244 



INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



but just under a little heap of fresh mould, and within 

 the influence of the sun's heat.* 



Like the eggs and young of other insects, however, 

 those of the inole-cricket are exposed to depredation, 

 and particularly to the ravages of a black beetle which 

 burrows in sia:iilar localities. The mother insect, 

 accordingly, does not think her nest secure till she 

 has defended it, hke a fortified town, with labyrinths, 

 entrenchments, ramparts, and covert ways. In some 

 part of these outworks, she stations herself as an ad- 

 vanced guard, and when the beetle ventures within 

 her circumvallations, she pounces upon him and kills 

 him. 



iV.ii of tU MohrCrickU. 



The Field-Cricket. 



Another insect of this family, the field cricket {Jlcheta 

 campesiris), also forms burro vrs in the ground, in 

 which it lodges all day, and comes out chiefly about 

 sun-set, to pipe its evening song. It is so very shy and 

 cautious, however, that it is by no means easy to 

 discover either the insect or its burrow. " The 

 children in France amuse themselves with hunting 

 after the field cricket j they put into its hole an ant 

 fastened by a long hair, and as they draw it out the 

 cricket does not fail to pursue it, and issue from its 



* Mat. Hist, of Seiborne, ii. 62. 



