The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1885-02-13


putting it down as if it was counting
the throbs OF each muscle in its with
cred 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 inclosure.
At first they did not appear to no
tice each other, and with the deliber-
crate, exasperating tread moved slow
ly around the arena, until finally they
met. Quick as thought each man.
tis then threw itself into a position of
defense. They seemed to drop upon
their launches like the Japanese
wrestlers, raising the upper portion OF
the body high in air, and thus with
their sabre-like arms uplifted they
remained like statues. Their stony
eyes gave no clue as to their future
movements, and for several moments
they retained the position; then SO
rapidly that none of the observers
witnessed the first movement they
were upon each other. Swift and
powerful blows were made, and for a
number of seconds it was give and
take, the rasping sound Of the cuts
being distinctly audible some dis
tance from the table.
THE FIRST ROUND.
The brown mantis, that was trifle
the larger, finally by side blow
knocked the other fairly upon its
side, and in twinkling was upon it.
The fall was allowed and the insects
separated. At the commencement of
what the audience called the second
round, the green mantis rushed to
the attack, evidently determined to
force the fighting, and at single
blow struck off the first joint Of one
of its opponents claws, whereupon
blood was claimed and allowed. The
brown mantis seemed at first demor-
allied and retreated, but soon recov-
cred and delivered several blows,
one Of which rolled its adversary over
and over with force which in two
men fighting would have been equal
to one knocking the other twenty feet.
The tactics OF the insect was evident
ly to knock its opponent over and
spring upon its back before it could
rise but the lost joint prevented this,
and the green mantis regained its
feet almost Immediately, again rush
ing in. This time the four sabre-like
arms became locked in a deadly EN-
brace. Every inch was fought for.
The rivals swayed to one side, reared
themselves hlgl in air, pushed,
hauled aud twisted in frantic efforts
to overcome each other, and all the
tricks of the human wrestler were
displayed OH this mimic field. The
struggle was kept mp for ten minutes,
and as it was evident that they would
retain it for hours, as their owner lad
often seen, they were separated,
when they again assumed the deien-
sive attitude. There was no appear
ance OF excitement, each insect APP
parently having the tenacity and ma
ture OF yeritable bulldog.
KNOCKED OUT BY THE GREEN INSECT.
The brown mantis now had TO be
pushed TO the scratch. but once there
it sprang upon the other like a tiger,
but was laid upon its back by blow
from the green insect that was so
rapid that it could not be followed,
and before the larger regained its feet
its antagonist was upon it. Before
they could again be separated, to the
astonishment of the lockers on, il
adopted new tactics, using its sabres
as pincers and raising its helpless OPP
ponent quickly in the air, where it
knocked and swung its sabres about
in rage and fear. tits all up with
the big one," said the exhibitor;
"the swords of the 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 conqueror stood motionless,
holding it above the ground, only
dropping the body to the table when
all signs of life had disappeared.
Victory did not appear to satisfy
this hero of the ring. 1t examined its
victim for moment, and then seiz-
it in its great claws deliberately be-
gan to devour it, when with its hard
won meal, it was removed TO its
prison. 1t is said that considerable
money exchanged hands on the re-
suit that was quite unexpected.
"The ferocity of the mantis has no
parallel in the animal kingdom"
said the traveller, after the perform
ance was over. Gas an example |
have seen two males clinched al
these were just now and introduced
into a place where there was lot of
ants. The latter Immediately at
tackled and devoured them alive, the
two insects refusing to release each
other to defend themselves and thus
becoming victims to their own feroc-
ity. When was in Siam some years
ago l was invited to fish fight The
gentleman had a certain kind OF fish
that they had trained, and SO pugna-
cious were they that the combats were
Of the most violent description. The
fishes would actually tear each other
to pieces in their rage. They are
about as large as our small fresh
water sun fish, and are kept in aquar-
iums and fed upon mosquitoes and
other insects. They are known as
the Plakat, and when a fight is to
come off the bowls containing the
fish are placed close together, the