THE MOLE CRICKET.. 



389 



A hedgehog is also a good remedy against Cockroaches, and, if allowed the run of the 

 kitchen during the night, will be wonderfully efficacious in keeping down their numbers. 



The eggs of the Cockroach are not laid separately, but inclosed in a hard membranous 

 case, exactly resembling an apple puff, and containing about sixteen eggs. Plenty of these 

 cases may be found under planks or behind the skirting boards where these insects love to 

 conceal themselves. Along one of the edges of the capsule there is a slit which corresponds 

 with the opening of the puff, and which is strengthened, like that part of the pastry, by a 

 thickened margin. The edges of the slit are toothed, and it is said that each tooth corresponds 

 with an egg. When the young are hatched, they pour out a fluid which has the effect of dis- 

 solving the cement which holds the edges together, the newly-hatched Cockroaches push them- 

 selves through the aperture, which opens like a valve, and closes again after their exit, so that 

 the empty capsule appears to be perfectly entire. 



The shape of the young much resembles that of the perfect insect, except that in neither 

 sex are the wings in existence. In the pupal stage the resemblance is preserved, the creature 

 is active, and exhibits the rudimentary wings. The reader may often have seen white, brown, 

 and mottled Cockroaches. These are the insects that have lately changed their skins ; and if 

 one of these creatures be taken, it will be found that in a day or two it will attain the same 

 reddish -brown color as its companions. 



The Cockroach is a very active insect, running both backwards and forwards with aston- 

 ishing speed, and is furnished at the extremity of the abdomen with two short projections 

 resembling miniature antenna?, and popularly 

 regarded as such. 



The accompanying illustration gives a figure of 

 .a short, stumpy insect with large hind legs. This 

 is the FIELD CRICKET, a noisy creature, Inhabiting 

 the sides of hedges and old walls, and making 

 coimtry lanes vocal with its curious cry, if such a 

 word can be applied to a sound produced by fric- 

 tion. The Field Cricket lives in burrows, made at 

 the foot of hedges or walls, and sits at their mouth 

 to sing. Our illustration shows both male and female in their natural size, the former just 

 coming out of its burrow. It is, however, a very timid creature, and on hearing, or perchance 

 feeling, an approaching footstep, it immediately retreats to the deepest recesses of the burrow, 

 where it waits until it imagines the danger to have gone by. Despite of its timidity, however, 

 it seems to be combative in no slight degree, and if a blade of grass or straw be pushed into its 

 hole, it will seize the intruding substance so firmly that it can be drawn out of the burrow before 

 it will loosen its hold. The males are especially warlike, and if two specimens be confined in the 

 same box, they will fight until one is killed. The vanquished foe is then eaten by the victor. 

 In White's "Natural History of Selborne" there is a careful and interesting description of 



the Field Cricket and its habits. 



The well-known HOUSE CRICKET 

 (Acheta domesticd) is a near relation 

 of the above-mentioned species, and is 

 so familiar as to need no description. 



One of the oddest-looking of the 

 insects is the MOLE CRICKET, so called 

 on account of its burrowing habits and 

 altogether mole-like aspect. This insect 

 is illustrated in the natural size, and, 

 as may be seen, attains considerable 

 dimensions. The right-hand figure 

 represents the Mole Cricket while in its 

 larval stage. Those who like to give the needful time and trouble will find the internal anatomy 

 of the Mole Cricket to be highly developed, remarkably interesting, and easily dissected. 



FIELD CRICKET. Gryttui campestrii. 



MOLE CRICKET. GrylMalpa Bulgaria. 



