HOUSE-CEICKETS. 257 



naturally become the objects of her superstition.* These 

 crickets are not only very thirsty, but very voracious ; for 

 they vrill eat the scummings of pots, and yeast, salt, ana 

 crumbs of bread, and any kitchen offal or sweepings. In the 

 summer we have observed them to fly, when it became dusk, 

 OUT of the windows, and over the neighbouring roofs. This 

 feat of activity accounts for the sudden manner in which 

 they often leave their haunts, as it does for the method by 

 which they come to houses where they were not known 

 before. It is remarkable that many sorts of insects seem 

 never to use their wings but when they have a mind to shift 

 their quarters, and settle new colonies. When in the air, 

 they move volatu undoso, in waves, or curves, like wood- 

 peckers, opening and shutting their wings at every stroke, 

 and so are always rising or sinking. 



"When they increase to a great degree, as they did once in 

 the house where I am now writing, they become noisome 

 pests, flying into the candles, and dashing into people's 

 faces ; but may be blasted and destroyed by gunpowder dis- 

 charged into their crevices and crannies. In families, at 

 such times, they are, like Pharaoh's plague of frogs, "in 

 their bed-chambers, and upon their beds, and in their ovens, 

 and in their kneading- troughs. "t Their shrilling noise is 

 occasioned by a brisk attrition of their wings. Cats catch 

 hearth-crickets, and, playing with them as they do with mice, 

 devour them. Crickets may be destroyed, like wasps, by 

 phials half filled with beer, or any liquid, and set in their 

 haunts ; for, being always eager to drink, they will crowd in 

 tin the bottles are full. 



* It is a common superstition in Dumfries-shire, that, if the crickets forsake 

 a house which they have long inhabited, some evil will befall the family — 

 generally the death of some member is portended. In like manner, the 

 presence or return of this cheerful little insect is lucky, and portends some 

 good to the family. — W. J. 



t Exod. vliL 3. 



