INDIRECT BENEFITS DERIVED FROM INSECTS. 275 



of insects are guilty of the same offence. Reaumur tells 

 us, that having put into a glass vessel twenty caterpillars 

 of the same species which he was careful to supply with 

 their appropriate food, they nevertheless devoured each 

 other until one only survived 3 ; and De Geer relates se- 

 veral similar instances' 3 . The younger larvae of Calosoma 

 St/cqphanta often take advantage of the helpless inacti- 

 vity into which the gluttony of their maturer comrades has 

 thrown them, and from mere wantonness it should seem, 

 when in no need of other food, pierce and devour them. A 

 ferocity not less savage exists amongst the Mantes. These 

 insects have their fore legs of a construction not unlike 

 that of a sabre ; and they can as dexterously cleave their 

 antagonist in two, or cut off his head at a stroke, as the 

 most expert hussar. In this way they often treat each other, 

 even the sexes fighting with the most savage animosity. 

 Rosel endeavoured to rear several specimens of M. reli- 

 giosa, but always failed, the stronger constantly devour- 

 ing the weaker . This ferocious propensity the Chinese 

 children have, according to Mr. Barrow, employed as a 

 source of barbarous amusement, selling to their comrades 

 bamboo cages containing each a Mantis, which are put 

 too-ether to hVht. You will think it singular that both 

 in Europe and Africa these cruel insects have obtained 

 a character for gentleness of disposition, and even sanc- 

 tity. This has arisen from the upright or sitting posi- 

 tion, with the fore legs bent, assumed in watching for 

 their prey, which the vulgar have supposed to be a pray- 

 ing posture, and hence adopted the belief that a child or 

 traveller that had lost his road would be guided by tak- 

 * Reaumur, ii. 413. b De Geer, i. 533. iii. 361. v. 400. vi. 91. 



c Rosel, iv. 96. 



T 2 



