66 
ORTHOPTERA. 
to be eaten. The tibia is sometimes as long as the femur, sometimes 
very short and only closing on the apex of the femur, this portion of the 
femur alone being spined, the remainder smooth. Wood-Mason des¬ 
cribes femoral brushes used to keep the eyes and ocelli clean and found, 
he says, in the nymphs just hatched and in all later stages (Proc. Asiat. 
Soc. Bengal, 1876, p. 123). The posterior legs are long and enable the 
insect to run actively, as well as to balance itself ready to turn or to dart 
forward. There are few more striking insects than a mantis in its 
natural habitat on a plant waiting for food ; balanced on the two pairs of 
legs, it looks from side to side, turning the head with quick motions and 
seeming to look intently from the large eyes ; the antennae are active, 
moving constantly, the forelegs drawn up under the head but ready to 
dart out; the creature is so intent, the attitude so expectant and yet 
suggestive of cunning ; in an instant it stiffens, becomes rigid, every 
part still, the long forelegs extended; should its prey alight near, it 
moves stealthily, stalking it as a cat does a bird, gradually drawing near 
Fig. 13 -Mantid egg-mass and newly emerged! nymph, 
THE LATTER MUCH ENLARGED. 
