. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 392 THE MANTID^, OR PRAYING INSECTS. so faithfully represent. As if to add to the singularity of tliese creatures and to keep up the illusion, the eggs of several species are ribbed and colored precisely like the seeds of certain plants. The PluismklcB embrace some very extraordinary creatures, the Walking Sticks and Spectres being prominent and familiar members of this family. Our North American species of Walking Stick {Diapheromerafemorata) is not over two inches in length of body, re
. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. 392 THE MANTID^, OR PRAYING INSECTS. so faithfully represent. As if to add to the singularity of tliese creatures and to keep up the illusion, the eggs of several species are ribbed and colored precisely like the seeds of certain plants. The PluismklcB embrace some very extraordinary creatures, the Walking Sticks and Spectres being prominent and familiar members of this family. Our North American species of Walking Stick {Diapheromerafemorata) is not over two inches in length of body, resem- bling the larger species of the East Indies. One of the singular sj)ecies which have such a wonderful resemblance to fallen leaves is the Leaf Insect. The peculiar, leaf-like elytra, and also the singular manner in which, the limbs are furnislied witli wide, flattened appendages, in order to carry out the leafy aspect, have often astonished people. Only the females possess the wide, veined wing-covers, those of the male being comparatively short. The wings, however, are entirely absent in the female, while in the opposite sex they are very wide and reach to the extremity of the body. One of these has lived for a considerable time in a greenhouse. The MantidcB, or Praying Insects, also belong to the Orthoptera. These creatures derive their name from their habit of sitting with their long and flattened fore-legs held up and joined as if in the attitude of prayer. The form of this insect can be best seen from the drawing. So remarkable an insect could not fail to be the subject of many wild fables, some of which. PRATING I'S'SKCT.—Mantis rdigiosa. (Female, and a cluster of eggs from which some larva: are making their exit. Natnral size.) may take rank as popular superstitions. For example, it was long thought that if any one lost his way in a forest and met with a Mantis, he had only to ask the insect to direct him on his road, when the obliging creature would stretch out o
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbr, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology
