146 
0 R T H 0 P T E R A. 
II. GRASPERS. {Orthoptera raptoria.) 
These, which consist of the 3Ia?ites, called praying mantes 
and soothsayers, from their singular attitudes and motions, 
and camel-crickets, from the great length of the neck, are 
chiefly tropical insects, though some of them are occasionally 
found in this country. Moreover, they are exclusively pre¬ 
daceous insects, seizing, with their singular fore legs, cater¬ 
pillars, and Other weaker insects, which they devour. They 
are, therefore, to be enumerated among the insects that are 
beneficial to mankind, by keeping in check those that subsist 
on vegetable food. 
III. "WALKERS. (Orthoptera amhulatoria.) 
To this division belong various insects, mostly found in 
warm climates, and displaying the most extraordinary forms. 
Some of them are furnished with wings, which, by their 
shape, and the branching veins with which they are covered, 
exactly represent leaves, either green, or dry and withered ; 
such are the walking-leaves, as they are called (^Phyllium 
'pulchrifolium^ siccifoliwm^ &c.). Others are wingless, of a 
long and cylindrical shape, resembling a stick with the bark 
on it, w’hile the slender legs, standing out on each side, give 
to these insects almost precisely the appearance of a little 
branching twig, whence is derived the name of walking-sticks, 
generally applied to them. The South American Bacteria 
arumatia^ ruhispinosa^ and pliyllina^ and two species of Dia- 
plieromera ? ^ described and figured in Say’s “ American 
Entomology,” under the names of Spectrum femoratum (Fig. 
67, male) and hivittatum^ are of the latter description. These 
insects are very sluggish and inactive, are found among trees 
% 
[1 Two species of Phasma are noticed. The first is Bncunculus f emoratus, Say, 
which has also received the name of Bacunculus Sayi^ Burm., and under which 
name it is best known to European authors. The latter was long ago figured by 
Stoll, in his great work upon the Orthoptera, and his name preoccupied that of 
Say and should be retained for it; it is Amisornorpha Buprestouhs. The former 
has been found in most of the States east of the Mississippi, while the latter is 
peculiar to Florida and some of the Southern States. — Uhler ] 
