MANTIS. 151 
Now I will give you the description of the 
genus. 
Lucy, I suppose, mamma, you mean, 
by description of the genus, the particu- 
larities which belong in common to all 
the species ? 
Mother, Yes, my dear ; and when 
you have obtained a general knowledge 
of insects, you will derive great satisfac- 
tion from forming a more minute ac- 
quaintance with the peculiarities, which 
mark the different species. Now for our 
description of mantis. The head has an 
unsteady, nodding motion — mouth armed 
with jaws, and furnished with filiform 
palpi — antennae setaceous — wings mem- 
branous, wrapped round the body, and 
the under pair folded — the legs serrated, 
or toothed like a saw ; the first paii* end 
in a single tooth ; and the four others are 
of that kind called gressorii, 
Lucy, That is another new term ; 
pray explain it to me. 
Mother, It is borrowed from a Latin 
