142 
LOCUST. 
colour, and of the size of common shot: on the 
approach of winter, or any great change of 
weather, these insects are said to remove the 
nest, by sinking it deeper*, so as to secure it 
from the power of frost, and when the spring 
commences, again raising it in proportion to the 
warmth of the season, till at length it is brought 
so near the surface as to receive the full influence 
of the air and sunshine: but should unfavourable 
weather again take place, they again sink the 
precious deposit, and thus preserve it from danger. 
The eggs are usually deposited in the month of 
June or July, and the young are hatched in Au- 
gust, At their first exclusion they are about the 
size of ants, for which, on a cursory view, they 
might be mistaken; but on a close inspection are 
easily known by their broad feet, &c. In about 
the space of a month they are grown to the length 
of more than a quarter of an inch; in two months 
upwards of three quarters ; and in three months to 
the length of more than an inch. Of this length 
they are Visually seen during the close of autumn, 
after which they retire deep beneath the surface; 
not appearing again till the ensuing spring. Dur- 
ing their growth they cast their skin three or four 
times. 
The Mole-Cricket lives entirely on vegetables, 
* This is affirmed by Goedart, but is disbelieved by Reaumur 
and Roesel ; and it appears from experiment that th6 nest always 
requires to be kept in a moist situation; the eggs, if exposed to a 
dry air, being entirely shrivelled and destroyed. 
