THE MANTIS 
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THE MANTIS 
DESCRIPTION—Grass green colour. Long, 
flattish neck, protruding eyes, wing cases edged 
with yellow. When at rest it usually stands on 
four legs, whilst its front legs are held up close 
to its body. (Hence, sometimes called the Praying- 
Mantis.) Has four wings, two hard and two 
gauzy. Its front legs are orange coloured on the 
inside with a peacock blue mark in the middle of 
each. When examined under a magnifier, these 
marks are very beautiful, each of them resembling 
the end of a peacock’s feather. The ears of the 
Mantis are located in them. The “foot” section 
of each front leg is like a narrow pair of pruning 
shears, and is used by the Mantis for catching its 
prey. 
FOOD—Small insects, especially flies. It will not 
eat a wounded or dead fly. It is, therefore, 
necessary to catch insects intended for its food 
by placing a glass jar over them, introducing the 
Mantis afterwards. When about to catch its prey, 
the Mantis stands with its front legs folded in 
front of its body, and slowly swaying the upper 
part of its body to right and left. When an insect 
comes within reach, the Mantis makes one swift 
dart and seldom misses its prey. It cleans its head 
after every meal, using its forelegs for this purpose 
in a way very similar to that of a cat. 
CYCLE—The female Mantis makes a “nest” of 
frothy, soapy substance, gumming it to a fence- 
post, twig, window-sill or similar projection, to 
which it becomes very firmly attached. Size of 
nest, about fin. x ^in. Colour, when first made— 
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