The Cricket: the Eggs 



numerous progeny. The egg-stage, there- 

 fore, lasts just about ten days. 



I said above that, when the Hd of the ivory 

 case is hfted, a young Cricket pops out. 

 This is not quite accurate. What appears 

 at the opening is the swaddled grub, as yet 

 unrecognizable in a tight-fitting sheath. I 

 expected to see this wrapper, this first set of 

 baby-clothes, for the same reasons that made 

 me anticipate It in the case of the Decticus : 



" The Cricket," said I to myself, " is born 

 underground. He also sports two very long 

 antennae and a pair of overgrown hind-legs, 

 all of which are cumbrous appendages at the 

 time of the emergence. He must therefore 

 possess a tunic in which to make his exit." 



My forecast, correct enough in principle, 

 was only partly confirmed. The new-born 

 Cricket does in fact possess a temporary 

 structure; but, so far from employing It for 

 the purpose of hoisting himself outside, he 

 throws off his clothes as he passes out of the 



To what circumstances are we to attribute 

 this departure from the usual practice ? Per- 

 haps to this : the Cricket's egg stays in the 

 ground for only a few days before hatching; 

 the egg of the Decticus remains there for 



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