The Mantis: her Hatching 



The swelling of its head soon diminishes and 

 disappears. Its colour is not long in darken- 

 ing and turns light-brown within twenty-four 

 hours. The little Mantis very nimbly lifts 

 up her grappling-legs, opens and closes them; 

 she turns her head to right and left; she curls 

 her abdomen. The fully-developed larva 

 has no greater litheness and agility. For a 

 few minutes the family stops where it is, 

 swarming over the nest; then it scatters at 

 random on the ground and the plants hard 

 by. ; 



I instal a few dozen emigrants under bell- 

 covers. On what shall I feed these future 

 huntresses ? On game, obviously. But what 

 game? To these miniature creatures I can 

 only offer atoms. I serve them up a rose- 

 branch covered with Green Fly. The plump 

 Aphis, a tender morsel suited to my feeble 

 guests, is utterly scorned. Not one of the 

 captives touches it. 



I try them with Midges, the smallest that 

 chance flings into my net as it sweeps the 

 grass, and meet with the same obstinate re- 

 fusal. I offer them pieces of Fly, hung here 

 and there on the gauze of the cover. None 

 accepts my quarters of venison. Perhaps 

 the Locust will tempt them, the Locust on 

 J79 



