of the Mulc-crickel. 4 1 3 



caudiforin appendage to the other wings, from under which 

 they emerge. When folded, (and they fold themselves longi- 

 tudinally like a fan,) their very delicate texture is protected by 

 the following simple contrivance. In each wing the two ex- 

 terior longitudinal nervures, with their intervening membrane, 

 are comparatively strong and thick ; and these form the lateral 

 walls of the wings when folded. 



In each wing also there are two other nervures not far from 

 the former, and circumstanced like them with respect to 

 strength ; which, when the wings are folded, close together so 

 as to form a horizontal covering, or roof, of sufficient strength 

 to protect the subjacent membrane from ordinary accidents. 

 As the narrow case formed by the wings thus folded extends 

 beyond the extremity of the abdomen, and might easily slip 

 off so convex and smooth a surface, such an accident is guarded 

 against by the contrivance already described, namely, an ap- 

 paratus of hairs or bristles placed on either side of the upper 

 surface of the last segment but one. 



T/ie digestive organs*. — It is mentioned in the 48th letter 

 of White's Natural History of Selborne, on the authority of 

 anatomists who have examined the intestines of the mole- 

 cricket, that " from the number of its stomachs or maws, there 

 seems to be good reason to suppose that it ruminates, or chews 

 the cud like many quadrupeds." A cursory view of these parts, 

 however, is enough to show that such an opinion could only 

 have been deduced from some very general points of resem- 

 blance ; and the probability of its truth is entirely destroyed 

 upon an examination of their internal structure. 



In fact, the digestive organs of this insect resemble more 

 closely those of a granivorous bird than of any other animal, 

 as will appear from the following description. The oesophagus, 

 which on its upper side is blended with and forms a continu- 

 ation of tlie inner surflice of the upper lip, commences on the 

 lower surface in a loose corrugated tongue as it were, which 

 is attached at its base to the inner surface of the lower lip : 

 from hence it is continued along the under part of the head 

 and neck, and between the bony laminae of the sternum, in the 

 foi-m of a distensible and longitudinally folded tube of a red- 

 dish-brown colour; it then passes on among the muscles of 

 the two hind pair of legs, and at length terminates in a very 

 laro'e crop of an oval form. In the vicinity of the mouth it is 

 suiTounded by muscles which arise from its outer coat, and 

 are inserted at nearly right angles into the adjacent parts ; 

 these muscles of course serving to open and distend it. 



In the crop itself two sets of muscular fibres are very easily 



• Vide Plate II. fig. 6. 



discernible, 



