THE MANTIS. 48 



startling fidelity the forms, colors, and even the accidental variations of leaves an 

 flowers, thus exhibiting another phase of that wonderful adaptive power which give 

 to many flowers, such as the orchids, a striking resemblance to bees, butterflies, an 

 other insects. In this instance, the resemblance to leaves is not only due to the peculia 

 outline and the leaf-like nervures, but to the presence of certain spots which loo 

 exactly like the tracks of leaf-mining or leaf-devouring caterpillars. These creature 

 belong to the same family as the locusts, and their habitation is Brazil. 



IN the upper left-hand corner of the illustration on page 483 may be seen a strang* 

 looking insect, with an attenuated body and long slender limbs. This is a WALKINC 

 STICK INSECT, one of a most remarkable family of Orthoptera, none of which arefoun 

 excepting in the hottest parts of the earth. This insect belongs to the family of Pha: 

 mida3, an appropriate title, derived from a Greek word signifying a spectre, many of thes 

 creatures being as it were the mere unsubstantial visions or shadowy outlines of insect; 



The chief point of interest in these creatures is their marvellous external resemblanc 

 to certain portions of the vegetable kingdom, some assuming the forms of a broke 

 branch and twigs with such extraordinary fidelity that the most practised eye is ofte 

 deceived, and others taking not only the flat outline and half curl of fallen leaves, bu 

 even reproducing their peculiar nervures and soft vegetable green with such marvellou 

 exactness, that those who see them for the first time can hardly be made to believ 

 that they are not the objects which they so faithfully represent. As if to add to th 

 singularity of these creatures and 16 keep up the illusion, the eggs of several specie 

 are ribbed and colored precisely like the seeds of certain plants. 



IN the illustration on page 486 is represented a LEAF INSECT, one of the singuk 

 species which have such a wonderful resemblance to fallen leaves. The peculiar lea 

 like elytra may be seen on reference to the engraving, as also the singular manner i 

 which the limbs are furnished with wide flattened appendages, in order to carry 01 

 the leafy aspect. Only the females possess the wide, veined wing-covers, those of th 

 male being comparatively short. The wings, however, are entirely absent in the femali 

 while in the opposite sex they are very wide and reach to the extremity of the bod; 

 One of these insects has been brought to England, and lived for a considerable tim 

 in a greenhouse. 



THE Mantidae, or Praying Insects, also belong to the Orthoptera. These creature 

 derive their name from their habit of sitting with their long and flattened fore-legs hel 

 up and joined as if in the attitude of prayer. So remarkable an insect could not fail t 

 be the subject of many wild fables, some of which may take rank as popular superstition: 

 For example, it was long thought that if any one lost his way in a forest and met with 

 MANTIS, he had only to ask the insect to direct him on his road, when the obligin 

 creature would stretch out one of its arms and point out the proper direction. Accordin 

 to old legends, one of these insects, being met by St. Francis Xavier and commande 

 to chant a prayer as well as to act it, responded to the request of the saint by singin 

 a canticle we presume in the Latin language. 



Unfortunately for the character of the Mantis, the real reason for holding up its fe 

 is, to be in readiness for seizing its prey or to defend itself from an enemy, the creatur 

 being voracious as a wolf and combative as a gamecock. It feeds chiefly upon othe 

 insects, stealing upon them quietly and catching them in its claws by a rapid move 

 ment, just as the loris takes its winged prey ; and should it meet with another of th 

 same sex and species, the two begin to fight with dauntless courage, cutting at eac 

 other with their fore-legs with the skill of practised swordsmen, and making their stroke 

 so truly and with such force, that they have been known to sever the body of thei 

 antagonist with a single blow. The winner, that is to say the survivor, generally cor 

 summates his victory by devouring the body of his slaughtered foe. 



The Chinese are fond of keeping these insects in cages and matching them agains 

 each other like gamecocks or bulldogs. These creatures are said by some authors to b 

 cowardly, because, if ants are put into their cages, they endeavor to escape In a 

 directions. True as the fact may be, the inference is quite unwarrantable, the Manti 



