303 
iVI A N 
tremity three times its breadth. The fore legs are of a 
brownilh yellow, with dark fpots on them ; the thighs 
end in a thick (pine; the (bins, on the outer-fide, being 
furnifhed with two rows of fpines, and a deep groove be¬ 
tween them, which feems formed for receiving the fir ft 
articulation of the bearer, when clofed up, like as the 
blade of the razor is received in the haft: this articula¬ 
tion is furnillred at the extremity with a itrong fpine, 
bending inwards; from whence ifl'ue five other (fhort) ar¬ 
ticulations, befides the claws. - The middle and hinder 
legs are furnifhed, at each of the bearer-joints, with two 
fpines, and at tire thigh-joints with one; having four 
fmall flaps or membranes almoft joining to them. Drury, 
from whom the above defeription is chiefly taken, received 
it from Jamaica. Length, from the head to the anus, 2% 
inches. 
21). Mantis ocellaria. This fpecies we copy exactly 
from Drury, and believe it has not been before received 
into the fyftem. “The antennas are thread-like, and the 
length of the thorax. The infeft, when living, I judge 
was green, but is now' of a yellowifli brown, the eyes, 
head, and thorax, being of that colour. One third of the 
v.ir.g cafes, next the tips, is tranfparent, the remainder be¬ 
ing green ; in the centre is a yellow fpot refernbling an 
e}e, encircled with black, whofe centre is dark green, 
with a black margin at top; the wings are tranfparent. 
Tire fore legs are yellow brown. The thins are thick and 
ftrong, with two rows of fpines running down them, one 
on the inner fide, the other on the outfide, with a groove 
between to receive the firft articulation of the bearers, 
which is furnifhed with a (irong fpine bending inwardly. 
The middle and hinder legs have a fmall flap placed at each 
of the (hin-joints, and two fmall fpines at each of the 
bearer-joints. It expands two inches and a half. I re¬ 
ceived it from the African coaft. I have not feen it any 
where deferibed.” See fig. 5. 
30. Mantis oculata: thorax triangular, filiform ; eyes 
oblong, projefting, fpinous. The head is oF a pale co¬ 
lour ^the eyes are large, pointed, and conic ; the thorax 
fmooth, teflaceous, the angles more dufky ; wing-cafes 
fhorter than the wings, white, diaphanous, ftriate, and ob- 
tufe; legs long, dufky, and unarmed. 
31. Mantis fuperftitiofa: thorax linear, triangular, 
/lightly ferrate on the fore-part; wing-cafes greenifii ; the 
rib of the wings tranfverfely ftriate. It is a large in- 
feft; and is found in Africa. The thorax is rough on 
the fore-part, fmooth behind ; the wings are whitifti, hav¬ 
ing a lib with tranfverfe raifed brown lines. 
32. Mantis undata: thorax carinate, grey ; wings white, 
with black waves. The antennae are filiform and pale; 
the thorax is filiform, triangular, and rough ; wings Ihorter 
than the abdomen ; thighs lobate at the tip, fhanksat the 
bafe ; the abdomen is long and filiform. It inhabits 
Tranquebar. 
•53. Mantis irrorata: thorax fmooth, fubcarinate; wing- 
caies green, with fcattered ferruginous dots ; the wing- 
cafes are fhorter than the wings. It is found in America. 
34. Mantis ilriata : thorax carinate, and (lightly ferrate 
at J the Tides; wing-cafes obfeure, hyaline, ltriate with 
brown, and (hotter than the wings. The head is grey ; 
the body brown. 
35, Mantis oratoria, the camel-cricket: thorax fmooth; 
wing-cafes green, without fpots. This is the chief of the 
European fpecies; it is however a Itranger to the Britifh 
ifles, but is found in molt of the warmer parts of Europe. 
