Show w mt 2 uli u V A V NATURE TIGER OF THE iNSECT WORLD By ARTHUR N. N N PACK President American Nature NOt oe It Jt t is hi pot knot not an idol worshipper nor a revival of the whirling whirling-der but a l little i insect sect found in inmany inmany S many parts o of our c country an and in various other parts of the world More legends and super superstitions are ire attached attach d tp to the praying mantis than to any other Insect and all aU have haye to d do with the devotional at attitude attitude at- at de which he lie assumes To the uninitiated he r r rather her re resembles resembles resembles re- re a grasshopper but his front pair of or limbs are ery Very peculiarly modified Resting on his four POS pos 4 A t I t S 'S THE PRAYING MANTIS I tenor limbs with head up JP and forelimbs forelimbs forelimbs fore- fore limbs outstretched the mantis sits waiting for his prey looking for all the world as though he were wrapped up UpI In prayer this appearance the mantis Is not the saint but the tiger of or the Insect world ferociously ferocious ferocious' ferocious ferocious- ly y destroying flies files caterpillars and aid grasshoppers fter he has captured captured cap cap- cap cap- Lured his victim he does not kill it before eating but rather holds the agonized captive between those terrible forearms a and nd nd nonchalantly feasts upon the least vital portions first C The female mantis turns on the male at nt times and devours him hini or else having appeased her hel appetite leaves him In a half eaten n condi I Ii I mantis mantl tion The female egg cluster in thousands of or the spring make their bow to the jo OU er who that the they of harmful iS in inThe rId lid his garden The Chinese make u se e pugnacious qualities pf theand theand the and stage combats I Just as dog and cock fights I in other other countries |