CHAPTER X 



THE FIELD-CRICKET 



The breeding of Crickets demands no particular pre- 

 parations. A little patience is enough — patience, which 

 according to Buffon is genius ; but which I, more 

 modestly, will call the superlative virtue of the observer. 

 In April, May, or later we may establish isolated couples 

 in ordinary flower-pots containing a layer of beaten 

 earth. Their diet will consist of a leaf of lettuce renewed 

 from time to time. The pot must be covered with a 

 square of glass to prevent the escape of the inmates. 



I have gathered some very curious data from these 

 makeshift appliances, which may be used with and as a 

 substitute for the cages of wire gauze, although the latter 

 are preferable. We shall return to the point presently. 

 For the moment let us watch the process of breeding, 

 taking care that the critical hour does not escape us. 



It was during the first week of June that my assiduous 

 visits were at last repaid. I surprised the female motion- 

 less, with the oviduct planted vertically in the soil. Heed- 

 less of the indiscreet visitor, she remained for a long 

 time stationed at the same point. Finally she withdrew 

 her oviduct, and effaced, though without particular care, 

 the traces of the hole in which her eggs were deposited, 



