Page:Insects - Their Ways and Means of Living.djvu/106

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so innocently folded upon the breast, are direful weapons held ready to strike as soon as some unsuspecting insect happens within their reach. Let a small grasshopper come near the posing saint: immediately a sly tilt of the head belles the suppliant manner, the crafty eyes leer upon the approaching insect, losing no detail of his movements. Then, suddenly, without warning, the pray- ing mantis becomes a demon in action. With a nice cal- culation of distance, a swift movement, a snatch of the

Fro. 4 6. The praying mantis, 8tagmomantis carolina, and remains of its last meal. (Length v..* inches) terrible clasps, the unlucky grasshopper is a doomed captive, as securely held as if a steel trap had closed upon his body. As rhe'hapless creature kicks and wrestles, the jaws of the captor sink inro the back of his head, evidently in search of the brain; and hardly do his weakening strug- gles cease before the victim isdevoured. Legs, wings, and other fragments unsuitable to the taste of an epicure are thrown aside, when once more the mantis sinks into repose, piously folds his arms, and meekly awaits the [741

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