THE DEVIL'S RIDING-HORSE (MANTIDM). 23 



partaken of food, nevertheless they already exhibit the 

 suppleness of the adults, and the same poses, turning 

 their head backwards, and holding the anterior legs folded 

 up upon themselves, as in the actual preparatory attitude 

 of attack. In spite of this bearing, they are singularly 

 timid, and dart under stones at the approach of an 

 insect. Their anterior legs still serve merely for climb- 

 ing ; they constantly, in fact, creep to the extremities of 

 twigs, where they appear to repair in search of prey. 

 During their early days their pains seem all for nought, 

 for the sight of plant-lice, for which they are on the look- 

 out, causes them the greatest perturbation, and it is only 

 with extreme circumspection, and by taking as many 

 precautionary measures as prudence can dictate, that the 

 larvae dare to draw near, and, little by little, acquire the 

 trick of seizing them. The young mantidae now commence 

 to have the capability of partaking of a fairly varied 

 insect diet. At the end of twelve or fifteen days they 

 experience a second moult a fatal crisis for many, for 

 those which cannot manage to cast off the now too small 

 envelope, die in the endeavour. By this time the mantis 

 has advanced in its killing powers, to be able to master 

 insects as large, for instance, as the Ephemerae. About 

 a fortnight or three weeks later, it must again strip off 

 its skin. In all, there are at least seven moults, but it is 

 impossible so speak on this point with absolute certainty, 

 owing to the difficulty of rearing these larvae in captivity. 



