MANTIS, 0?„ SOOTHSAYER. 
til mod facred ; and t'ne injuring them, is reckoned a crime 
of no frnall enormity f. 
Tiie infefts of this genus are diftinguiflied by an un- 
fteady nodding motion of the head, Which gives it the 
appearance of being fiightly attached to the thorax. The 
mouth is fur 11 "; died with jaws and palpi ; and the antennee 
are fetaceous. The four wings are membranous, and 
Wrapped clofe round the body. The anterior pair of 
feet are compreffed laterally, and ferrated On one fide, 
their extremities terminating in a Angle nail. The four 
back feet are i'mooth and greffory, being formed rather 
for advancing flowly than for performing quick moire- 
ments. The thorax is throughout of an equal fixe, nar- 
row, and in fame fpecies extending to a diiproportionate 
length %. 
The mod remarkable of tbefe animals is the manti.4 
gongylodes of China. The thorax is uncommonly long 
and narrow ; the head frnall and flat, with two fliort fili- 
form antennas ; behind thefe, two large polifhed eyes are 
placed; the roll rum has the lhape of an awl, but often 
fplit towards the extremity into two points. The elytra, 
which cover two thirds of the body of the lisfecL, are re- 
ticulated, and croffed the one over the other , the wings 
which they cover are veined and diaphanous. I he foul 
hind legs have the appearance of being winged, on ac- 
count of thofe large membranous lobes which emerge 
from their joints. The anterior pair are armed with 
fpines at their full articulation, and towards their extre- 
mities they arc ferrated on one fide ^}. 
Vol. III. 3 F 
t Rcumur, tom. IV. t Syftema Nat. Ord. IT. , _ 
^ Vide Barbut’s Gen. Ifife&i Ord. II. Geo. 3. 