It is nearly three inches in length, of a (lender fhape, and 
in its general fitting polture isobferved to hold up the two 
fore-legs, (lightly bent, as if in an attitude of prayer : for 
this reafon the fuperltition of the vulgar has conferred 
upon it the reputation of a facred animal, and a popular 
notion has often prevailed, that a child or traveller, hav¬ 
ing loft his way, would be lafely dire&ed by obferving 
the quarter to which the animal pointed when taken into 
the hand. In its real difpofition it is very far from fane- 
T I S. 
tity ; preying with great rapacity on any of the fmaller 
infefts which fall in its way, and for which it lies in wait 
with anxious afliduity in the polture at firfl mentioned, 
feizing them with fudden fpring when within its raach, 
and devouring them. It is alfo of a very pugnacious na¬ 
ture ; and, when kept with others of its own fpecies in a 
ftate of captivity, will attack its neighbour with the ut- 
molt violence, till one or the other is deftroyed in the 
conteft. Rcefel, who kept feme of thefe infects, obferves 
that in their mutual conflicts their manoeuvres very much 
refemble thofe of huflars fighting with fibres ; and fome- 
times one cleaves the other through at a tingle ftroke, or 
fevers the head from its body. During thefe engagements 
the wings are generally expanded, and when the battle 
is over the conqueror devours his antagonift. Among 
the Chinefe this quarrelfome property in the- genus Man¬ 
tis is turned into a fimilar entertainment with that af¬ 
forded by fighting-cocks and quails ; for it is to this in- 
feift, or one clo(ely allied to it, that we fuppofe the fol¬ 
lowing paflage in Mr. Barrow’s account of China to al¬ 
lude. “ They have even extended their enquiries after 
fighting animals into the infeft tribe, and have difeovered 
a fpecies of locult that will attack each other with fuch 
ferocity as feldom to quit their hold without bringing 
away at the fame time a limb of their antagonift. Thefe. 
little creatures are fed and kept apart in bamboo cages; and 
the cuftom of making them devour each other is lo com¬ 
mon, that, during the fummer-months, fcarcely a boy is 
be feen without his cage of grafshoppers.” Travels in 
China, p. 159. 
The M. religiofa, with the thorax fubcarinate, is a mere 
variety of this fpecies. 
36. Mantis precaria : thorax ciliate with fmall fpines ; 
wing-cafes green, with a divided white-and-brown fpot. 
The head and thorax are of a yellowifli green; eyes fer¬ 
ruginous; fore-legs with a ferruginous (pot; wing-cafes 
longer than the body; wings hyaline, (potted with green. 
Inhabits Africa; and is the fuppofed idol of the Hotten¬ 
tots, which thofe fuperftitious people are reported to hold 
in the highelt veneration; the perfon on whom the adored' 
infect happens to light, being confidered as favoured by the 
diftinftion of a celeftial vilitant, and regarded ever after 
in the light of a faint. 
37. Mantis fanfta : thorax (lightly ferrate, yellowifh- 
green; wing-cafes green, immaculate; wings hyaline. 1/ 
is found chiefly in the South of France. The wings are 
greenifh at the tip; fore-flianks with two black fpots 
beneath. 
38. Mantis fimulacrum : thorax ciliate; wing-cafes 
green, with a white fpot in the middle. It very much 
refembles the M. precaria ; but the thorax is fhorter, thick¬ 
er, and more ciliate. It inhabits America. 
39. Mantis monacha: thorax fmooth, teflaceous ; wing- 
cafes and wings green hyaline; the fore-flianks have two 
tellaceous dots on the fore-iide. It is found at the Cape 
of Good Hope. 
40. Mantis obfeura : thorax (lightly ferrate, dull grey ; 
wing-cafes with a black fpot at the bafe; the wings alfo 
have one at the tip. The head is grey, with a black 
frontal (pot; thorax dulky, with a black dorfa! line ; fore¬ 
legs (lightly ferrate ; the other parts Ample. It inhabits 
Africa. 
41. Mantis hyalina: thorax xiliate; wing-cafes hya¬ 
line, edged with green ; front two-toothed. It is found 
in America. With refpeft to colour, the head is brown j 
antennas ferrate; wings hyaline, ftriate with brown at the 
tip. 
42. Mantis feneftrata : thorax fmooth ; wings hyaline ; 
exterior margin of the wing-cafes brown. The thorax is 
linear; legs pale; fore-flianks with a few black fpots 
within. Inhabits Africa. 
'43. Mantis bidens: thorax rough; wing-cafes green, 
with black bars; wings brown-black on the dilk. The 
head is brown j front with two (harp approximate teeth 
thorax 
