The Pious Mantis . 
397 
Preque Dieu, the whole body is lean. So divine a creature is this 
esteemed, that if a childe aske the way to such a place, she will 
stretch out one of her feet, and shew him the right way, and seldome 
or never misse. Her tail is two forked, armed with two prickles : and 
as she resembleth those diviners in the elevation of her hands, so also 
in likeness of motion; for they do not sport themselves as others do, 
nor leap, nor play; but walking softly, she retains her modesty, and 
shewes forth a kinde of mature gravity.” 
“We are oft to blame in this,— 
’Tis too much proved—that with devotion’s visage 
And pious action we do sugar o’er 
The devil himself.” 
(Hamlet, iii. 1,44.) 
The so-called pious action of the mantis denotes in reality 
patient watchfulness for prey, as the cat crouches in 
silence before the mouse’s hole. This insect is specially 
remarkable for savage ferocity, and will often destroy 
others of its own species, if they chance to come within 
range of its sabre-like legs. 
An early mention of the singular Leaf Insect occurs 
in an account given by Antonio Pigafetta of the voyage 
of Ferdinand Magellan. Magellan sailed from Seville 
1519, proceeded along the coast of South America, 
through the straits which bear his name, among the 
numerous islands of the South Sea, across the Great 
Pacific Ocean, and after many adventures arrived at the 
Ladrone Islands, where the gallant commander was un¬ 
fortunately slain in a combat with the natives. Though 
he did not live to see the return of his expedition, 
Magellan is almost entitled to the claim of the first cir¬ 
cumnavigator, as the Victoria , one of the three ships that 
formed the expedition, completed the circuit of the globe, 
and reached Seville in safety in the year 1522. Pigafetta, 
who kept a record of the events of this wonderful voyage, 
writes 
“ Leaving Borneo they came to tbe Isle Cimbubon, which lies in 
8° 7' of north latitude; here they stayed forty days calking their ships,. 
