BRITISH ORTHOPTERA. 173 



confounded with any other, its large size and enormously thick 

 anterior legs distinguishing it at once. Not uncommon in many 

 localities, especially in the South-west of England ; it frequents 

 damp places, occurring from April to June, and may be caught 

 by inserting a stem of grass into its burrow, which (being 

 extremely ferocious) it will seize, and can then be pulled out, as 

 it will not leave loose; A. campestris can also be captured in 

 this manner. 



2. AcHETA, Fab. 

 = Gryllus, L. 



The insects in this genus may be distinguished from the 

 other Achetidae by their elytra being as long as the abdomen ; 

 they can also be recognised by their size, which is much smaller 

 than Gryllotalpa, and much larger than Nemobius. 



I. Colour blackish - - - campestris. 

 II. Colour brown - - - . domestica. 



1. A. campestris, L., 1764. — This species is figured in Cuvier's 

 'Regne Animal,' pi. 81, fig. 3. A rare carnivorous insect, 

 haunting hot sandy places ; it burrows to the depth of from six 

 to twelve inches ; it occurs chiefly in the South-west of England 

 during May, June, and July, and the male chirps very loudly 

 both day and night. 



2. A. domestica, L., 1758. — Figured in Curtis's * British 

 Entomology,' vii. 293 ; Staveley's ' British Insects ' ; and Cuvier's 

 'Animal Kingdom' (Griffith), xv. pi. 130, fig. 2. Narrower 

 than A, campestris. This is the well-known cricket so often 

 heard in our houses. 



3. Nemobius, Serv., 1839. 



= AcHETA, Curtis. 

 1. N. sylvestris, Fab,, 1793. — The smallest of our Achetidae ; 

 it is a very rare southern insect, occurring in woods during 

 August and September. 



GRYLLiDiE, Steph., 1829. 

 = Gryllijs-Tettigonia, L. ; Locusta, Fab. ; Locustari^s;, Latr. 



Ten species. Diurnal insects ; distinguished from the 

 Acrididse by their long antennae, and by the females having a 

 long exserted ovipositor ; they stridulate by rubbing the elytra 

 together. Found in fields, hedges, and upon trees ; many species 

 are very local. These insects should not be placed together in 

 confinement, as many of them are very pugnacious, and will kill 

 and devour one another. 



Table of Genera. 

 I. Elytra very short, less than half the length of abdomen. 



1. Thorax short Odontura. 



2. Thorax very long Thamnotrizon. 



