418 
THE LUCUBRATING MANTIS. 
1, 2 Nov. 
on shore to graze ; but quickly discovering us, they plunged beneath 
the surface, snorting and blowing the water up with their nostrils ; 
nor did they venture to breathe again till far beyond our reach. 
November 1st. I here became acquainted with a new species of 
Mantis, whose presence became afterwards sufficiently familiar to me, 
by its never failing, on calm warm evenings, to pay me a visit as I 
was writing my journal ; and sometimes to interrupt my lucubra- 
tions by putting out the lamp. All the Mantis tribe are very 
remarkable insects ; and this one, whose dusky sober coloring well 
suits the obscurity of night, is certainly so, by the late hours it 
keeps. It often settled on my book, or on the press where I was 
writing, and remained still, as if considering some affair of im- 
portance, with an appearance of intelligence which had a wonderful 
effect in withholding my hand from doing it harm. Although 
hundreds have flown within my power, I never took more than five. I 
have given to this curious little creature the name of Mantis lucubrans ; 
and, having no doubt that he will introduce himself to every 
traveller who comes into this country in the months of November 
and December, I beg to recommend him as a harmless little com- 
panion, and entreat that kindness and mercy may be shown to him. 
2nd. On the day of our arrival at this station, Willem Berends 
had made a proposal to hunt for me, on condition of receiving 
half the game for himself, and of being supplied with ammunition. 
As he was reputed an excellent marksman, I agreed to employ him, 
under a stipulation that Speelman should accompany him. They 
had now been absent more than two days, without our having heard 
any thing of them ; and I was beginning to feel some anxiety, when, 
very early this morning, a Hottentot arrived from them, desiring 
that the little waggon might be sent to fetch home a Hippopotamm 
which they had shot, at the distance of a day's journey up the 
Ky-gariepi in a northerly direction. 
The men instantly unloaded it, and yoked the oxen to. Intend- 
ing to go myself, I packed up the requisites for drawing, and the large 
tin collecting-box ; but took, of course, no more meat than would be 
enough for the day ; nor did I encumber myself with any other bed- 
