Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-09-20

il was endeayorng to tear from limb;
struggle IN which 1t was finally sue
cessiul. You see besides the legs, used
for locomOtion, it has two claspers-
serrated or saw-iike organs, which are
used very much after the fashion OF
the claws of a crab, to seize its prey
and hold it 10 its mouth.
The mantis had crept along the limb
jus. as you have seen it now; raising
one leg so slowly that it would not have
be noticed. Finally a bird about the
size Of a hammer, not suspecting that
the tw.g was living ravenous enemy,
lighted near Il. | could only think of
a tiger crouching ior liz prey as | could
see the wooden limbs seemingly con-
tract; then Tx q flash out went the
toothed claspers. fairly encirciing the
unfortunate bird that struggled n vain
10 tear itself away from the knife-like
weapons. The more it struggled the
Leepr into the trap it fell; the insect
simply clinging 10 the limb rigid and
fixed. pressing the victim tighter and
tighter, and finally killing it.
AS FIGHTER.
"Ths giant mantis was discovered
by Burmeis'er, the naturalist, and in
all probability is The largest Of its kind.
In Passing through China | frequently
saw the mantis kept as a pet, and Sc
cured a number myself. They were not
as large as the South American speci-
mems. but were even more pugnacious,
showing a sly cunning that was remark
able in so sluggish an insect. | hrst
noticed them in the market places,
where they were sold in little wicker
baskets. One day / met Chinaman in
one of the narrow streets OF canton car
rying a long pole over his back, upon
which wer strung a number or Dashe's'
each containing a mantis. The person
no- familiar with them would not be-
Teya that the baskets each he'd a living
animal. as the uncanny wooden crea-
ture clung 20 /. wooden bars closely
and initiated it very perfectly.
These specimens were not kept as
pes: on the contrary, they were valued
for aair fgh-.1g p.ocllyit.es, and were
a nr9 t6c source of venue TO the men
who exh blted them. The method was
70 go about the CRY and when a crowd
was found most likely 10 enjoy a con-
tsst taev we're taken indoors and the
insects placed upon a table, about which
7he audi nee gathered. The insects
when opposed 70 one another would IN
variably begin cat-like approach,
creeping slowly along like mechanical
aoys. When in ciose proximity they
suddenly threw off their apparent leth-
argv and rushed in upon each other,
showing great ferOcity and striking
heavy blows with their sabre-like claws
then they would retreat and manoeuVre
about each other, one rushing in ana
delivering a savage blow, precipitaung
the contest. until both were cut almost
10 pieces. These contests are very pop
ular with the natives, who sometln
wager everything, even to their last
possession in favorite.
PUGNACIOUS PETS.
The writer kept a number OF these
insects at one TIM, and found the mos
Interesting feature their WoncerIui,
mimlcry. It was very difficult 10 ma
the nests. as they inflated the co-oI
and even texture Of the wood upon
(which tbsy were fastened in a wonderful
manner. and would be passed Dy as
simnIv an excrescence on the FENCE
The latter was the highway OF me nan
tis and a. all times Of the day they
conId he seen walking up and down.