Morning journal and courier., 1890-07-16
A warliks Inseet-The Praying Man.
 tis.

From the Saturday RevierI
 The mantide two specimens of which have just been added to the insect house at the Geological Gsrdens) are noticeable not only for their structural peculiaritiss, bu
 also for the fact that they are living and walking opponents of the truth that the world is governed by appearances, ss from very ancient times wherever they are found that is. throughout the warner regions of the world-they have been credited with pie. ty, meekness and all good qualities, whereas In truth they are the most bloodthirsty crea- lures imaginable. This extremely mistaken estimate of their character has arisen from the fact that, especially ss they move slowly about, the thorax is raised at an angle to the body, and the large raptorial legs are carried extended and raised-thus fancifully inita- ting, or rather caricaturing. a person whose hands are clasped in prayer.
 In many parts of the world they are still regarded with superstitious reverence, and extraordinary stories are told of them. For example, they are believed to be able to inc dicate coming events. whence their names of ''sooth-sayers" or "prophsts," and in the south of Europe the praying msntis Is sup posed to direct any lost wsyfarer, especially child, into the right way. Another legend is to the effect that "St. Francis Xavier, on seeing mantis moving slowly along with his forelegs raised as if in devotion, desired ~ bo oiIk hho fAai6co OA Sou, HulCu mediately did in very beautiful csntiole." Again, we are told that among the 1Hotten- tots "ths individual upon whom one hap pens to alight is supposed to have @ peculiar degree of sanctity imparted to him, and to be 6 special favorite of heaven" All this reverence is sorsly misplaced, the whole of the creatures life being spent in murder and rapine; for, being "ferce, cruel, sormandi- zing wretohes, so far from indulging, as has
 been fondly supposed, in @ state of religious abstraction, they are continually seeking
 what they may devour," and the very posi-
 tion which has given them @ reputation for sanctity is only assumed to enable them
 the more readily to seize any unfortunate insect that may come within their reach; | and they are by no means particular what
 that insect may be, as they will with the greatest readiness seise and devour one of | their own species, particularly If smaller l and weaker than themselves.
 It is, therefore, not surprising that they are most pugnacious, and indulge in the fsrcest encounters on the least possible provoeation-or, indeed, without any appa- rent provosstion at all--when "their man. ouvres very much resemble those of hus- sars fighting with sabres, and sometimes one cleaves the other through at single stroke, or sewers the head from the body. During these engagements the wings are generally expanded, and when the battle is over the oonqueror devours his antagonist" The performance is curious and amusing, the pe- culisr shape and carriage of the insects giv- ing them the appearance of dancing with one another. In China and the east we are told that they are fought like game cocks for
 wagers. The following extract from ths
 work of an American authority says much for their power of endurance: "We have seen female decspitsted, and with her body partly eaten, slip away from another that was devouring her, and for over an hour after
 ward fight as tenaoiously and with as much nonchalance as though nothing had hap pened." It Is, perhaps, needless to say, the character of the mantids being such 60 it is, that the two specimens at the Zoo are not confined in the same case, as were they placed together the society would in all prob- ability very shortly possess but one