THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 25 



They have not the power of jumping highly developed like other 

 crickets, but can swim with ease if they fall into v/ater. Their little shining 

 black eyes, velvety coats and flexible bodies recall strongly the appearance 

 of the otter, particularly when emerging from the water or crawling over 

 stones. On the whole these interesting creatures are the most mammal-like 

 insects I have ever seen. They keep in their burrows the greater part of 

 the time, and I have only been able to catch sight of my specimen by 

 going in quickly at night with a light. They move backwards with 

 almost as great ease as forwards, the two caudal bristles being evidently 

 very sensitive, for which reason they were designated caudal antennae by 

 one writer. The song of the male is described as " a low, continued, 

 rather pleasant trill, quite similar to that of the common toad, but more 

 shrill." 



In Europe the Mole-cricket is described as being very injurious in 

 certain localities from eating the young roots of plants and burrowing 

 amongst the roots. There seems to be as much controversy, however, 

 with regard to it as there is amongst farmers as to whether the mole is an 

 injurious animal or not. Dr. Ritzema Bos says those who think that the 

 Mole cricket is only injurious by burrowing beneath plants make a great 

 mistake. The methods suggested for destroying it, should it at any time 

 occur in large numbers, are the destrucLion of the eggs, which are laid to 

 the number of from 200 to 400, in chambers about six inches beneath the 

 surface of the ground, or killing the adults by means of poisoned baits, as 

 grated carrot or potato mixed with arsenical substances. 



Dr. Lintner says. Rep. VI., p. 151 : "A method recommended by 

 Kollar and approved by Curtis, as probably the best where the insect 

 abounds, is to dig pits in the ground in the autumn, of a foot in diameter 

 and two or three feet deep, to be filled with horse-dung and covered with 

 earth. At the first frost all the crickets will be attracted to and congre- 

 gate in these pits for warmth, where they can be conveniently killed." I 

 shall be glad to hear from any reader of the Entomologist who may find 

 this insect in his neighborhood, and also for any definite information con- 

 cerning the food and habits. My jar is well filled with roots, and I 

 frequently put a piece of raw meat on the surface of the ground, but I 

 cannot say that I have ever seen that either it or the roots were much 

 eaten. The ground is burrowed in every direction by clean burrows about 

 as large as an ordinary lead pencil, and the Mole-cricket may sometimes 

 be seen at night moving g.bout in these burrows apparently in good health 

 and quite at home. 



