NOISES OF INSECTS. 297 



male sings, he elevates the elytra so as to form an 

 acute angle with the body, and then rubs them against 

 each other by a horizontal and very brisk motion''. 

 The learned Scaliger is said to have been particularly 

 delighted with the chirping of these animals, and was 

 accustonied to keep them in a box for his amusement. 

 We are told that they have been sold in Africa at a 

 hi^h price, and employed to procure sleep''. If they 

 could be used to supply the place of laudanum, and lull 

 the restlessness of busy thought in this country, the 

 exchange would be beneficial. Like many other noisy 

 persons, crickets like to hear nobody louder than thcni- 

 selvos. Ledelius relates that a woman, who had tried 

 in vain every method she could think of to banish them 

 from her house, at last got rid of them by the noise 

 made by drums and trumpets, which she had procured 

 to entertain her guests at a wedding. They instantly 

 forsook the house, and she heard of them no more*^. 



The field-cricket (Acheta campeslris, F.) makes a 

 shrilling- noise — still more sonorous than that of the 

 house-cricket — which may be heard at a great distance. 

 Mouffet tells us, that their sound may be imitated by 

 rubbing their elytra, after they are taken off, against 

 each other'', " Sounds," says Mr. White, " do not 

 always give us pleasure according to their sweetness 

 and melody; nor do harsh sounds always displease. 



■ Thus the shrilling of the field-cricket, though sharp 



and stridulous, yet marvellously delights some hearers, 

 filling llieir minds with a train of summer ideas of every 



* De Geer, iii. 517. See also White, iVrt^ Iliit. ii. 7G ;— and Rai. HL^. 

 Jus. 63. '' Mouftet, 136. '' Goldiiniih's Animut. Sul. vi. 'iS. 



" Ins. The air. 134. 



