410 NOVA SCOTIAN ZOOLOGY — PIERS. 



take in giving- way to his desire to keep the bird alive, instead 

 of making a "skin" of it. In the latter ease all incredulity 

 would be at an end. I mj^self believe that there cannot be the 

 slightest doubt as to the correctness of the record Details, how- 

 ever, have been given for the benefit of those who would not 

 otherwise be convinced. 



Insects. 



Cricket (Acheta abbreuiataj. On -ith September, 1892, I 

 observed immense numbers of large Crickets (A. abbreviata, 

 Harris's Insects Inj. to Veg., p. 152) running and hopping about 

 the grass in the King's Meadow to the southward of King's 

 College, Windsor. They seemed more numerous than the small 

 species (A. vittata), and their skrillivg was ceaseless. A number 

 of them were observed producing the note. This was done by 

 lifting the wing-covers and then causing them to quiver or shake 

 with great rapidity. The extreme timidity which usually char- 

 acterizes the species, had been thrown aside, and they paid but 

 slight attention to an approaching footstep, which, at other 

 times, would instantly have caused them to retire into their 

 hiding-places, not to appear again until all danger was past. 

 Beyond preventing themselves from being actually trampled 

 upon, they seemed little or not at all discomposed by my presence, 

 and permitted me to observe them very closely. It was probably 

 the mating season. I had never before seen such great quantities 

 of the insects, and they were still numerous when I left Windsor 

 at the end of September. 



