The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-03-27
THE FIGHTING MANTIs.
Curious Coute~t- Between IEorc
Curious insects.

If you want 10 see the latest thing in
Eporting circles" said a gentleman who
had recently returned from South
America to a Philadelphia Times man.
come mp TO my room this evening"
The scribe was on hand early, but found
he was not the first. as the library
into which he was taken held at least a
dozen well known men gathered about a
centre table. upon which was a small
wicker fence and two wicker cages or
boxes. These latter contained the fighters.
So you expected to see a prize fight ?"
laughed the iovial master Of ceremonies
after he had greeted the new conner.
well " he continued, eve are not quite
up % that. though don't know but what
the principle is the same. We are, in
deed going TO have a fight, but with
insects. not men. When I was in Rio l
was invited 20 a house one evening where
they had one Of these cOmbats and the
insects were so remarkably puguaciOus
that determined to bring several home,
ans Of twenty ] succeeded in reaching
here with seven. The others killed them
selves on the way-committed suicide
At the thought Of leaving their own
country. I presume.
This is one of the principals" p" continued
the speaker, taking up one of the bamboo
cages, in which was apparently broken
twig Opening the door he took the seem
ing twig out upon his finger, which close
examination showed 70 be an insect of
most remarkable makeup. 10 was an al
most perfect imitation of "a green branch,
the legs appearing like little shoots from
the sides The fore part Of the body was
raised IN the air at an elevation OF about
45c. and like suppliCating hands the two
fore paws were held up. In all the insect
was about four inches IN length, and pre-
seuted with its slow and deliberate move
meuts q most uuCauuy appearance
" Yes" said the owner, il Is curious
creature II is a maDtis or stick insect
The mlutis is "a C1uuIbal, Iuurauderr and
the tiger OF the insect wOrlt-vindiCtive
In the extreme. Examine these claws
that 10 holds up In SO-caled suppllcailon,
and Won see they are more like raZors than
anything else. There is "a knife ike blade,
piercing and sharp. saber that when
welded is capable of great destruction
In China they are also kept in bamboo
cages by the natives, and lurge sums are
wagered on the result Of their battles.
Now 30 said the traveller. returning the
insect to its cage. where It Cluug seemingly
IN stupid lethargy, / will show you what
they can do
Placing the two cages in the inclosure
before mentioned the doors were opened,
while the audience waited with hrcathless
impatienCe FOR the first move II came
from one Of the insects which was OF
brown hue With a fuuereal step it
slowly passed out uf the Cugu. raising each
foot and putting it down ~ II II was
counting the thrObs Of each muscle in its
withered body The hideoUs creature was
almost half out when the green legs Of it's
rival BEGAN to wave gently. and soon both
insects were clear OF their cages, which
were q IN removed from the iuClOsure.
At first they did not appear To notice
each other, and with tho deliberate, eNas-
ueratiug tread moved slowly around the
arena until finally they met Quick as n
Thought each uautis then threw itself into
"a position of defense They seemed TO
drop upon their IauuChc5 like the japanese
wrestirrs raising the upper portion OF
the body high in air and thus with their
sabre-like arms Uplitted they remained
Ike statues Their stony eyes gave no
clue us to their future movements. and for
several moments they retained the posi-
tiUu. then so rapidly that none OF the OD-
servers Witnessed the first movement they
were upon each other Swift and power
ful blows were made and for "A number Of
seconds DO was give and take, the raSpIng
sound OF the cuts being distinctly audible
some distance from the table
The brown mautIs, that was tTitle the
larger. finally by side blow Knocked the
other fairly upon IFS side aud in a twink
linz was upOuIt The fall was allowed and
the insects separated. At the commence
meut of what the audience called the
second round the green mautIs rushed to
the attack evidently determined TO force
the fighting aud ut a single blow struck
y
claws whereupOn blood WAS claimed
and allowed The brown mautiS seemed
at first demOraliZCd and retreuted, but
soon recovered and delivered several blows.
one of which rolled IFS adversary over and
over with a force which i'm two men fight
ing would have been equal 10 one knock
Ing the other twenty feet. The tactics Of
the insect were evidently to knock its Op-
pOucut over and spring upon its back be-
fore 10 could rise but the lost joint prevent
ed this. and the green mIutIs regained its
FaIHr |rfH|H rI in
This time the four sabeTlike arms became
lOcket In n deadly embrace Every inch
was fought for. The rivals swayed to one
side. reared themselves high IN air. pushed.
hauled and twisted in frantic efforts TO
overcome each other, and all the tricks of
the human wrestler Were displayed on
this mimic field The struggle was kept
up for ten minutes, aud as il was
evident that they would Ietain il for hours.
Rs their owner had otter seen, they We're
separated when tLev again assumed the
defensive attitude There was no aDDpar-
auCe Of excitement, each insect apparently
having the teuacity and nature OF a verita-
BILE bull dog
The brown manti- now had to be pushed
70 the scratch, but once there il sprang
upon the other like "A tiger. but was laid
upon its back by a blow from the green in
sect that was so rapid that IL could not be
followed and before the larger regaiued its
feet its antagonist was upon it. Before
they could again be separated, 10 the
aStouiShmeut Of the lockers on. il adopted
new tactics. using its sabers as pinCers
and raising its helpless opponent quickly
into the air. where 10 knocked and swung
its sabcr about in rage and fear. " It's
all up with the big one, said the exhibitor
@ the swords of he green one are meeting
right through its body and SO it proved
The struggles of the brown insect grew
less and less but still the COngueroT stood
nOtionlesS. holding o. above ground. only
dropping the body % the table when al
signs of lie had disappeared
Victory did not appear 10 satisfy this hero
of the ring Il examined its victim for a
moment, and then Selling It iU its great
claws deliberately began to deEOur it, wher
with its haTd-yyCu meal. 10 was removed
10 its prison tt Is said that considerable
money exchanged hands on the result that
was quite unexpected.
spare the Forests.