. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. THE MANTIS. 485 stavtiinj,' fidelity tIk; forms, colours, ami ov(mi tlio nccidcntnl variations of \k\ and lliiwiis, thus oxliihitiuji,' anotlior i)hasc of that wonderful adaptive; |)ow(!r which ^'ivos to miuiy llowors, sucli as tho orchids, a striking rcsciuhlam^o to hccs, liuttcrflics, and other insects. Tn this instanco, tlu; roscndilance to leaves is not oidy diu' to the peculiar iiiitiiuc and the leaf-lik(' nervures, hut to the presence of cer
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. THE MANTIS. 485 stavtiinj,' fidelity tIk; forms, colours, ami ov(mi tlio nccidcntnl variations of \k\ and lliiwiis, thus oxliihitiuji,' anotlior i)hasc of that wonderful adaptive; |)ow(!r which ^'ivos to miuiy llowors, sucli as tho orchids, a striking rcsciuhlam^o to hccs, liuttcrflics, and other insects. Tn this instanco, tlu; roscndilance to leaves is not oidy diu' to the peculiar iiiitiiuc and the leaf-lik(' nervures, hut to the presence of certain sjuits which look (exactly like the tracks of leaf-minin<,' or leaf-d(!Vourin^' caterpillars. These creatures helong to tlu! same funiily as tli(! locusts, and their hahitatiou is I'.razil, In the upper hift-liand corner of the illustration on pa<fe 48^ may lie seen a stranr^c- liiokiii;4 insect, with an attenuated hody and lon,e them for the first time can hardly be made to believe that they are not the ol)jects which they so faithfully re])resent. As if to add to the singularity of these civaturcs and to keoj) up the ilhision, the eggs of several species are ribbed and coloured [iiccisely like the seeds of certain plants. Tn the illustration on page 48(1 is rejjresented a Tnsfxt, one of the singular species M-hich have such a wonderful rese]id)lance to fallen leaves. The pecidiar leaf-like elytra may be seen on reference to the engraving, as also the singular maniu'r in which the limbs are furnished Avith wide; flattened appendages, in order to carry out the leafy aspect. 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 r(>ach to the extremity of the body. One of these insects has been brought to England, ami lived for a consiiU.'rable time in a greenhouse. The IMantida', or Praying Insects, also belong
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubj, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectmollusks
