ORTHOPTERA. 



it is fastened lengthwise to the branch of some plant.* As the eggs ripen they are 

 protruded through the thick substance of the bag, and the larva, which are about half an 

 inch in length, burst from them. Roesel, wishing to observe the gradual progress of these 

 creatures, to the winged state, placed the bag containing the eggs in a large glass, which 

 he closed, to prevent their escape. From the time they were first hatched they exhibited 

 marks of a savage disposition. He put different sorts of plants into the glass, but they 

 refused them, preying on one another : this determined him to supply them with other 

 insects to eat : he put ants into the glass to them, but they then betrayed as much 

 cowardice as they had barbarity before; for the instant the Mantes saw the ants they 

 tried to escape in every direction. By this Roesel found the ants were the greatest 

 persecutors of the Mantes. He next gave them some of the common musca (house flies), 

 which they seized with eagerness in their fore claws, and tore in pieces : but, though 

 these creatures seemed very fond of the flies, they continued to destroy one another 

 through savage wantonness. Despairing at last, from their daily decrease, of rearing any 

 to the winged state, he separated them into small parcels in different glasses ; but here, 

 as before, the strongest of each community destroyed the rest. 



Another time, he received several pairs of Mantes in the winged state ; profiting by his 

 former observation, he put each pair [a male and female] into a separate glass, but they 

 still shewed signs of an eternal enmity towards one another, which neither sex nor age 

 could soften ; for the instant they were in sight of each other, they threw up their heads, 

 brandished their fore legs, and waited the attack : they did not remain long in this posture, 

 for the boldest throwing open its wings, with the velocity of lightning, rushed at the 

 other, and often tore it in pieces with the crockets and spines of the fore claws. Roesel 

 compares the attack of these creatures to that of two hussars ; for they dexterously guard 

 and cut with the edge of the fore claws, as those soldiers do with their sabres, and some- 

 times at a stroke one cleaves the other through, or severs its head from the thorax. After 

 this the conqueror devours his vanquished antagonist.'!" 



We learn from Roesel also, the manner in which this creature takes its prey, in which 

 respect we find it agrees with what is related of the extra European species. The 

 patience of this Mantis is remarkable, and the posture to which superstition has attributed 

 devotion, is no other than the means it uses to catch it. When it has fixed its eyes on an 



* To that of the vine by Mantis Oratoria. 



f The Chinese take advantage of these savage propensities, and keep these pugnaceous insects in little 

 bamboo cages, training them to fight for prizes, as cocks are fought in this country. This custom is so com- 

 mon, that, according to Mr. Barrow, (Travels in China) " during the summer months, scarcely a boy is to be 

 seen without his cage of these insects." (J. O. W.) 



