10 



TRUE TALES OF THE INSECTS. 



the base of the armature there is one or several long 

 spines in the centre of the thigh. Into the groove, in 



repose, the tibia fits, it being 

 shorter than the femur, horny, 

 and compressed, and termin- 

 ated by a long, sharp, curved 

 claw. Its under side is equally 

 occupied by a double row of 

 fixed spines or teeth. This 

 stout piece, bending back on 

 the femur, forms with the 

 latter a veritable hand, as well 

 as a powerful vice ; for the 

 two rows of spines of the tibia 

 and those of the femur oppose 

 each other, and work into each 

 other, the former chiefly with those on the inner border of 

 the thigh ; the spines on the external border of the thigh 

 perform the duty rather of a kind of boundary, to prevent 

 the tibia swerving outwards. It is clear, that in the act 

 of grasping it is the inner border that is best armed by 

 far, as it needs be, since, naturally, it is on this side that 

 the insect devours its prey. The slender tarsus does 

 not call for special remark ; it is united with the tibia at 

 the base of the claw, and can be completely effaced by 

 applying itself in a wonderful manner against the inferior 

 side of the femur. 



B 



FIG. 3.^. Foreleg of Mantis re- 

 ligiosa ; B. Leg of a Beetle (Lu- 

 canus cervus}. 



