It is an exception that we should never look for in the vegetarian family of the Orthoptera, but the Mantis lives exclusively upon living prey.

It is the tiger of the peaceful insect peoples; the ogre in ambush which demands a tribute of living flesh.

If it only had sufficient strength its blood-thirsty appetites, and its horrible perfection of concealment would make it the terror of the countryside.

The _Prego-Dieu_ would become a Satanic vampire.
Apart from its lethal weapon the Mantis has nothing about it to inspire apprehension.

It does not lack a certain appearance of graciousness, with its slender body, its elegant waist-line, its tender green colouring, and its long gauzy wings.