4o8 Mantis, or soothsayer; 



Genus II. — Mantis^ or Soothfayer. 



jL he infe£ts of this genus poflefs a form the moft ro» 

 mantic and extraordinary that is perhaps prefented by 

 any animated being ; and fo powerfully have their fingii- 

 lar attitudes operated on the minds of the credulous and 

 ignorant, that fuperftition has invefted them with certain 

 powers that are altogether unexemplified by any part of 

 the hiftory of animated nature. By the Cngular manner ia 

 which the foothfayer 11 retches out its fore legs, it has ac- 

 quired the reputation of a diviner, who could unfold all the 

 fecrets in the bofom of futurity ; and becaufe the infe6t 

 often fits upon its four hind legs, having the two fore 

 ones raifed up and folded together, the believing multi- 

 tude have fuppofed it to be then holding intcrcourfe with 

 the Supreme Power, in the exercife of devotiuu * j a cir- 

 cumftance from which it has obtained from the peafants 

 oi Languedoc the name of Pregadiou, or the God- prayer. 

 It is in that province, where thefe animals abound, that 

 the country people have alfo afcribed to the foothfayer 

 another very commendable quality ; that of obligingly 

 Ihewing the way to flrangers : This it is fuppofed to do^- 

 by that peculiar habit which it has of ilrefching its fore 

 legs fometimes to the right, and fometimes to its left fide, 

 Thefe fuperftitioris of tlie vulgar have been as favourable 

 to the fecurity of thefe animals, as thc-y are difgraceful to' 

 human reaion j for thej have procured them a characler 



almod 



• Vide Goedart. 



