* 
114 Transactions.—Zoology. 
Art. IIL.— Notes on a Native Species of Mantis. By T. H. Ports. With 
a descriptive Note by Professor Hurrow. 
[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, Tth January, 1883.] 
Tus insect has been observed in several localities during the last three 
years. It appears to be widely distributed in this island. We first heard 
of it as having been taken in a garden at Riccarton, a short distance from 
Christchurch. Soon afterwards, through the kindness of Mr. Nalder, speci- 
mens were obtained at Akaroa. It has been found at Amberley, forty miles 
north of Christchurch. Walter Potts, in the month of April last, discovered 
it on some flowers in a garden so far south as Clyde, which lies inland in 
the Otago Lake District, and plentifully in and about Cromwell. 
The young emerge in the spring months in numbers; from a single egg- 
case perhaps as many as twenty or more may appear. We have known 
them make their way out early in September, at intervals throughout that 
month and part of the next till the 24th October. At first they are of a 
pale pea-green or pale green on the limbs and under-parts, above brown or 
purplish-black, with the eyes very prominent, and a bluish spot on the an- 
terior limbs. The bright green larve sometimes appear crowded together 
when forcing their way through the lids of the egg-cases. At this time 
they measure some 5 or 6 lines in length. As soon as they have quitted 
their prison-homes they exhibit great activity in their movements, swiftly 
coursing hither and thither; perhaps at no other period of their existence do 
they display so much restlessness. 
The body is usually so carried that the lower part of the abdomen just 
clears the ground ; only the two lower pairs of limbs are generally required 
for locomotion, the anterior pair are kept folded. It may be noticed that the 
posterior pair of limbs are most robust, and longer than the middle pair. 
The insect in its larval state not only runs with great swiftness, but it can 
leap several inches at a bound, a feat that is rarely performed. In running 
the body is kept nearly upright. At the same time that we note the energy 
of its movements, it must not be omitted that there are seasons in which it 
displays an almost inexhaustible power of “ masterly inactivity.” These 
times of quiet, when it remains so long motionless, or nearly so, may be a 
part of its tactics for securing the presence of victims within reach of its 
fatal arms. The most difficult feat it is seen to perform is the recovery of 
its proper position when lying on its back on a plane surface, often for a 
long time it kicks and struggles in a very helpless manner. The feet are 
adapted for travelling over a polished surface, such as glass presents ; the 
figure can be easily depressed so as to appear nearly flat. The anterior 
limbs, only occasionally used as legs, are kept carefully cleaned, particular 
attention is paid to the blade-like teeth with which these limbs are armed, 
