30 FABRE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



Mantis. The latter gives a convulsive shiver, and suddenly, 

 in the most surprising way, strikes an attitude that fills the 

 Locust with terror, and is quite enough to startle any one. 

 You see before you unexpectedly a sort of bogy- man or Jack- 

 in-the-box. The wing-covers open ; the wings spread to 

 their full extent and stand erect like sails, towering over the 

 insect's back ; the tip of the body curls up like a crook, rising 

 and falling with short jerks, and making a sound like the 

 puffing of a startled Adder. Planted defiantly on its four 

 hind-legs, the Mantis holds the front part of its body almost 

 upright. The murderous legs open wide, and show a pattern 

 of black-and-white spots beneath them. 



In this strange attitude the Mantis stands motionless, with 

 eyes fixed on her prey. If the Locust moves, the Mantis 

 turns her head. The object of this performance is plain. It 

 is intended to strike terror into the heart of the victim, to 

 paralyse it with fright before attacking it. The Mantis is 

 pretending to be a ghost ! 



The plan is quite successful. The Locust sees a spectre 

 before him, and gazes at it without moving. He to whom 

 leaping is so easy makes no attempt at escape. He stays 

 stupidly where he is, or even draws nearer with a leisurely 

 step. 



As soon as he is within reach of the Mantis she strikes 

 with her claws ; her double saws close and clutch ; the poor 

 wretch protests in vain ; the cruel ogress begins her meal. 



The pretty Crab Spider stabs her victim in the neck, in 

 order to poison it and make it helpless. In the same way 

 the Mantis attacks the Locust first at the back of the neck, 

 to destroy its power of movement. This enables her to kill 

 and eat an insect as big as herself, or even bigger. It is 

 amazing that the greedy creature can contain so much 

 food. 



The various Digger-wasps receive visits from her pretty 

 frequently. Posted near the burrows on a bramble, she 

 waits for chance to bring near her a double prize, the Hunt- 



