The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-05
Ten FIGHTING MANTIS.
Cnrinus contests Between More
EMr!nus lNhec;s.

CHrtnu" contests kSctwcGn More
rnr!uUs 90sec;s.
&c y0I van. 10 see the latest thing in
SrWt:t.., Circles sNid a gentleman who
had rc'Htly returned from South
America to q Philadelphia Times man,
Gene W 10 my room this evening"
Trc scribe va, on han, early, but found
he WIS uot the tirst, rs the library
inio which he was taken held at least Il
G0Ec0 wc!lkMown men Gathered about "
ccatrc sable, upon which was n small
wicker fence and two wicker cages or
b0>c,. These lattcrcontained the fighters.
50 You expected to see prize-fght ?"
laughed the jovial master of ceremonies
after he had greeted the new conner,
"WCll, he continued, "we are not quite
up TO that, though don't know but what
the principle is the same. We are, in
decd, going to have a fight, but with
insects, not men. When | was in Rio |
was invited to house one evening where
they had one of these COmbalS; and the
insects were so remarkably pugnacious
that Determined to bring several home,
ard out Of twenty succeeded in reaching
NV wan - W. ''0 o'''Ni' 49,
selves on the Way-comhitteu sNlcine
at the thought Of leaving their own
country, presume.
This is one of the principals" continued
the speaker takins; up one Of the bamboo
cages in which was apparently broken
twig Opening the door he took the SEEM
Ing twlg ont upon his hhScr' which close
examination showed 70 be an insect of
most remarkable makeup. 1t was IN al
mot perfect imitation Of Il green branch,
the legs appearing like little shoots from
the SIDES The fore fart of the body was
raised in the air at an elevation of about
45o. and like Supplcating hands the two
fore paws were held up. IN all the insect
was about four inches in length, and pre-
sentcd with its Sow and deliberate move
mCnts NEST uncanny appearance.
Yes" said the owner, lit is curious
creature. 1t is q mantis or stick insect
The mantS is a cannibal, q maraudcr, and
the tiger of the insect world--Vindctive
in the extreme. Examine these claws
that it holds up in so-callcd supplicalOn,
ard You see they are more like raZors than
ANYTHING else. There Is knife like blade,
piercing and sharp, a sabcr that when
welded is capable of great destruction
In China they are also kept in bamboo
cages by the natives, and large sums are
wngcrcl on the result of their battles.
"N0w," said the Traveller, returning the
insect to its cage, where it clung seemingly
in stupid lctlargy, " Will show you what
they can do
Placing the two cages in the inc,osure
before mentioned the doors were opened,
while the audience waited with GREATNESS
Impotence for the first move. 1t came
from one Of the insects which was of
brown hue. With q funeral step it
slowly passed out of tie cage, raising each
foot ana putting it down as if it was
counting the thrObs of each muscle in its
wthered body. The hideous creature was
almost half out when the green legs of its
rival began to wave gently, and soon both
insects were clear OF their cages, which
were then removed from the lnclosurc.
AT first they did not appear to notice
each other, and with the deliberate, eNas-
pcrating tread moved slowly around the
arena, until finally they met. quick as 4
Thought each manl!s then threw Itself INTO
position OF CefchSc Ihey seemed 10
drop upon their LAUNCHES like the japanese
WlcsterS, raising the upper portion OF
the body high III ar, ana thus with thcir
sabre like arms uEiiitcd they remained
like statues. Their stony eyes gave no
clue as TO their future movements, and for
several moments they retained the posi-
ton; then SO rapidly that none OF the o.
servers witnessed the first movement they
were upon each ether. Swift and rOWci.
full blows were made, and for number Of
seconds it was give and take, the IaSpjnG
sound of the cuts being distinctly audible
some distance from the table
The brown mantiS, that was 4 tliic the
larger, finally by a side blow knocked the
other fairly upon its side, and in a twink
ling was upon it. The fail was allowed and
the insects separated. At the commence
meut of what the audience called the
second round the green mantls rushed to
the attack, evidently determined to force
the fighting, aud at single blow struck
of the first Joint of one of its opponent 5
claws, whereupon blood was claimed
and allowed The brown mautiS seemed
at first demoralized and retrcatcd, but
soon recovered and delivered several blows.
one of which rolled its adversary over and
over with force which in two men fight
ing would have been euual to one knock
ing the other twenty feet. The tactics of
the insect were evidently to knock its op-
ponent over and spring uron its back be-
fore it could rise, but the lost ioin, prevent
ell This. and the green mautiS regaincd lie
feet almost Immediately. again rishino in
| This time the four sabcrlikp arms hrrone
locket in n deadly embrace. tycrv inrh
was fought for. The rivals syove1 To one
side reared themselves high in air. pushed
hn,Ilrd and twisted in frantic efforts to
ovnrcome eoch other. and all the tricks Of
tho human wrestler were dsnIaycd on
this mimic field The Struggle was kent
mn for TON minntes and ne if vas
ev;dant that thew wonld retain II for bours
nc thair owner had offer socn they yynre