176 The Himting JVasps 



passes under the blade of grass whereon the 

 other sits perched. By the direction of her 

 head we can see that she is on her guard and 

 that she holds the enemy rooted, motionless, 

 under the menace of her eyes. Her courage 

 meets with the reward which it deserves : the 

 prey is stored away without further mishap. 



A word more on the Praying Mantis, or, 

 as they say in Provence, lou Prigo Dieou, the 

 Pray-to-God. Her long, pale-green wings, like 

 spreading veils, her head raised heavenwards, 

 her folded arms, crossed upon her breast, are 

 in fact a sort of travesty of a nun in ecstasy. 

 And yet she is a ferocious creature, loving 

 carnage. Though not her favourite spots, the 

 work-yards of the various Digger-wasps receive 

 her visits pretty frequently. Posted near the 

 burrows, on some bramble or other, she waits 

 for chance to bring within her reach some of 

 the arrivals, forming a double capture for her, 

 as she seizes both the huntress and her prey. 

 Her patience is long put to the test : the Wasp 

 suspects something and is on her guard ; still, 

 from time to time, a rash one gets caught. 

 With a sudden rustle of wings half-unfurled 

 as by the violent release of a clutch, the Mantis 

 terrifies the newcomer, who hesitates for a 

 moment, in her fright. Then, with the sharp- 

 ness of a spring, the toothed fore-arm folds 



