
HEMIPTERA. 
nifh the entomologift with unerring fpecific diftinétions; thus we have L, citrifolia, laurifolia, myrtifolia, 
oleifolia, graminifolia, and others, equally expreflive of their refemblance in form, and colours, to the 
leaves of thofe refpective plants. Travellers in countries that produce thefe creatures, have been ftruck 
with the phenomenon, as it muft appear, of animated vegetable fubftances; for the manners of the Mantis, 
in addition to its ftruéture, are very likely to impofe on the fenfes of the uninformed. They often remain 
on the trees for hours without motion, then fuddenly {pring into the air, and, when they fettle, again 
appear lifelefs. ‘Thefe are only ftratagems to deceive the more cautious infeéts which it feeds upon; but 
fome travellers who have obferved it, have declared they faw the leaves of thofe trees become living crea- 
tures, and take flight. 
M. Merian informs us of a fimilar opinion among the Indians, who believed thefe infe&ts grew like 
leaves on the trees, and when they were mature, loofened themfelves and crawled, or flew, away. From 
the credulous, and unfcientific, marvellous reports of fuch extraordinary creatures may be expeéted; but, 
to thefe we muft add the authority of a naturalift, whofe works are a valuable addition to our prefent 
knowledge of the hiftory of nature: thefe are the works of Pifo >. 
* Thofe little animals,” fays that author, “‘ change into a green and tender plant, which is of two hands 
breadth. The feet are fixed into the ground firft; from thefe, when neceflary humidity is attra€ted, roots 
grow out, and ftrike into the ground; thus they change by degrees, and in a fhort time become a 
perfect plant. Sometimes only the lower part takes the nature and form of a plant, while the upper part 
remains as before, living and moveable: after fome time the animal is gradually converted into a plant, 
In this Nature feems to operate in a circle, by a continual retrograde motion.” 
Has the father of inventive romance outdone this account of Pifo in his well-known extravagant 
poetical effufions¢? It may be imagined he has not; but before we difmifs his account with a hafty 
b Gulielmi Pifonis, Amfterl. 1657. 
¢ Luna quater jun&tis implérat cornibus orbem, &c. Ovip11 Metamorph.——Sorores Phatthontis in Arbores. 
Four times, revolving, the full moon return’d, What could, alas! the weeping mother do ? 
So long the mother and the daughters mourn’d; From this to that with eager hafte fhe flew, 
When now the eldeft, Phaethufia, ftrove And kifs’d her fprouting daughters as they grew : 
To reft her weary limbs, but could not move; She tears the bark that to each body cleaves, 
Lampetia would have help’d her, but fhe found And from the verdant fingers ftrips the leaves : 
Herfelf withheld, and rooted to the ground: The blood came trickling where fhe tore away 
A third in wild affliction, as fhe grieves, The leaves and bark: the maids were heard to fay, 
Would rend her hair, but fills her hands with leaves: “* Forbear, miftaken parent, oh, forbear ! 
One fees her thighs transform’d, another views A wounded daughter in each tree you tear : 
Her arms fhot out, and branching into boughs. Farewel for ever.”” Here the bark increas’d, 
And now their legs, and breafts, and bodies, ftood Clos’d on their faces, and their words fupprefs’d. 
Crufted with bark, and hardening into wood ; 
But ftill above were female heads difplay’d, Apprson’s Tranf. Phaeton’s Sifters 
And mouths, that call’d the mother to their aid. transformed into Trees 
E 

