64 
ORTHOPTERA. 
Mantid^e. —Preying Mantises. 
The forelegs raptorial, long, the femora and tibice spiny. 
The head deflexed. The prothorax elongate. 
A moderately large family, recognizable by the raptorial forelegs, 
in which the tibia works in opposition to the femur like the blades of a 
Fig. P2— Hierodula coarctata. 
And left cercus. 
scissors and both are wholly or partially spined. Where this character is 
insuffic separate from Phasmidce, the length of the prothorax is 
sufficier-t, rms oeing short in the latter family. Mantises are commonly 
of large size and include no insects of less length than half an inch while 
some attain to four and even six inches. In appearance, these insects 
are extremely striking, including some of the most picturesque and 
bizarre forms of insect life. The form and colour is cryptic, designed to 
produce a resemblance to natural objects in their surroundings which is 
extremely marked. Many are stick-like, elongate, coloured in tones of 
brown and black as is a dry twig ; in these, the attitude assists the 
decept: , the creature poising itself on its posterior legs and swaying 
