Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/26

* MANTIS. 'flower mantes' of tioiiic;U couiUiies resemble the Uowers of certain plants, and in these flowers they lurk awaiting the visits of the insects upon which they feed. The term praying' insects has been derived from the attitude which they assume when at rest or when waiting to grasp anotlier insect; the knees are bent and tlie front legs are held as though supporting a prayer-book. The commonest North American species is the 'rear-horse" or •mule-killer' iSiaflmomnntts Varolimi). but the Euroi)ean (ilatitis relig%0- sa) has been introduced into the L nited States by accident, and has become acclimatized. The eggs of the Jlantida- are laid in tough eases attached to the twigs of trees, where the young when hatched begin immediately to feed upon plant-lice or other small soft-bodied insects, the size of the insects attacked increas- ing with the growth of the mantes. They have always been recognized as beneficial insects, but they" are indiscriminate in their diet, and will feed upon other beiielicial insects as well as upon injurious forms. Their eggs are frequently para- sitized by a verv curious ehalcis-fly of the genus Podagrio"n, which bv means of a long ovipositor is enabled to pierce the tough egg cases of the mantes. These insects seem always to have been re- garded with superstitious awe. They were used by the Greeks in soothsaying, and the Hindus display a reverential consideration of their move- ments'and flight. In Southern Fr.-ince the peas- ants believe that they point out a lost way, the Turks and other Moslems recognize intelligence and pious intentions in the actions of the mantis; a South African species is. or was, venerate<l by the Hottentots; the Chinese and the Javanese keep them in cages and cause them to fight for wagers. MANTIS'SA. See LoG. rniMS. MANTIS SHRIMP, or Se. Mantis. A large burrowing cru-teuean iSquilla empusa), of the order Stomapoda. which lives in large irregular holes which it excavates at or near low-water mark of spring tides. It is so called from the reseinblanec of the great spiny claw to that of the mantis (ii.v.). This elaw is borne on the legs of the second pair, and instead of ending in a for- ceps-like elaw, which is armed with a row of six sharp curved spines fitting into corresponding sockets, the terminal joint is turned back and is attached to the penultimate segment like the • blade of a pocket knife to the handle. By means of these singular organs, says Verrill. the shrimps hold their prey securely, and can give a severe wound to the liuman hand, if handled incautious- ly. It has large eyes. but. as it remains in its burrow constantly, it is blind, the facets of the eye being partly' atrophied. It lives chiefly on annelid worms. ' The Kuropean species is used as food, and I he American species is probably edible. MANTLE (AS. mantel, mcnieh OF. mantel, Fr. manliiiu, from I.at. mantcllum, maiilelum, cloak, mantle, from Lat. mniius. hand + tela, texture, from trxere. to weave, Skt. tnkf. to cut, to fashion). A long flowing robe, worn in the Rliildle Ages over the armor, and fastened by a fibula in front, or at the right shoulder. The mantle is an important part of the oflicial in- signia of the'various orders of knighthood. La- dies of rank woje similar mantles, in many in- stances decorated with heraldic charges, in which 14 MANTUA. case the mantle bore either the impaled arms of the lady and her husband, or her husband's arms only. MANTLING, L.vmukeqii.n, or CoxToiSE. A heraldic ornament attached to the helmet. Some- times it is cut into irregular strips and curls of the most capricious forms, supposed to indicate that it has been torn on the tield of battle; but usually the strips fall in graceful, flowing lines. In British heraldry the mantling of the sovereign is of gold lined "with ermine; that of peers ordinarily of crimson velvet lined with ermine; but sometimes the livery colors (see Livery) are adopted instead, as is generally the practice in ('(iiitiiicntal heraldry. See Uek.ldrt. MANTRAS, miiii'luiz. A people of the terri- tory of Malacca and Kembau, formerly regarded as "a Negrito people of the Malay Peninsula, but more recently described as Sakai-Malay half- breeds. The "mixture of these peoples has result- ed in giving the Mantras a somewhat taller stat- ure than the Sakai and a whiter skin. MANTUA, man'tii-a (It. ilantova). A city of l.iiiiilMrdy, Italy, situated on the Mincio. 25 miles bv rail southwest of Verona (Map: Italy, E 2). it was formerly the capital of the Duchy of Mantua and is now" the capital of the province of the same name. It occupies two islands in the river and is elaborately fortified. Three lakes formed by the river half surround the town and there" are marshes adjacent. It is not a healthful city. Architecturally it is in- teresting on account of the Renaissance churches and secular edifices by Alberti (q-v.) and other great builders. It is still more prominent in the world of painting, owing to the works of Man- tegna and Giulio Romano, both of whom resided here. The inadef|uatc iHipulation and the sullen massive grandeur of the edifices explain why the traveler in Mantua associates the city with a gloomy decadence. The streets are regular and spacious, but poorly paved. There are several fine squares. The most important church is the spacious Sant' Andrea. Begun in 1472 as a crea- tion of .lberti, it has been subjected, to many changes of plan during the centuries. Its white facade of marble is adorned with a portico, and contrasts curiously with the adjacent red brick cami)anile. The i'ntcrior (110 yards long) con- tains many frescoes by prominent artists. The Cathedral 'of San Pie'tro is not attractive, but has a fine ceiling. The Corte Reale, formerly the ducal palace of the Gonzagas and now consigned to military purposes, is a notable structure dating from the beginning of the fourteenth century. It was em- bellished with frescoes by (liulio Romano. Its apartments are of excci)tioiial interest for their varied decorations, representing the most delight- ful Italian period of the art of int^Tior ornamen- tation. Another fine old .Mantuan ])alace is the Palazzo del T?, conslructed by (Jiulio Romano, and adorned by him in a most artistic style. Some of the frescoes are excellent. The friezes in the loggia are by Primal iccio. who was educated in Mantua under Giulio Komami. In the old castle of the Gonzagas is a collect ion of archives. Among the frescoes here by Mantegna only two remain in a satisfactory cotiilition. The Vergilian Ac.idemy of .Arts and Sciences contains some specimens of art. The neighboring library in the Lyceum has a work bv Rubens, who lived and studied in Man-