278 NATURAL HISTORY 
black, with a golden stripe across his shoulders ; the 
latter is more dusky, and carries a long sword. 
shaped weapon at her tail, which probably is the 
instrument with which she deposites her eggs in 
crannies and safe receptacles. 
Where violent methods will not avail, more. 
gentle means will often succeed ; and so it proved 
in the present case; for, though a spade be too 
boisterous and rough an implement, a pliant stalk 
of grass, gently insinuated into the caverns, will 
probe their windings to the bottom, and quickly 
bring out the inhabitant, and thus the humane 
inquirer may gratify his curiosity without injuring 
the object of it. It is remarkable, that though 
these insects are furnished with long legs behind, 
and brawny thighs for leaping, like grasshoppers, 
yet when driven from their holes they show no 
activity, but crawl along in a shiftless manner, so 
as easily to be taken; and again, though provided 
with a curious apparatus of wings, yet they never 
exert them when there seems to be the greatest 
occasion. The males only make that shrilling 
noise, perhaps out of rivalry and emulation ; it is 
raised by a brisk friction of one wing against the 
other. They are solitary beings, living singly male 
or female, each as it may happen. When the males 
meet they will fight fiercely, as I found by some 
which I put into the crevices of a dry stone wall, 
where I should have been glad to have made them 
settle. For, though they seemed distressed by 
being taken out of their knowledge, yet the first 
that got possession of the chinks would seize on 
any that were obtruded upon them with a vast row 
of serrated fangs. With their strong jaws, toothed 
