NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 239 
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SELBORNE. 
THERE is a steep abrupt pasture field and interspersed with furze 
close to the back of this village, well known by the name of Short 
Lithe, consisting of a rocky dry soil, and inclining to the afternoon 
sun. This spot abounds with the gryllus campestris, or field- 
cricket ; which, though frequent in these parts, is by no means a 
common insect in many other counties. 
As their cheerful summer cry cannot but draw the attention of a 
naturalist, I have often gone down to examine the economy of 
these gvy//z, and study their mode of life ; but they are so shy and 
cautious that it is no easy matter to get a sight of them; for feel- 
ing a person’s footsteps as he advances, they stop short in the 
midst of their song, and retire backward nimbly into their burrows, 
where they lurk till all suspicion of danger is over. 
At first we attempted to dig them out with a spade, but without 
any great success ; for either we could not get to the bottom of the 
hole, which often terminated under a great stone ; or else in break- 
ing up the ground we inadvertently squeezed the poor insect to 
death. Out of one so bruised we took a multitude of eggs, which 
were long and narrow, of a yellow colour, and covered with a very 
tough skin. By this accident we learned to distinguish the male 
from the female ; the former of which is shining black, with a 
golden stripe across his shoulders ; the latter is more dusky, more 
capacious about the abdomen, and carries a long, sword-shaped 
weapon at her tail, which probably is the instrument with which 
she deposits 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 
