574 ORTIIOPTERA. 



consisting of but nine joints. The P. siccifolium Linn, is green 

 and about three inches long. It lives in the East Indies. 



MANTID^E Latreille. These raptorial Orthoptera are easily 

 recognized by their large size, the enormous spinous fore legs, 



Fig. 567. 



adapted for seizing other insects like the raptorial Hemiptera, 

 and which has given them the name of Soothsayers and 

 Prophets, from their devotional attitude when 

 watching for their prey. They are worshipped 

 by the Hottentots as tutelary divinities. The 

 head is horizontal, triangular in front, with 

 long filiform antennae ; the prothorax is very 

 long, and the broad wings are thin, net-veined, 

 with long parallel veins, more strongly resem- 

 bling the Neuroptera in this respect than any 

 other family. The abdomen is long, linear 

 oval. "The subgenital plate is formed by the 

 eighth sternite, the oviduct opening between 

 the seventh and eighth segments. The ninth 

 segment is complete. The elements of this 

 ring are but little developed, scarcely surpass- 

 ing the subgenital plate ; the two episternites 

 are distinct, and between them is the small 

 ninth sternite." The stylets are concealed by 

 the broad expanded sternum of the seventh 

 segment, while the antenna-like appendage (or 

 anal style, Fig. 23) is sometimes many jointed, 

 and is said by Lacaze-Duthiers to be appended 

 Fig. sr>8. to the eleventh segment of the abdomen. . The 

 mass of eggs laid by the female is attached to twigs, and 

 enclosed in a flattened subovate case (ootheca) of hardened 

 silk. The eggs are infested to some extent by chalcid para- 



