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The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, by Various This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Vol. 14, Issue 398, November 14, 1829 Author: Various Release Date: March 4, 2004 [EBook #11433] Language: English Character set encoding: ASCII *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIRROR OF LITERATURE, NO. 398 *** Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Andy Jewell, David King, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION. VOL. 14, No. 398] SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1829. [PRICE 2d THE NATURALIST. [Illustration: MANTIS, OR WALKING LEAF.] [Illustration: BRANCHED STARFISH.] Castles, cathedrals, and churches, palaces, and parks, and architectural subjects generally, have occupied so many frontispiece pages of our recent numbers, that we have been induced to select the annexed cuts as a pleasant relief to this artificial monotony. They are Curiosities of Nature; and, in truth, more interesting than the proudest work of men's hands. Their economy is much more surprising than the most sumptuous production of art; and the intricacy and subtlety of its processes throw into the shade all the contrivances of social man: a few inquiries into their structure and habits will therefore prove entertaining to all classes of readers. * * * * * 1. THE PRAYING MANTIS. The Mantis is a species of cricket, and belongs to the Hemiptetera, or second order of insects. Blumenbach[1] enumerates four varieties:--1. the Gigantic, from Amboyna, a span long, yet scarce as thick as a goose-quill, and eaten by the Indians. 2. Gonglyodes, from Guinea. 3. the Religious Mantis, or Praying Cricket. 4. Another at the Cape, and considered sacred by the Hottentots. The cut represents the third of these varieties. [1] Manual, translated by Gore. It mostly goes on four legs, holding up two shorter ones. The hind legs are very long; the middle ones shorter. It is sometimes called the _Dried and Walking Leaf_, from the resemblance of its wing covering, in form and colour to a dry willow leaf; it is found in Chi
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