COCKROACHES, ETC. 139 



insect presented a resemblance to a fallen orchid, the 

 lines on the dorsal surface of the abdomen looking 

 " like the ' honey-guides ' of many orchids. The darker 

 transverse bars seen in the shadow cast by the head 

 and thorax gave an idea of hollowness, such as might 

 be expected round the nectaries ; while the abdomen 

 itself resembled the labellum, and the limbs the other 

 petals of the orchid." Before the Mantis left the in- 

 florescence on which it was resting, the abdomen, which, 

 as stated, is carried curled up, was seen to droop slowly, 

 until gradually it came to lie in the same line as the 

 thorax, and then the insect made a sudden leap to the 

 ground. It is suggested that this gradual drooping of 

 the abdomen, bringing into view the brown streaks and 

 bars of the dorsal surface, may represent the fading of 

 a petal of the Melastoma flower, for the fading of flowers 

 in the tropics is a rapid process. The observations of 

 Dr. Annandale show that every detail in the scheme 

 of coloration of this species the texture, the structure, 

 the habits assist in adding to the sum-total of the 

 floral simulation ; the black spot on the apex of the 

 abdomen, and the green bar on the prothorax, which 

 render the insect conspicuous when seen in unnatural 

 surroundings, are deeply significant when it is seen in 

 the surroundings which the insect is careful to select 

 the pink Melastoma flowers. The adult Mantis is 

 cream coloured with a brownish suffusion at the base of 

 the wing-covers, and is then far less like a flower than 

 in its younger and more helpless stages ; but even then 

 it is sufficiently flower-like to gain protection and 

 delude its prey when in its natural haunts. Neither the 

 nymphs nor the adults adopt any sort of warning atti- 

 tude when irritated, nor do they extend the fore-limbs 



