4o§ 
MANTIS, OR 300THSATEKJ 
Genus II. — 'Mantis, or Soothfayer, 
T he infe&s of this genus poffefs a form the moll ro- 
Jnantic and extraordinary that is perhaps p'refented by 
any animated being ; and fo powerfully have their fingu- 
lar attitudes operated on the minds of the credulous and 
ignorant, that fuperftition has invefted them with certain 
powers that are altogether unexempliiled by any part of 
fhe hi (lory of animated nature. By the lingular manner in 
which the foothfayer ftretches out its fore legs, it has ac- 
quired the reputation of a diviner, who could unfold ail the 
fecrets in the bofom of futurity ; and becaufe the in feci 
often fits upon its four hind legs, having the two fore 
ones raifed up and folded together, the believing multi- 
tude have fuppofed it to be then holding intercourfe with 
the Supreme Power, in the exercife of devotion * ; a cir- 
cumftance from which it has obtained from the peafants 
of Languedoc the name of Pregadiote, or the God-prayer. 
It is in that province, where thefe animals abound, that 
the country people have alfo aferibed to the foothfayer 
another very commendable quality ; that of obligingly 
fhewing the way to Grangers : This it is fuppofed to do, 
by that peculiar habit which it has of ftrefehing its fore 
legs fometimes to the right, and fometimes to its left fide. 
Thefe fuperftitions of the vulgar have been as favourable 
to the fecurity of thefe animals, as they are difgraceful to 
human realon ; for they have procured them a chara&er 
almoft 
* Vide Goedart. 
