$99 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Dry-leaf mantis. 



rax, by means of the moveable membranes that 

 connect it to the body; then, resting on the pos- 

 terior legs, it gradually raises the anterior part 

 also. If this bring it near enough to the insect, 

 it throws open the last joint of its fore-paws, and 

 snaps it between the spines that are set in rows 

 on the second joint. If it be unsuccessful it does 

 not retract its paws, but holds them stretched 

 out, and waits again till the insect is within its 

 reach, when it springs up and seizes it. Should 

 the insect go far from the spot, it flies or crawls 

 after it slowly on the ground like a cat; and, 

 when the insect stops, erects itself as before. 

 These animals have a small black pupil or sight, 

 which moves in all directions within the parts 

 that we usually term the eyes, so that they can 

 see their prey in any direction, without having 

 occasion to disturb it by turning their head. 



The dry-leaf mantis in its shape and colour is 

 so exceedingly remarkable as to have uniformly 

 suggested the idea of a dry or withered leaf; and 

 the animal, when its wings are closed, bears so 

 great a resemblance to such, that, on a cursory 

 view, it might easily be mistaken for it. It is of 

 a yellowish brown colour. The wings, when 

 closed, from the oval body of the leaf, and the 

 narrow thorax and head resemble the stalk. It 

 is a native of India. 



