404 THE FIELD CRICKET. 



"As one would suppose from the burning atmosphere which thej 

 inhabit, they are a thirsty race, and show a great propensity for 

 li((uids, being frequently found dead in pans of water, milk, broth, or 

 the like. Whatever is moist they are fond of, and therefore they often 

 gnaw holes in wet woolen 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 kitchen offal or sweepings of almost every description. 



"In the summer they have been observed to fly, when it became 

 dusk, out of the windows, and over the neigboring 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 M'hen they 

 wish to shift their quarters and settle new colonies. When in the air. 

 they move in waves or curves, like woodpeckers, opening and shut- 

 ting their wings at every stroke, and thus are always rising or 

 sinking. When their numbers increase to a great degree, they 

 become pests, flyiug into the candles, and dashing into people's faces. 

 In families, at such times, they are, like Pharoah's plagne of Frogs, 

 * in their bed-chambers, and upon their beds, and in their ovens, and 

 in their kneading 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 

 bring some misfortune on the family. 



When these insects are running about a room in the dark, if they 

 t'C surprised by a candle, they give two or three shrill notes. These 

 seem a signal to their fellows that they may escape to their crannies 

 and lurking holes, for the purpose of avoiding danger. 



The organ that produces this noise, is a membrane, which in con- 

 tracting, 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, by its motion, a sharp and piercing sound. The noise 

 may even 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 their heads are cut oflf. 



THE FIELD CRICKET. 



Towards sun-set is the time when the Field Crickets begin to 

 appear out of theii subterraneous habitations. They are, however, 

 so shy and ^autiou8, that it is no easy matter to get a sight of them , 

 for feeling a person's footsteps as he advances, they stop short in the 



