27^ THE LOCUST TRIBE. 



we usually term the eyes, so that they can see their 

 prey in any direction, without having occasion to 

 disturb it by turning their head. 



The males die in October, and the females do not 

 Ions: survive them *. 



THE DRY-LEAF MANTIS f. 



This insect in its shape and colour is so exceed- 

 ingly remarkable as to have uniformly suggested 

 the idea of a dry or withered leaf; and the animal, 

 when its wings are closed, bears so great a resem- 

 blance to such that, on a cursory view, it might 

 easily be mistaken for it. 



The specimens that are brought to Europe are 

 generally of a yellowish brown colour. The wings^ 

 when closed, form the oval body of the leaf, and the 

 narrow thorax and head resemble the stalk. It is a 

 native of India J* 



THE LOCUST TRIBE. 



THE insects of this tribe feed chiefly on vege- 

 table substances. The larva and chrysalids very 

 much resemble the present insects -, they have six 



* Donovan's Chinese Insects. — Roesel Insccten Belustigur.go 

 + Mantis siccifolia. Linn. 

 \ Shaw's Nat. Mis. iv. t. 119. 



