THE DEVIL'S RIDING-HORSE (MANTID^E). 13 



prothorax, enjoys great mobility, and may be turned in 

 every way, even so as to bring the mouth obliquely 

 upwards. Its customary position is vertical, or bent up 

 against the prothorax, the mouth applied against the 

 neck. It is triangular sometimes rounded or long 

 especially with the great bulged eyes, which in general 



occupy the su- 

 to enable the 

 in many direc- 

 size of the 

 no less than 

 denotes a well- 

 sense; and 

 ocelli, are 

 The body, 

 times su f fi- 

 set, is usually 

 row. 



FIG. 5. Head and prothorax 

 of Mantis religiosa, with 

 insertion of anterior legs. 



perior angles, 

 insects to see 

 tions. The 

 visual organs, 

 their position, 

 developed 

 simple eyes, or 

 never wanting, 

 though some- 

 ciently thick- 

 long and nar- 

 A s one 

 among hunt- 



would expect 

 ing insects, the organs of flight are often amply de- 

 veloped, and powerful enough to cover considerable 

 distances. The upper pair, or elytra as they are called, 

 are as long as the abdomen, or sometimes extend in both 

 sexes beyond the extremity of that piece, over which 

 they are carried horizontally when closed, one greatly 

 overlapping the other. Compared with the hinder pair, 

 they are at least as long as they, with a few exceptions, 



