248 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



LETTER XLVII. 



" Far from all resort of mirth 

 Save the cricket on the hearth." 



MILTON'S // Penseroso. 



SELBORNE. 



DEAR SIR, While many other insects must be sought after in 

 fields, and woods, and waters, the gryllus domesticus, or house- 

 cricket, resides altogether within our dwellings, intruding itself 

 upon our notice whether we will or no. This species delights in 

 new-built houses, being, like the spider, pleased with the moisture 

 of the walls ; and besides, the softness of the mortar enables them 



to burrow and mine between the 

 joints of the bricks or stones, and 

 to open communications from 

 one room to another. They are 

 particularly fond of kitchens and 

 HOUSE-CRICKET. bakers' ovens, on account of 



their perpetual warmth. 



Tender insects that live abroad either enjoy only the short 

 period of one summer, or else doze away the cold uncomfortable 

 months in profound slumbers ; but these, residing as it were in a 

 torrid zone, are always alert and merry, a good Christmas fire is 

 to them like the heats of the dog-days. Though they are fre- 

 quently heard by day, yet is their natural time of motion only in 

 the night. As soon as it grows dusk, the chirping increases, and 

 they come running forth, and are from the size of a flea to that of 

 their full stature. As one should suppose, from the burning 

 atmosphere which they inhabit, they are a thrifty race, and show 

 a great propensity for liquids, being found frequently drowned in 

 pans of water, milk, broth, or the like. Whatever is moist they 

 affect j and therefore often gnaw holes in wet woollen stockings 

 and aprons that are hung to the fire : they are the housewife's 

 barometer, foretelling her when it will rain, and are prognostic 

 sometimes she thinks of ill or good luck, of the deatfi of a near 



