MANTIS STRUMARIA. 1^9 
is suspended to a small branch of a tree, 
and the larvae and nymphs continue to 
inhabit this nest till they assume their 
last state. 
Lucy, Do they feed on the leaves of 
trees, as they resemble them so strongly ? 
AI other. No ; they prey on smaller 
insects, which that resemblance enables 
them to entrap with the greater facility. 
They are also very quarrelsome towards 
each other, and generally fight till one of 
the combatants is killed. 
Lucy. What country produces the 
species in this drawing, mamma* r 
Mother, South America. It is called 
mantis strumariay and sometimes the 
broad-breasted mantis , or walking leaf. 
You may perceive how closely the elytra 
resemble the wings, in shape and size ; 
and even in texture they are almost as 
membranaceous. The wings are very 
transparent, and their colour is chiefly 
* Plate XL 
