MANTIDiE. 
229 
They are usually borne extended before the insect, 
and frequently raised upwards, and clasped as it 
were together. This attitude led the ignorant to the 
fantastical notion that these insects can divine or indi- 
cate future events, and in many places they are re- 
garded with a kind of religious veneration. The 
species \\ liich occurs most plentifully in the southern 
provinces of France (M. religiosa), is particularly 
famous for pointing out the road to children and others 
who happen to have lost their way. “ Puero interro- 
ganti,” says the credulous Rondelet, “ de via altero 
pede extento rectam monstrafr,<tfywe rare vel nunquam 
fallit ” Another species is held in such high venera- 
tion by the Hottentots that the individual upon wdiom 
it happens to alight, is supposed to have a peculiar 
degree of sanctity imparted to him, and to be a special 
favourite of heaven. These superstitious fancies 
have suggested to systematic authors such names 
as oratoria, religiosa, precaria, pater noster, &c. 
It is scarcely necessary to state, that these move- 
ments are the result of the peculiar instinct and 
mode of life of these insects ; for being fierce, cruel, 
gormandising creatures, so far from indulging, as has 
been fondly supposed, in a state of religious abstrac- 
tion, they are continually seeking what they may 
devour. With this view, they are perpetually moving 
their arms or fore-legs in the air, and closing one 
armed joint upon another, so that whatever insect 
prey comes w'ithiu reach, is immediately transfixed 
and consumed.* The following observations are 
* Encyclop. Brit. 7th Edit. Entom. p. 190. 
