50 



CHAPTERS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 



well as the Turks contend that a Mantis is constantly engaged in 

 prayer with its face turned town ids Mecca. In some parts of 

 Europe, it is said that the children will ask a Mantis to show 

 them the way, and that it will, with one of its forelegs, indicate 



FIG. 4. THE PRAYING MANTIS. 



Drawn from Life by the Author. 



it to them with almost invariable exactness. They have the 

 greatest faith in its powers to do this. But there are curious 

 species of this family of insects found in many parts of the world, 

 so. there is no end to the legends and superstitions concerning 

 them. A form found in Nubia is held in high veneration by the 



