of the weather, as from the attacks of one of the species of black beetles. The female places herself near the entrance of the nest, and whenever the beetle attempts to seize its prey, the guardian insect catches it behind and bites it asunder. Nothing can exceed the care of these animals in the preservation of their young. Wherever a nest is situated, fortifications, avenues and entrenchments surround it; there are also numerous meanders which lead to it, and a ditch encompasses the whole, which few other insects are capable of passing. This creature makes great havoc in hot-beds, by hacking and gnawing the roots of plants with its fore feet which are armed with teeth like a saw. About the middle of April, if the weather be fine, and just at the close of day, the Mole Crickets utter a low, dull, jarring note, not much unlike the chattering of the Goat-sucker. In the beginning of May they lay their eggs. Mr. White says that "a gardener at a house where he was on a visit, happening to be be mowing by the side of a canal, on the sixth of May, his scythe struck too deep, pared off a large piece of turf, and laid open to view a curious scene of domestic œconomy. There were many caverns and winding passages leading to a kind of chamber, neatly smoothed and rounded, and about the size of a moderate snuff box. Within this secret nursery were deposited near a hundred eggs of a dirty yellow colour, and enveloped in a tough skin, but too lately excluded to contain any rudiments of young, being full of a viscous substance. The eggs lay but shallow, and within the influence of the sun, just under a little heap of fresh mould like that which is raised by ants." At the approach of winter, the Mole Crickets remove their nest to so great a depth in the earth as to have it always lower than the frost can penetrate. When the mild season comes on they raise it in proportion to the advances of that favourable time, and at last elevate it so near the surface as to render it susceptible both of air and sun-shine: and if the frost returns, they again sink it to its proper depth. A method very similar is practised by the ants with their nests*. THE HOUSE CRICKET†. These busy little insects reside altogether in our dwellings and intrude themselves on our notice whether we wish it or not. They are partial to newbuilt houses, for the softness of the mortar enables them to form their retreats, without much difficulty, between the joints of the masonry, and immediately to open communications with the different rooms. They are particularly attached to kitchens and bakehouses, as affording them a constant warmth. "Tender insects that live abroad (says Mr. White) either enjoy only the short period of one * White's Natural History of Selborne. + Gryllus domesticus. Linn. summer, or else doze away the cold uncomfortable months in profound slumbers; but these, residing as it were in a torrid zone, are always alert and merry: a good Chrismas fire is to them what the heats of the dog-days are to others. Though they are frequently heard by day, yet their natural time of motion is only in the night. As soon as it becomes dusk, the chirping increases, and they come running forth, and are to be seen often in great numbers from the size of a flea to that of their full stature. Around in sympathetic mirth Its tricks the kitten tries, The crackling faggot flies. "As one would suppose from the burning atmosphere which they inhabit, they are a thirsty race, and show a great propensity for liquids, being found frequently drowned in pans of water, milk, broth, or the like. Whatever is moist they are fond of, and therefore often gnaw holes in wet woollen stockings and aprons that are hung to the fire. These Crickets are not only very thirsty, but very voracious; for they will eat the scummings of pots, yeast, salt, and crumbs of bread ; and any kitchen offal or sweepings. "In the summer we have observed them to fly, when it became dusk, out of the windows, and over the neighbouring roofs. This feat of activity accounts for the sudden manner in which they often leave their haunts, as it does also for the method by which they come to houses where they were not known before. It is remarkable, that many sorts of insects seem never to use their wings but when they wish to shift their quarters and settle new colonies.When in the air they move in waves or curves, like wood-peckers, opening and shutting their wings at every stroke, and thus are always rising or sinking.When they increase to a great degree, as they once did in the house where I am now writing, they become pests, flying into the candles and dashing into people's faces; but they may be blasted by gunpowder discharged into their crevices and crannies. In families, at such times they are, like Pharaoh's plague of frogs," in their bed-chambers, and upon "their beds, and in their ovens, and in their knead"ing troughs." "Cats catch hearth-crickets, and, playing with them, as they do with mice, devour them. Crickets may be destroyed like wasps, by phials half filled with beer, or any liquid, and set in their haunts; for being always eager to drink they will crowd in till the bottles are full ." A popular prejudice, however, frequently prevents any attempts at their destruction, many people imagining that their presence is attended with good luck, and that to kill or drive them away will surely bring on some unfortunate occurrence to the family. When these insects are running about a room in the dark, if they are surprized by a candle, they White's Natural History of Selborne. give two or three shrill notes. These seem a signal to their fellows, that they may escape to their crannies and lurking holes to avoid danger. It is said that in some parts of Africa persons make a trade of these Crickets. They feed them in a kind of iron oven, and sell them to the natives, among whom the noise they make is thought pleasing. These people imagine that it assists in lulling them to sleep. The organ that produces this noise is a membrane, which, in contracting, by means of a muscle and tendon placed under the wings of the insect, folds down somewhat like a fan. This, as it is always dry, yields that sharp, piercing sound that we so often hear from these animals. The noise may also be heard after the insect is dead, if the tendon be made to move. We are told that Crickets will live and even continue their accustomed noise for some time after the head is cut off. THE FIELD CRICKET *. TOWARDS sun-set is the time when the Fieldcrickets begin to appear out of their subterraneous habitations. The Rev. Mr. White, in his Natural History of Selborne, has left us a very pleasing account of the manners and economy of these insects; which, however, he observes, are so shy and cautious, that it is no casy matter to get a sight of them; for feeling a person's *Gryllus campestris.-Linn. |