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Insects. 
THE LEAF MANTIS. (Emjpusa gongyhdes.) 
This insect is remarkably shaped. The head is joined 
to the body by a neck, longer than the rest of the body. 
It has two polished eyes, and two short feelers. This 
neck consists of the first segment of the waist or thorax. 
The wing-cases, which cover two-thirds of the body, are 
veined and reticulated, or netted. The wings are veined 
and transparent. The hinder legs are very long, the 
next shorter ; and the foremost pair of thighs are termi- 
nated with spines : the others have membranous lobes, 
which serve them as wings in their flight. The top of 
the head is membranous, shaped like an awl, and di- 
vided at its extremity. This animal is one of the innu- 
merable instances which Nature affords of the infinite 
wisdom of the Creator ; for, whenever an animal is found 
to deviate in shape from the general system, it is still 
formed to answer the design of its existence. Thus this 
insect, having such long legs, could never have sustained 
itself in the air had not Providence bestowed on the legs 
themselves a species of wings to balance their weight. 
These are instances with which Nature teems ; and which 
would make the atheist tremble did he but contem- 
plate the admirable design and system with which they 
are characterised as 
" Parts of one stupendous whole ; 
Whose body Nature is, and God the soul." 
These insects are partly of a pale yellowish green, 
and partly brown ; so that they look like dead leaves, 
