect world. Among the organic 

 marvels of the innocent herbivorous Phylliums, their seed-like 

 eggs must be mentioned ; for the wonderful provision of Nature in 

 giving the parents a plant-like form extends even to their 

 progeny, in order to secure them from similar dangers. Though 

 generally tropical, yet Van Diemen's Land possesses a gigantic 

 walking-stick, or Phasma, the body of which is eight inches long ; 

 and the Mantis religiosa is found all over Southern Europe. 



The leaf-like form which renders the Phylliums one of the 

 wonders of entomology, appears likewise in other insects. 

 Thus, in the Diactor hilineatus, a native of Brazil, the 

 hind legs have singular leaf-like appendages to their tibial 



